RUTGERS 48 (1-0), MASSACHUSETTS 21 (0-1)
SHI STADIUM • PISCATAWAY, N.J.
AUGUST 30, 2019 • ATTENDANCE: 40,515
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers kicked off the 150th anniversary of college football with a 48-21 win over Massachusetts on Friday night at SHI Stadium, "The Birthplace of College Football." The Scarlet Knights finished the game strong, scoring 41 unanswered points to close out the victory.
Senior quarterback
McLane Carter totaled 340 passing yards, throwing two touchdowns. Overall, Carter was 21-for-31 in his first start as a Scarlet Knight.
Sophomore running back
Isaih Pacheco recorded a career-high four rushing touchdowns. Junior wide receiver
Bo Melton and junior running back
Raheem Blackshear added a touchdown each as well. Junior kicker
Justin Davidovicz tacked on two field goals in the win.
Junior linebacker
Tyshon Fogg led the defense with 11 total tackles in his first collegiate start. Junior defensive lineman
Elorm Lumor assisted on a pair of sacks with linebacker
Olakunle Fatukasi and redshirt freshman linebacker
Jamree Kromah. Junior
Tre Avery and sophomore
Avery Young both registered an interception in the secondary.
FIRST QUARTER
Despite UMass jumping out to a 14-point lead, Pacheco put RU on the board with a two-yard rush to make it 14-7 with three minutes to go in the first quarter.
The Minutemen would tack on another touchdown as the seconds ticked down in the opening frame to extend their edge.
SECOND QUARTER
The Scarlet Knights came to life in the second quarter, posted 31 unanswered points in the stanza. Less than two minutes into the second quarter, Carter connected with Melton on a 33-yard pass to ignite the scoring.
On RU's following drive, Pacheco kept things rolling with a 57-yard rush to the end zone, evening the count 21-21 with nine minutes until the break.
After a successful 27-yard field goal for Davidovicz made it 24-21, Blackshear joined in on the scoring, reeling in a 28-yard pass from Carter. Pacheco would add his third score of the game with 11 seconds on the clock, sneaking through the UMass defense for two-yard rush.
Rutgers entered halftime with a 38-21 advantage.
THIRD QUARTER
Davidovicz opened the third-quarter scoring with a 23-yard field goal, pushing the Rutgers lead to 41-21. The Scarlet Knights defense held the Minutemen scoreless for a second-straight frame to keep control of its advantage.
FOURTH QUARTER
Pacheco added his fourth touchdown of the day at the 10-minute mark of the fourth quarter, rushing for seven yards to expand the Scarlet Knights lead to 48-21.
The UMass offense wouldn't be back on the field for long, as Avery hauled in an interception with eight minutes left in the game. RU's defense held on to keep the final margin locked at 48-21.
UP NEXT
Rutgers travels to Iowa for its first road matchup of the year on Saturday, Sept. 7. Kickoff is set for noon ET on FS1.
PARTICIPATION
- First career start (6): SS Malik Dixon, LB Olakunle Fatukasi, LB Tyshon Fogg, TE Brandon Myers, LT Raiqwon O'Neal, FS Jarrett Paul
- Collegiate debut (17): RB Kay'Ron Adams, TE Matt Alaimo, TE Cooper Heisey, LB Deion Jennings, DB Naijee Jones, DL Jamree Kromah, QB Johnny Langan, TE Brandon Myers, LB Chike Nwankwo, OL Matt Rosso, TE Jonathan Pimentel, LB Mohamed Toure, LB Brian Ugwu, WR Isaiah Washington, DB Donald Williams, WR Paul Woods, RB Aaron Young
- Transfers to make Rutgers debut (5): TE Matt Alaimo, QB McLane Carter, SS Malik Dixon, QB Johnny Langan, LB Drew Singleton
- True freshmen to play (6): RB Kay'Ron Adams, TE Cooper Heisey, LB Mohamed Toure, LB Brian Ugwu, WR Isaiah Washington, DB Donald Williams
TEAM NOTES
- Rutgers is 9-1 in its last 10 home openers, holding a positive point differential of 341-110.
- Rutgers improved to 77-64-9 all-time in season openers and 99-39-10 in home openers.
- Rutgers has now won three-straight games over Massachusetts to take a 3-2 all-time series lead. Friday marked the first meeting since 1978.
- Rutgers totaled 554 yards of total offense, the most under head coach Chris Ash and most in a season opener since collecting 563 versus Buffalo in 2007. It was the most in any game since picking up 596 at Indiana in 2015. That game was also the last time the Scarlet Knights had at least 300 passing yards and 200 rushing yards in a game.
- Rutgers scored 38 points in the first half, its most in a half since having that amount in the second half versus Howard in 2016 and the most in a first half versus an FBS opponent since racking up 49 versus Louisville in 2008.
- Rutgers improved to 7-2 under head coach Chris Ash when leading at halftime and when scoring 20 or more points in a game.
- Rutgers punted only one time for the first time since playing Norfolk State in 2015.
- Rutgers scored the last 41 points of the game, registering that many unanswered last in 2017 versus Norfolk State in a 65-0 victory.
- Opponents have had one sack or less against Rutgers in 17 of the last 25 games.
- Both RB Raheem Blackshear and WR Bo Melton had over 100 receiving yards, making it the first time Rutgers had multiple players top the century mark in the category since having three do so at Maryland in 2014.
- Rutgers began a season on a Friday for the sixth time in program history.
- The last Rutgers game in August was a 41-38 win over Washington State in Seattle on Aug. 28, 2014.
- Rutgers is now 4-1 in openers played on Aug. 30.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- DB Tre Avery
- Notched first collegiate interception.
- QB McLane Carter
- Totaled 340 passing yards for the most by a Rutgers quarterback in his first start for the team since Mike McMahon had 386 at Army in 1997. Since 1990, that was also the second-best total in a starting debut.
- The 340 passing yards marked the first 300-yard passing game by a Rutgers quarterback since Chris Laviano had 344 versus Maryland in 2015.
- Carter's previous career high in a game was 247 for Texas Tech versus Baylor in 2018.
- Tied career high with two touchdown passes.
- Became the first left-handed quarterback to start a game at Rutgers since Ralph Sacca on Nov. 9, 1996 versus West Virginia. The Scarlet Knights had started a right-hander the previous 268 games. The last lefty to start a season opener was Corey Valentine on Aug. 31, 1996 versus Villanova.
- RB Raheem Blackshear
- Had 126 receiving yards to top the century mark for the second time, also doing so with 162 at Wisconsin in 2018.
- Notched fifth career receiving touchdown and 11th overall.
- Hauled in a career-high nine receptions.
- Totaled 165 all-purpose yards to make it nine career games with at least 100. Has led the team in all-purpose yards in 11 games.
- Has recorded at least one reception in 14 consecutive games.
- PK Justin Davidovicz
- Converted two field goals to improve to 11-for-13 to start career, including 8-for-8 inside 40 yards.
- LB Tyshon Fogg
- Had a game-high 11 tackles in first collegiate start.
- WR Bo Melton
- Picked up first collegiate touchdown on a 33-yard reception in the second quarter.
- Totaled a career-high 127 yards receiving, leading the team in the category for the sixth time.
- Matched personal best with six receptions, also doing so versus Illinois in 2018.
- Reeled in a 52-yard catch in the second quarter, a new career-long reception. It was the longest Rutgers pass play since a 68-yard connection from Giovanni Rescigno to Andre Patton versus Indiana in 2016.
- WR Mohamed Jabbie
- Collected a career-high three receptions with all three going for first downs.
- RB Isaih Pacheco
- Scored four rushing touchdowns to become the ninth Rutgers player to reach that mark in a game in program history. The previous player to achieve that feat was Johnathan Lewis versus Morgan State in 2017. The last Rutgers running back with four rushing scores was Ray Rice in the 2008 International Bowl against Ball State.
- The four touchdowns topped his 2018 total of three. Notched first collegiate multiple-touchdown game.
- Had third career game with at least 100 rushing yards. The 156 yards set a new career high, topping the 142 versus Michigan in 2018.
- The 156 rushing yards were the most by a Rutgers player in a season opener since Paul James had 173 versus Washington State in 2014.
- DB Avery Young
- Notched first collegiate interception.
Gallery: (8/30/2019) Football Versus UMass
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