Gary Nova made quick work of his debut in Ron Prince's offense, recording only two incompletions in three different team periods in Saturday's first team scrimmage. (AP File Photo)

By Tyler Barto

Twitter: Tyler_Barto

tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — The few outside observers allowed inside Saturday for Rutgers’ first scrimmage saw an offense Saturday that scrapped its conservative roots.

Gary Nova handled all three of the team’s practice settings — traditional down-and-distance, red zone, two-minute drill — with ease, connecting with six different receivers.

He finished 9-for-11 for 175 yards and a touchdown on field-long drives at High Point Solutions Stadium. He went 5-for-5 to five different receivers in a two-minute period, capping the drive with a 12-yard score to Paul James. He appeared in control of first-year coordinator Ron Prince’s playbook.

During traditional down-and-distance settings, Prince’s run-pass ratio was 1-to-1.

RELATED: Unofficial stats from Rutgers' first scrimmage

The team’s rushing production didn’t match the play-call parity.

Savon Huggins scored on a nine-yard touchdown run during red zone situation, but he managed only six yards on four carries on prolonged drives. Before the red-zone score, he lost three yards on as many carries.

With Desmon Peoples out, James split carries between the first and second team.

He broke a tackle and ran 17 yards to the end zone during a red-zone period and added 26 yards on two carries in the open field. True freshman Justin Goodwin finished with 42 yards on 14 carries before fumbling an exchange with redshirt freshman Blake Rankin.