PISCATAWAY – The Rutgers football team opened its season with a decisive 44-7 victory over Howard on Thursday night at SHI Stadium, although the Scarlet Knights’ offense got off to a slow start.
Freshman running back Antwan Raymond sealed the game with an 11-yard touchdown run as time expired.
Here’s a recap of the game’s key moments:
Rutgers added another touchdown in the final minutes when quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis threw a three-yard pass to tight end Kenny Fletcher, giving Rutgers a 38-7 lead with 4:16 left in the game.
Running back Sam Brown scored his first career touchdown by catching a 34-yard pass from Kaliakmanis, extending the lead to 31-7 with 2:33 remaining in the third quarter.
Kyle Monangai further increased the Scarlet Knights’ advantage with a seven-yard touchdown run, making it 24-7 with 8:06 left in the third quarter. Monangai’s run brought his total rushing yards to 165, matching his single-game career best.
Howard managed to score just before halftime, with Eden James running for a two-yard touchdown to narrow the gap to 14-7.
Rutgers initially took a 14-0 lead in the second quarter when Kaliakmanis connected with Dymere Miller for a two-yard touchdown pass, concluding a seven-play, 55-yard drive that lasted 3:55. This marked Miller’s first touchdown since transferring from Monmouth, where he set multiple records.
The Scarlet Knights opened the scoring when Eric Rogers returned an interception for a 52-yard touchdown, putting them ahead 7-0 at the 8:50 mark of the first quarter.
The game was broadcast nationally on the Big Ten Network, with play-by-play announcer Jason Horowitz and color commentator Matt Millen calling the action, while Taryn Hatcher reported from the sidelines. Streaming was available on platforms like Fubo, Peacock, ESPN+, Sling TV, and Paramount+.
Prior to the game, predictions favored Rutgers, projected to win 42-7, with expectations for Kyle Monangai and the running game to dominate in the later stages.
The betting odds had Rutgers favored by 36.5 points, with an over/under of 49.5.
Looking ahead, Rutgers’ 2024 football schedule includes matchups against teams like Akron, Virginia Tech, Nebraska, and USC, while Howard will face Mercyhurst and Morehouse College later in the season.