Takeaways | Rutgers football snaps skid with win over Minnesota, moves 1 win from bowl bid

Posted by Admin November 9, 2024 Football

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PISCATAWAY – In a season where Rutgers football has endured one injury after another, and in recent weeks one disappointing loss after another, the Scarlet Knights haven’t caught many breaks.

They did on Saturday, courtesy of a big play from linebacker Tyreem Powell. They capitalized on it.

Powell forced a Minnesota fumble at the Golden Gophers 10-yard line in the fourth quarter. Defensive back Shaquan Loyal recovered at the 12.

Rutgers needed three plays to get into the end zone, with Athan Kaliakmanis hitting Ian Strong for a four-yard touchdown pass that pushed the Scarlet Knights ahead.

The defense, beleaguered for most of the season, did the rest.

Rutgers ultimately got the win it badly needed, beating Minnesota 26-19 at SHI Stadium to snap its four-game losing streak and move to within one win of bowl eligibility for a second-consecutive season.

“It felt like it was needed at that time,” Powell said. “I knew the momentum was back on our side, I knew the offense was going to get in the end zone. I think it was needed for the team as a whole.”

The Scarlet Knights sealed the win with a safety and then a 22-yard field goal by Jai Patel.

Minnesota carried a four-game winning streak to Piscataway. Rutgers coach Greg Schiano earlier in the week called the Golden Gophers of the “hottest teams” in college football.

But Schiano’s team snapped that streak and got its season back on track.

“The guys played for each other,” Schiano said. “That’s the biggest thing that came today is they just literally put it on the line for each other and that was what we talked about all week. We don’t really do themes around here but that became a theme.”

Here are some instant takeaways:

Athan Kaliakmanis solid against his former team

This was one of Kaliakmanis’ better performances of the season.

He finished 17-of-33 for 240 yards with three touchdowns, two of those to Dymere Miller. Kaliakmanis’ line as dented by multiple drops by his receivers, something he’s endured all season.

Kaliakmanis did throw an interception in the end zone that killed a potential golden opportunity that could’ve put Rutgers up 21-9 late in the second quarter.

But for the most part, this was a strong performance against a defense, led by former Rutgers linebackers coach Corey Hetherman, that ranked ninth in the nation entering the game.

“It really tested us, these last four weeks, as a team,” Kaliakmanis said. “But we stayed together. We did it out of love for each other today. It was for each other. It wasn’t for anybody else. We just kept chopping.”

Kaliakmanis was on target early, throwing a perfectly placed pass down the right sideline for freshman receiver KJ Duff for a 37-yard gain. The drive ended with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Miller for Rutgers’ first touchdown of the afternoon.

Kaliakmanis said earlier in the week that this game didn’t have any extra meaning. He insisted that it wouldn’t be weird going against his former team.

Regardless, Kaliakmanis played well against the Golden Gophers.

In the end, he won.

“It was hard because I had relationships with those guys, I played there, I lived there for three years,” Kaliakmanis said. “It was a great opportunity, I’ll say that. It was just awesome to share the field with them again with this new team we have now.”

Give credit to defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak

The Scarlet Knights have largely underperformed on that side of the ball for most of the season, largely because of all the injuries that have piled up – defensive end Wesley Bailey is the latest player to miss the remainder of the season due to injury.

There’s only so much a defense can overcome.

But Joe Harasymiak’s unit was much better against Minnesota, his former program.

Rutgers held Minnesota to 297 total yards of offense. It made a number of big plays.

“We’re just a little bit healthier, but I think the biggest difference is Coach Harasymiak literally stripped it down to the studs and rebuilt it in two weeks, which I don’t think he slept,” Schiano said. “He and I talked a lot, and I’m just so proud of him; the leadership that he provided to the whole defensive staff and to our team.”

The Scarlet Knights allowed a touchdown on the Golden Gophers’ first offensive drive, but was mostly stout after that.

Rutgers’ defense, fresh off a bye week, kept the Scarlet Knights in position for the win.

Kyonte Hamilton in the second quarter sacked Minnesota quarterback Max Brosmer for a loss of eight yards, and in the fourth quarter Dariel Djabome sacked Brosmer for a 12-yard loss.

And right after Kaliakmanis hit Strong for the four-yard scoring throw that pushed Rutgers ahead for good, Keshon Griffin sacked Brosmer on first down for a loss of eight.

Two plays later, Jordan Walker sacked Brosmer in the end zone for a safety.

And the defense held running back Darius Taylor to a mere 28 yards, impressive considering Rutgers’ run defense has been inconsistent all season.

Getting consistent pressure on the quarterback has been an issue for Rutgers all season, but this game was a solid step in the right direction.

“We played together,” Powell said. “That was the message coming into this week. They knew us, we knew them. We just had to play together, play for the brother next to you. That’s what we did today.”

Rutgers was without running back Kyle Monangai

The news came down about two-and-a-half hours before kickoff.

Rutgers’ leading rusher Kyle Monangai, who’s been banged up much of the season but has managed to play through it, was going to be out due to an undisclosed injury.

Monangai left the Scarlet Knights’ game against USC on Oct. 25 in the third quarter and never returned to the field, but it’s unclear if that’s what caused him to miss Saturday’s game against Minnesota.

Without Monangai, who’s rushed for 931 yards this season, Rutgers leaned on Antwan Raymond, a true freshman, and Ja’shon Benjamin.

Raymond finished with 73 yards on the ground, while Benjamin had 66.

Monangai’s status beyond this week – Rutgers plays at Maryland in its next game – is unclear.