Rutgers gets improved defensive, shining offensive performance, dispatches Miami (OH)
Rutgers Football has slain two of the three dragons from the Buckeye State, this time Miami (OH).
The Scarlet Knights defeated the RedHawks 45-17 after career days for quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis and wide receiver Ian Strong, coupled with an improved – though still not consistent – defensive performance.
Kaliakmanis finished another accurate day, completing 26 of 36 passing attempts for 259 yards and a career-high four passing touchdowns. He found Strong nine times for a career-high 116 yards and two touchdown receptions. KJ Duff added six receptions of his own, for 71 yards and a score. DT Sheffield scored the fourth and final touchdown, finishing with five receptions for 37 yards and the score.
The defense had an up-and-down day containing Miami quarterback Dequan Finn. He finished with a game-high 85 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown with his legs. Through the air, he completed 14 of 22 passes for 251 yards and a score. He was aided by big plays throughout, including passes of 69 and 62 yards. The RedHawks finished with 355 total yards, though most of it came through the air.
First Half Rundown: Solid on Both Ends
The Scarlet Knights got off to another solid start on offense, responding after the defense stepped up with a three-and-out on the game’s opening drive.
Rutgers drove down the field in 11 plays, and Kaliakmanis found Ian Strong wide open in the end zone for a 14-yard score.
Similar to the season-opening win over Ohio, the Scarlet Knights’ defense struggled to contain a dual-threat quarterback and the big plays that came with it. On the RedHawks’ second drive of the game, Finn lofted a 62-yard pass to wide receiver Kam Perry. D’Shawntae Jones tied the game on the very next play.
Even with some of the defensive breakdowns, Rutgers’ offense kept up its strong start to the season. The Scarlet Knights scored on all four of their first-half possessions, with two touchdown passes from Kaliakmanis and one on the ground by Antwan Raymond. After the game-tying touchdown, Rutgers took up nearly eight minutes of clock, and ended up with a field goal after 16 plays.
On the ensuing drive, the defense made its first splash play of the season. With Miami driving in the red zone, Finn saw pressure from the defensive line, and left too much air under a pass towards the sideline. Bo Mascoe read it and swiped the pass in stride, and sprinted 68 yards down the field to the opposite red zone. The offense punched it in three plays later, with Raymond scoring from two yards out.
It seemed like new co-defensive coordinator Robb Smith‘s unit was finding its stride, combining the interception with another three-and-out on the ensuing drive. Midway through the second quarter, the offense scored its third touchdown of the game as KJ Duff came down with an 11-yard score while drawing a pass interference.
The RedHawks closed the half strong, however, as Finn led a two-minute drill into the red zone. Three times in four dropbacks, Rutgers’ defensive line had the senior signal-caller surrounded, but just could not bring him down in the backfield. Miami settled for a field goal with seconds remaining.
Second Half: The Run Game and Controversy?
The RedHawks’ defense finally stepped up and forced a stop to open the third quarter, forcing a punt on six plays. Rutgers’ defense suffered another breakdown on the drive’s opening play, as Keith Reynolds sprang free on a deep pass from Finn for a 69-yard gain. Finn scrambled and scored from five yards out three plays later.
At that moment, much of SHI Stadium had a similar thought: This feels familiar.
The offense bucked the trend of the close win over the Bobcats and a Rate Bowl loss to Kansas State by responding immediately. Kaliakmanis and his unit worked a nine-play, 65-yard drive, punctuated by Strong’s second touchdown of the game, a 17-yard slant that was slightly behind, but Strong’s frame and speed helped him catch and run for the score.
Rutgers’ defense took another step forward on the following drive – but not without controversy. On a third down, Finn found a receiver across the middle for a big gain into Rutgers territory, but an offensive pass interference wiped out the play. RedHawks head coach Chuck Martin – livid with the call – exploded at the officials and picked up an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
The sequence turned a crucial game-altering play into a third-and-28, which the Scarlet Knights’ defense stopped and forced a punt.
Another methodical drive from Kirk Ciarrocca‘s unit drew to the doorstep of the red zone before seeing some controversy of its own. With time running out in the third quarter, the Scarlet Knights faced a fourth-and-one from the Miami 21-yard line. With the play clock a second ahead of the game clock, it appeared the offense had to change course quickly and snap the ball to avoid a delay of game. Raymond was stuffed for a three-yard loss. Schiano looked furious after the play, and in the quarter break, a review confirmed the play counted and gave Miami the ball back.
The galvanized defense came up with another stop, including two straight run plays on second- and third-downs, where the Scarlet Knights’ defensive line finally got a push in the backfield and stuffed both attempts to start the fourth quarter.
Rutgers punctuated the game with a touchdown drive, once again responding after a stop. Kaliakmanis found Sheffield for his fourth touchdown pass of the game.
On the ensuing drive, the defense got its first two sacks of the season, with Djibril Abdou-Rahman getting to Finn on a second-down pass attempt, and Dariel Djabome doing so on fourth down two plays later to effectively close the game out with four minutes remaining.
Raymond closed the game out on the ground, finishing with 82 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries.
In all, the Scarlet Knights got 421 yards from their offense, and did a better job on defense, with plenty of big-play prevention to clean up. It was an encouraging performance after the opening-week scare against Ohio, who took down West Virginia at home to notch its first win of the season.
Rutgers has one nonconference game remaining to tune things up – particularly getting stops – before Big Ten play kicks off in two weeks.
RFootball Play of the Game
Cornerback Bo Mascoe jumps a pass and intercepts it, taking the ball all the way into the red zone on the return.
Up next?
The Scarlet Knights will host Norfolk State on Saturday, September 13th, at 3:30pm. The game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.
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