Howard coach Larry Scott seemingly takes issue with Rutgers TD in final seconds
Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano didn’t take his foot off the gas until the clock hit zero. In Rutgers’ 44-7 win over Howard on Thursday night, the Scarlet Knights continued to march its offense down the field until the final moment of the game despite boasting a substantial lead.
As time expired, Rutgers running back Antwan Raymond punched in an 11-yard touchdown carry. Immediately after the final horn sounded, Schiano ran out to midfield to shake hands with Howard head coach Larry Scott.
Although Scott shook Schiano’s hand, he seemed less than thrilled with the veteran head coach’s late-game aggression. Scott pointed toward Rutgers’ end zone while talking with Schiano. Schiano turned away from Scott and began to walk back to his sideline before spinning around once more to exchange a few final words with Scott.
Despite the controversy around the final play of the game, Rutgers had solidified its victory far before its last drive. After taking a mere 17-7 lead into halftime, the Scarlet Knights erupted in the second half, tallying 272 total yards while holding Howard to 119.
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Running back Kyle Monangai led the charge for Rutgers, amassing 165 rushing yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. Monangai wasn’t the only Rutgers RB who excelled in the win. The Scarlet Knights’ collectively notched 329 yards in the ground game.
Nonetheless, the rushing attack wasn’t Rutgers’ only weapon. Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis boasted 147 passing yards and three touchdowns against the Bison.
Fans will undoubtedly hear more about Schiano’s relentless attack against Howard over the coming days but, for now, the Scarlet Knights will simply celebrate their season-opening triumph.
Rutgers secures victory without star linebacker
Rutgers’ stellar defense in the win is ever more impressive when considering the team was without star linebacker Tyreem Powell. Powell was able to warm up for the contest but could not play as he continues to recover from an Achilles injury.
Tyreem Powell appeared in eight games for the Scarlet Knights last season, making seven starts. He finished the year with 53 tackles, two sacks, two pass breakups and a forced fumble.
Powell started all 12 games at linebacker in 2022 and recorded 71 tackles, six tackles for loss and three sacks. He was also a key contributor as a redshirt freshman in 2021, playing in all 13 games and making three starts.