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Rutgers offensive coordinator John McNulty explains the trick play that failed, and why it could've worked

With just over three minutes to play and his team trailing by three touchdowns on Saturday against Illinois, Rutgers offensive coordinator John McNulty called for a trick play.

The Scarlet Knights were knocking on the doorstep of the end zone, stuck at the Illinois 4-yard line and facing a second-and-goal situation.

McNulty called for a throw-back lateral to an offensive lineman. It was a play, he said, that the Scarlet Knights installed into the game-plan earlier in the week and ran successfully.

Quarterback Art Sitkowski was charged with delivering the backwards pass to right guard Jonah Jackson, who presumably would be able to walk into the end zone after hauling in the lateral.