LIVE BLOG: Martinek Makes Catch, Rutgers Up Big

UPDATED 10:41 p.m.

All right, time to head down to the locker rooms for interviews. Martinek finished with no carries, which must be a little weird for him. But he said before he would be ready for his role to shift with the move to fullback. We'll have a story later tonight. Thanks for keeping up with us.

UPDATED 10:29 p.m.

Rutgers up 48-0. Eeks. (How about that for analysis?) It was a 14-play, 54-yard drive, culminating in a 22-yard field goal.

UPDATED 10:22 p.m.

So this has turned into a bit of a snoozer. BUT THEN ...

Nova rolled right early in the fourth quarter and found an open Martinek, once again open in the flat. Martinek caught the pass, which was slightly behind him, and trucked upfield for 11 yards before getting taken down by a pair of tacklers. He's still got burst.

UPDATED 10 p.m.

Gary Nova throws his first career touchdown pass to Brandon Coleman with 6:07 left in the third quarter. It was a 44-yard TD pass. Call off the dogs! Score: 42-0.

In Martinek news, a little bit earlier No. 38 had his first drop of the game. The ball might have been a bit behind him, since Nova was being hurried. But Martinek was out on the right flat, the ball hit his hands and it fell to the ground.

Still no carries yet, which was to be expected considering the move to fullback.

UPDATED 9:50 p.m.

Jawun Wynn takes a pick with 8:19 left in the third quarter for a 37-yard touchdown. Rutgers now ahead, 35-0. Boy, Greg Schiano picked his home-opening opponent right.

UPDATED 9:47 p.m.

Rutgers goes ahead, 28-0, when defensive end Scott Vallone recovers a fumble in North Carolina Central's end zone. Looks like Martinek gets a little more time on the sideline as the defense takes over again.

UPDATED 9:32 p.m.

Martinek starts the third quarter. Two passes later, Rutgers' offense is out and the defense takes over. 

UPDATED 9:23 p.m.

Still in halftime. Got about four minutes left. With Rutgers ahead, 21-0, Martinek might get some rest as the rest of the fullbacks and running backs on the roster get some burn.

UPDATED 8:55 p.m.

Sorry about the delayed update. Having press box Internet issues.

Rutgers ahead, 21-0, with 1:23 remaining in the first half. Not much more Martinek on the last scoring drive.

UPDATED 8:33 p.m.

Martinek just got his first touch of the season, but probably wasn't how he expected it.

Dodd went back to pass, found nobody open. Went to check down to Martinek in the left flat. Ball tipped by Stephen Young. Flipped around in the air. Martinek hauled it in, stepped forward and was clobbered by several defenders on a 2-yard gain.

Huggins ended up scoring with 8:58 remaining in the first quarter on a 7-yard run to the right. Martinek was on the field.

UPDATED 8:19 p.m.

Martinek went out on the left flat and was open on the first play. Dodd went elsewhere, and this time it was the right call. Only Jeremy Deering couldn't haul it in, despite being wide open and primed for a touchdown.

Rutgers player down on the ground, injured. Just sat up. And just walked off the field. It was No. 70 Desmond Wynn.

UPDATED 8:06 p.m.

Note to self: Talk to Jawon Jamison tonight about Martinek's blocking. He's been instrumental in Jamison advancing downfield. Talk to Savon Huggins, too.

Note to you: I know that was a note to me.

On this offensive series: Martinek had plenty of blocking opportunites and didn't seem to disappoint. Seemed to stick each assignment, and was used in motion more than a few times.

On Rutgers' big third-and-6 pass that brough them to the 6-yard line, Martinek lined up in the left slot—something you definitely don't see every day from a fullback.

On second-and-1 from the goal line, Huggins went right—away from Martinek—and was stopped for no gain.

On third-and-1 Huggins, Rutgers' new starting running back, followed Martinek a couple of yards out of the backfield, but broke left before racing into the end zone. Rutgers ahead, 7-0, with 38 seconds left in the first quarter.

UPDATED 7:50 p.m.

Dodd threw an interception to cornerback David Ingram at NC's 38-yard line. NC ball.

UPDATED 7:41 p.m.

Rutgers quarterback Chas Dodd had Joe Martinek open on the right flat on the Scarlet Knights' first offensive play of the season. But instead he went long, down the right sideline, and just missed hitting wide receiver Brandon Coleman. Rutgers went four-and-out on their first series, with a six-yard run sandwiched between two incompletions.

UPDATED 7:36 p.m.

Keep in mind: This is a mostly-Martinek live blog. Why? Because he's the Hopatcong connection, and we're a Hopatcong website. But I will update scores and big plays. Right now Rutgers defense is on the field, with NC Central deep in its own territory.

If you look to the right, you'll see a photo I took from the press box earlier. In case you were wondering what it looked like up here.

And, actually, Rutgers is about to get its chance on offense with NC Central about to punt.

UPDATED 7:31 p.m.

Rutgers, with Martinek as one of the coinflip captains, won the toss. The Scarlet Knights chose to defer and to defend the South end zone. North Carolina Central booed as its players run onto the field.

UPDATED 7:22 p.m.

THE BAND IS OUT ON THE FIELD.

Sorry. Couldn't help myself.

High Point Solutions Stadium sort of quiet in anticipation of the Scartlet Knights' season-opener. Student section rocking, though.

Remember: Martinek starts a new chapter as a fullback tonight. So don't expect a ton of carries. But maybe some goal-line action, and enough rushes to keep him sharp.

UPDATED 7:17 p.m.

Martinek named one of the Scarlet Knights' coinflip captains for tonight.

UPDATED 7:09 p.m.

Some Martinek tidbits from the Rutgers media guide:

• Martinek, despite a nagging ankle injury, started in seven of 10 games last season. He played in nine. Martinek's biggest game last season was a 109-yard performance against Norfolk State, and he scored the game-winning touchdown against Army in overtime.
• In high school, Martinek was featured in Sports Illustrated's Faces in the Crowd section.
• Martinek finished his career 38th on the nation's all-time rushers list with 7,589 yards. He also scored 80 touchdowns.
• Martinek's 396-yard game on 31 carries against Jefferson against Jefferson as a senior was the state's second-best single-game rushing total when he graduated.

Thanks for keeping up with us.

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Hello, Hopatcong!

We're live at High Point Solutions Stadium for Rutgers' football season-opener against North Carolina Central at 7:30 p.m. And if you're wondering why we're here, well, you probably live blindfolded and with earplugs shoved in your ears.

Hopatcong football legend Joe Martinek owns the New Jersey high school rushing record with 7,589 yards. The 2007 graduate also guided the Chiefs to a 2005 state title and scored 80 career touchdowns.

Martinek hopes to flourish in his new fullback position, and we'll be here tonight live-blogging his performance and following up with a story on the fifth-year senior.

So, if you planned to follow the game on ESPN3.com or on the Rutgers Football Radio Network, bookmark us and keep up with Martinek's performance.