Postgame Notes: Football vs. Morgan State

Photo by: Rich Graessle

Sep 16 | Football

RUTGERS (1-2) 65, MORGAN STATE (0-3) 0
HIGH POINT SOLUTIONS STADIUM • PISCATAWAY, N.J.
SEPTEMBER 16, 2017 • ATTENDANCE: 39,892

PARTICIPATION

First career start (1): OL Michael Maietti
Nine players have now made their first career start for Rutgers in 2017.
Collegiate debut (17): LB Rashawn Battle, RB McDerby Ceneus, OL Micah Clark, LB Tyshon Fogg, DB Jelani Ray Garvin, DL Jason Griggs, OL Sam Howson, OL Mike Lonsdorf, OL Michael Maietti, FB Solomon Manning, DB Kobe Marfo, OL Jim Onulak, RB Aslan Pugh, LB Austin Rosa, OL Manny Taylor, OL Zach Venesky, OL Sam Vretman
Rutgers has now had 34 players make their collegiate debut in 2017, including 13 true freshman.
Including transfers, Rutgers has had 40 players make their debut for the Scarlet Knights through three games this season.

TEAM NOTES

Rutgers improved to 14-0 all-time against teams from the MEAC, winning by a combined score of 623-88. The Scarlet Knights have beaten Morgan State four times in as many games.
Rutgers picked up its first shutout since blanking Norfolk State, 38-0, in 2013. It was the largest shutout since beating Columbia, 69-0, in 1978 at Giants Stadium.
Rutgers scored 65 points in the game, the most since tallying 68 versus Colgate in 1993 at Giants Stadium.
Rutgers' 34 points at halftime were the most through two quarters since totaling 42 versus Howard in 2009.
Rutgers scored on 9-of-10 trips inside the red zone to improve to 12-of-13 on the season.
Rutgers has held the ball for over 30 minutes in each of its three games this season, with a mark of 33:31 today.
Rutgers held Morgan State to 80 rushing yards (no rushing first downs) and has out-rushed its opponent in each game this season. The Scarlet Knights have held 2-of-3 opponents under 100 rushing yards this season.
Rutgers recorded three interceptions in a game for the first time since the 2015 game against Nebraska.
The Rutgers defense held Morgan out of the red zone during the game.
WR Hunter Hayek blocked a punt in the second quarter for its 49th blocked kick since the start of the 2009 season, the most in the nation over that span. It was the 23rd punt to rejected. RU has now blocked multiple kicks in each season since 2007.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

RB Raheem Blackshear
- Recorded first career 100-yard game with 102 yards on the ground.
- Became the first true freshman to reach the century mark since Josh Hicks (202) and Robert Martin (100) in the 2014 Quick Lane Bowl versus North Carolina.
- Picked up first two career rushing touchdowns.
- Added 30 receiving yards to lead the team with 132 all-purpose yards.
DL Darnell Davis
- Had a career-high 10 tackles to top previous best of six set four times prior.
- Recorded second sack of the season and fourth of career.
- Picked up second forced fumble of the season.
WR Janarion Grant
- Recorded 33 punt return yards to bring his career total to 559, passing Tony Pawlik (1972-74) for fourth in program history.
DB K.J. Gray
- Picked up two pass break-ups and a career-high seven tackles.
TE Nakia Griffin-Stewart
- Collected first career receiving touchdown on second career catch.
QB Johnathan Lewis
- Became the eighth player in program history to rush for four or more touchdowns in a game.
- Became the second true freshman to rush for four or more touchdowns in a game (Justice Hairston in 2003 versus Navy).
- The four rushing touchdowns were the most by a quarterback in program history.
- No true freshman quarterback at the FBS level entered the weekend with four rushing touchdowns in a game.
- Threw a touchdown on first career passing attempt.
- The last Scarlet Knight to account for five touchdowns in a game was Gary Nova at Fresno State in 2013 (five passing scores).
WR Bo Melton
- Recorded first career catch on a 48-yard reception.
TE/DL Myles Nash
- Became the first player to have a tackle and catch in a game since Ruhann Peele at Connecticut in 2013.
TE Jerome Washington
- Picked up his first career receiving touchdown in the second quarter.
- Had a team-high three receptions and is tied for the team lead with 12 catches on the season.