PISCATAWAY -- Eastern Michigan lost its first 58 games all-time against Power Five conference teams and first 38 against the Big Ten.

Then Rutgers joined the Big Ten.

Playing to leave little margin for the late-game errors it committed against a team that played in a 2016 bowl, Rutgers fell victim to the biggest win in Eastern Michigan program history by losing 16-13 Saturday in front of a smallish crowd of 37,661 at High Point Solutions Stadium.

Rutgers has lost 11 straight games for the first time since Nov. 14, 1998 through Nov. 6, 1999 and is 0-2 to start a season for the second time since 2004.

"We just didn't make plays in all three phases," coach Chris Ash said. "There was a lot left out there on the field."

Considering the Big Ten schedule ahead, it felt to anyone not on the home sideline like Rutgers had one drive to salvage interest in its season with a 16-13 deficit and six minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Despite the best efforts of Janarion Grant, who had four catches for 47 yards on the late fourth-quarter possession, it ended with Kyle Bolin throwing an interception on the edge of field goal territory.

Back from a one-game suspension, a hustling Jauwan Harris saved a touchdown at the end of a 71-yard return. It turned out to be a huge play because Rutgers' defense made a stop, conserved time with two timeouts and blocked a 31-yard field goal.

Given new life, Rutgers started at its 14-yard line and Bolin discovered chemistry with Damon Mitchell. Grant converted another third down.

But the nail in the coffin was this: With Rutgers in range to attempt a game-tying 42-yard field goal, three-year starting offensive guard Dorian Miller was called for a personal foul hands to the face penalty.

"We just didn't make some plays," Ash said. "I don't want to over-complicate it or over-simplify it."

It took Rutgers out of field-goal range and the final play was a sack of Bolin, as Eastern Michigan ran onto the field to celebrate. Bolin finished 17-of-37 for 198 yards, much of those with the panic button pressed.

Rutgers took its first lead, 13-10, with six minutes left in the third quarter when Miami graduate transfer Gus Edwards broke through the middle for a 23-yard touchdown run.

"I thought we had a good week of preparation," Ash said. "If anybody took these guys for granted, I sure (didn't) notice it during the week with our preparation and focus."

Rutgers more than quadrupled its first-half rushing total in the third quarter. After being held to 13 carries for 27 yards, Edwards, Robert Martin and Josh Hicks combined for 12 carries and 100 yards.

It looked like Rutgers might pull away, but Eastern Michigan played keepaway instead. The Eagles possessed the ball for nine of the next 11 minutes, with the Scarlet Knights running just three offensive plays in between back-to-back scoring drives covering more than 70 yards each.

Eastern Michigan's go-ahead 24-yard field goal with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter was followed by Rutgers' seventh three-and-out of the game. Grant's short-armed drop beyond the chains on second down was a killer.

Trailing 10-3 to start the second half, Rutgers played smashmouth Big Ten football, with eight consecutive carries by Martin and Edwards totaling 65 yards behind an offensive line winning its battles.

Then came true freshman quarterback Johnathan Lewis on second-and-8 from the 20-yard line.

The dual-threat - who made his collegiate debut in the first half with a one-play handoff in the first half - replaced starter Kyle Bolin.

Having never attempted a pass, Lewis wasn't holding up a sign that said "Attention: QB draw coming," but he might as well have been.

The play was stuffed for a 2-yard loss and Bolin returned with an incompletion on third down, leaving Rutgers to settle for a 37-yard field goal and a 10-6 deficit.

Rutgers returned to what worked after the slight hiccup.

Nose tackle Sebastian Joseph, who played at what defensive line coach Shane Burnham called a "champion" level against Washington, continued his strong start to the season by forcing a fumble to set up the go-ahead touchdown drive.

After Eastern Michigan opened the game with a 73-yard touchdown drive, Rutgers responded with an eight-play, 68-yard drive ending on Andrew Harte's first career field goal from 25 yards out.

On third down, Eastern Michigan brought a blitz and forced a back-footed Bolin to overthrow a slant to Grant in a creative five-wide formation. Grant, Rutgers' most explosive player, had two offensive touches through 3 1/2 quarters after managing four in the season-opener.

Rutgers had six more first-half possessions with a chance to take the lead but those resulted in five points, one turnover and zero first downs.

Offensive coordinator Jerry Kill called a few more downfield shots than last week against Washington, but alternating breakdowns led to Bolin and his receivers not connecting or the blocking not holding up.

When Eastern Michigan added a 33-yard field goal on the final play of the first half, it felt like Rutgers was headed toward disaster.

As a member of the American Athletic Conference, Rutgers beat Eastern Michigan when the teams met in 2013.

Ryan Dunleavy may be reached at rdunleavy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rydunleavy. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.