Nov. 5, 2016 Box Score | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery 
33 
27 High Point Solutions Stadium | Attendance: 37,345
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PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Despite a back-and-fourth rally between Rutgers football and Indiana in the opening half, the Hoosiers (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten) found a surge in the third quarter to earn a 33-27 win over the Scarlet Knights (2-7, 0-6 Big Ten) on Saturday at High Point Solutions Stadium.
With Rutgers leading 24-13 at the beginning of the third quarter, the Hoosiers returned to the field to register three consecutive touchdowns to establish a lead for good.
Redshirt sophomore Giovanni Rescigno threw for a season-high 258 passing yards, including a career-long 68-yard touchdown pass to senior Andre Patton in the first quarter. Redshirt freshman Jawuan Harris had his best receiving day as a Scarlet Knight with career-highs in receptions (8) and receiving yards (118) to lead RU. Senior Justin Goodwin led Rutgers with 147 all-purpose yards.
Rutgers blocked two Indiana field goals in the contest; the first time since 2012 the Scarlet Knights matched the feat. Since 2009, RU has blocked 47 kicks (field goals and punts), the most by any team in the NCAA during that span.
Although Indiana posted the first touchdown four minutes into the game, Rutgers responded on the first play of the following drive as Rescigno connected with a wide-open Patton for a 68-yard touchdown.
The Hoosiers quickly reclaimed the lead with a 38-yard pass to the endzone. However, a missed extra point set the score at 13-7 with 9:56 to go in the first quarter. After a 32-yard field goal by senior David Bonagura cut the Scarlet Knights' deficit to 13-10, a blocked Indiana field goal by junior Sebastian Joseph halted the margin for the remainder of the quarter.
The Scarlet Knight defense opened the second quarter with energy, intercepting Indiana's quarterback Richard Lagow twice, the first by Deonte Roberts and the second by Saquan Hampton, on the Hoosiers' first two drives of the quarter.
Although RU was unable to convert on the first two turnovers, the defense kept knocking. On Indiana's third drive of the frame, Julian Pinnix-Odrick forced a fumble which Darnell Davis recovered and returned 75 yards for a touchdown. It gave the Scarlet Knights their first lead of the game at 17-13 to carry into halftime.
On the opening kickoff of the second half, Rutgers recovered a fumble on Indiana's return. After an 11-yard rush for Goodwin kept the momentum rolling, Rescigno capped off the drive with a one-yard rush to the endzone, pushing the Rutgers lead to 24-13. Although the Scarlet Knights protected the margin with their second blocked field goal of the game, this time for Isaiah Wharton, the Hoosiers' responded with three unanswered touchdowns to re-establish a lead at 33-24.
With under a minute remaining on the clock, Rescigno completed a 42-yard pass to Harris to put the offense in scoring position. Despite tacking on a field goal, it was not enough for Rutgers to top Indiana after an onside kick attempt.
Rutgers next hits the road for a contest at Michigan State on Nov 12. Kickoff is set for noon on Big Ten Network.
