Watch the Rutgers football team host the first Scarlet Walk of the season
The Rutgers football team hosted its first Scarlet Walk of the 2024 season, which began with Greg Schiano welcoming interim athletic director Ryan Pisarri.
Rutgers football got off to a great start, with the Scarlet Knights building a seemingly comfortable 16-point lead over Virginia Tech.
Then the Hokies came back with consecutive scoring drives in the fourth quarter, making every Scarlet Knights fan sweat and wonder if Rutgers was about to blow a game that once seemed headed for a comfortable Scarlet Knights victory.
But Jai Patel kicked a 24-yard field goal with two minutes left and Robert Longerbeam secured a key interception with just over a minute left to give the Scarlet Knights a 26-23 victory on Saturday at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia.
Patel’s field goal came after Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis hit Ian Strong with a screen pass to the right on the first play of the drive and Strong took it 55 yards to the Hokies’ 12-yard line.
The momentum fluctuated from one sideline to the other.
Rutgers kept it when it mattered most.
“The fact that we managed to do this,” coach Greg Schiano told reporters after the game, “is important for us to move on.”
With the win, Rutgers improved its record to 3-0 and created an electrifying and exuberant atmosphere at its home game against Washington on Friday.
Here are some quick takeaways from the Scarlet Knights’ win over Virginia Tech:
Solid game by Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis, offense
Kaliakmanis completed 16 of 25 passes for 269 yards.
In his third game with Rutgers, the player from Minnesota once again appeared confident and composed while leading Kirk Ciarrocca’s offense.
Overall, Kaliakmanis was precise. He made smart moves.
It was exactly what Rutgers needed in a game that was far from perfect.
The Scarlet Knights totaled 422 yards on offense, while Virginia Tech totaled 320 yards.
Kyle Monangai ran for 84 yards on 26 attempts and scored a touchdown in the first quarter after Rutgers punted and Nasir Montgomery forced a fumble on the return that the Scarlet Knights recovered at the Hokies’ 31-yard line.
Sam Brown managed 60 yards on 14 attempts with two scores, forming a strong one-two with Monangai.
Rutgers also held the ball (39:20) as did Virginia Tech (20:40).
Missed opportunities
Rutgers had several chances to win the game and defeat Virginia Tech, but too often the Scarlet Knights were unable to capitalize.
With Rutgers leading 14-7 in the second quarter, Jai Patel missed a 36-yard field goal.
On the Scarlet Knights’ next possession, Kenny Fletcher, who had a good game overall despite this mistake, lost the ball at Virginia Tech’s 3-yard line and the Hokies recovered it.
Rutgers’ defense responded by forcing a safety – defensive end Wesley Bailey rushed into the end zone from the Hokies’ 6-yard line on third-and-8, pushing an offensive lineman toward Hokies QB Kyron Drones – but the Scarlet Knights still left points on the scoreboard.
In the third quarter, Rutgers led 23-7 and faced a fourth down and try, but the Scarlet Knights could not get into the end zone as Kaliakmanis was forced out of the pocket and threw the ball into the ground.
Later in the third quarter, Rutgers attempted a 53-yard field goal instead of a punt, but Patel missed.
Nice game by Kenny Fletcher
Aside from the fumble, this was a solid performance for Fletcher, the Delran product who moved up from defensive end to tight end last season before the Pinstripe Bowl.
Fletcher finished Saturday’s game with seven catches for 61 yards. He had five catches in Rutgers’ first two games.
It’s been a while since the Scarlet Knights have had a reliable tight end who can be a weapon on offense, and Fletcher, a receiver in high school, seems to be able to fill that role.
Welcome back, Tyreem Powell
The star linebacker made his long-awaited comeback after tearing his Achilles tendon over the winter while recovering from a season-ending wrist injury he suffered against Indiana last season.
Powell, who originally planned to play for Virginia Tech before transferring to Rutgers, missed the first two games and then had another week during the off week to get healthy.
But the Vineland native returned to the field on Saturday to give the Scarlet Knights’ defense a crucial boost.
And he made a big impression early on, recording a tackle with a loss of space on the first play of the game.
Powell is a crucial piece of the Rutgers defense. Dariel Djabome and Moses Walker have helped absorb the loss this season – and don’t forget that the Scarlet Knights will also be without Mohamed Toure for this season because of a torn ACL – but Powell’s return is huge for Rutgers.
