PISCATAWAY − Rutgers football kicked off its season with a decisive victory, defeating Howard 44-7 on Thursday night at SHI Stadium.
Although the Scarlet Knights’ offense started slowly, they surged in the second half, with freshman running back Antwan Raymond sealing the game with an 11-yard run as time expired.
The game highlights include:
With just under five minutes left on the clock, Rutgers added another touchdown, as Athan Kaliakmanis connected with tight end Kenny Fletcher for a three-yard pass, extending the lead to 38-7.
Sam Brown made his mark by catching a 34-yard touchdown pass from Kaliakmanis, bringing the score to 31-7 with 2:33 remaining in the third quarter. This was Brown’s first career touchdown.
Kyle Monangai contributed to the scoring with a seven-yard rush, pushing Rutgers’ lead to 24-7 with 8:06 left in the third quarter. His performance included a commendable 165 rushing yards, matching his personal best.
Howard made a brief comeback late in the first half, with Eden James scoring on a two-yard run, narrowing the score to 14-7.
Earlier in the second quarter, Rutgers doubled its lead with a two-yard touchdown pass from Kaliakmanis to Dymere Miller. This capped a seven-play, 55-yard drive and marked Miller’s first touchdown since transferring from Monmouth.
The Scarlet Knights were the first to score when Eric Rogers returned an interception for a 52-yard touchdown, putting Rutgers ahead 7-0 at the 8:50 mark in the first quarter.
For fans looking to catch the game, it was broadcasted nationally on the Big Ten Network. Play-by-play announcer Jason Horowitz and color commentator Matt Millen provided commentary, with Taryn Hatcher reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options included platforms such as Paramount+, Fubo, and ESPN+.
As for predictions, expectations were high for a strong Rutgers performance, with an anticipated score of 42-7 in favor of the Scarlet Knights.
Looking ahead, the Rutgers football schedule includes upcoming matchups against teams like Akron, Virginia Tech, and Wisconsin, among others. Meanwhile, Howard is set to face Mercyhurst and Morehouse College in the coming weeks.