title image via David Sierra
Howard played Rutgers reasonably close in the first half, only finding themselves down 17-7 after the first three minutes of play. Unfortunately for the Bison, any thoughts of an upset were shut down in the second half as they were outscored 27-0 by the Scarlet Knights, allowing them to cruise to a comfortable 44-7 season-opening win.
The engine for the vehicle of Howard’s destruction was the Scarlet Knights’ running game. Rutgers racked up 329 yards on 46 attempts, averaging a robust 7.2 yards per carry. Kyle Monangai led all Rutgers ball carriers, rushing for 166 yards and a touchdown on 19 attempts. Two other Scarlets Knights ran for at least 50 yards, Samuel Brown V, 14 carries for 68 yards and a touchdown, and Antwan Raymond who ran for 50 yards and a score on just 6 attempts.
It was a rough evening for the Howard offense; quarterback Ja’Shawn Scroggins completed 14 of his 25 pass attempts for 116 yards and an interception. The redshirt signal caller also led the Bison in rushing, accounting for 67 of the team’s 145 rushing yards; Jarrett Hunter added 40 yards on 12 carries. Isiah Williams led all Howard receivers with 39 yards on 3 receptions.
Rutgers got on the board first, turning defense into offesne when Eric Rodgers intercepted a Ja’Shawn Scroggins pass and took it 52 yards to the house to put the Scarlet Knights up 7-0 at the 9:01 mark of the first quarter. In the later portion of the first half, Rutgers pushed their advantage to 14-0 when quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis connected with Dymere Miller from 2 yards out.
Howard responded on their next possession with their first, and only score, of the evening, marching 76 yards in 11 plays in 4:05, culminating in an Eden James 2-yard run that cut the Rutgers in half to 14-7, heading into halftime.
After forcing a Howard punt on the Bison’s first possession, the Scarlet Knights traveled 59 yards over 8 plays, getting in the endzone when Monangai reached paydirt from 7 yards out, putting Rutgers up 24-7 halfway through the third quarter. Rutgers forced a quick three-and-out on the ensuing Howard possession. Taking over at their 42-yard line, the Scarlets Knights lit up the scoreboard 8 plays later when Kaliakmanis connected with Samuel Brown V on a 34-yard strike that extended the Rutgers lead to 31-7.
The Rutgers defense stuffed Jarrett Hunter on a 4th and 1, handing the ball back to their offense on their 13-yard line. The Scarlets Knights chewed up 8:16 on a 13-play, 87-yard drive, in which 10 of the plays were runs, ending in yet another Rutgers touchdown when Kaliakmanis found Kenny Fletcher from 3 yards out to push the advantage to 38-7. Rutgers scored a late, but unnecessary touchdown, with just 0:06 left in the contest when Antwan Raymond scampered in from 11 yards out to bring the game to its final count of 44-7.
Up next for Howard is their home opener against Mercyhurst on September 7.
Next Game:
Mercyhurst
9/7/2024 | 7 P.M.
Team Statistics
| Game Stats | HU | RU |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 261 | 476 |
| Pass Yards | 116 | 147 |
| Rushing Yards | 145 | 329 |
| Penalty Yards | 4-30 | 3-40 |
| 1st Downs | 14 | 29 |
| 3rd Downs | 6-16 | 5-10 |
| 4th Downs | 1-4 | 1-3 |
| TOP | 26:46 | 33:14 |
| 1ST QUARTER | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 08:53 – RU – Rogers,Eric 52 yd interception (Patel,Jai kick) | 0 | 7 | |
| 2ND QUARTER | |||
| 04:51 – RU – Miller,Dymere 2 yd pass from Kaliakmanis,Athan (Patel,Jai kick) 7 plays, 55 yards, TOP 03:55 | 0 | 14 | |
 00:40 – HU – James,Eden 2 yd run (West,Dylan kick), 10 plays, 76 yards, TOP 04:05 | 7 | 14 | |
| 00:04 – RU – Patel,Jai 36 yd field goal 5 plays, 61 yards, TOP 00:34 | 7 | 17 | |
| 3RD QUARTER | |||
| 08:06 – RU – Monangai,Kyle 7 yd run (Patel,Jai kick), 8 plays, 59 yards, TOP 03:45 | 7 | 24 | |
| 02:33 – RU – Brown V,Samuel 34 yd pass from Kaliakmanis,Athan (Patel,Jai kick) 10 plays, 58 yards, TOP 04:34 | 7 | 31 | |
| 4TH QUARTER | |||
| 04:16 – RU – Fletcher,Kenny 3 yd pass from Kaliakmanis,Athan (Patel,Jai kick) 13 plays, 87 yards, TOP 08:16 | 7 | 38 | |
| 00:00 – RU – Raymond,Antwan 11 yd run ( ), 2 plays, 31 yards, TOP 00:15 | |||
