RUTGERS (1-3, 0-2) vs. MARYLAND (2-2, 0-1)
October 5, 2019 • 12:01 p.m. ET • Big Ten Network
SHI Stadium • Piscataway, N.J.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football returns to SHI Stadium on Saturday to host Maryland in its first home Big Ten game of the season. Scheduled for a noon start, the contest is presented by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.
 
Big Ten Network will televise the matchup with Lisa Byington (play-by-play), James Laurinaitis (analyst) and Elise Menaker (reporter) on the call. Listen to the action on the Rutgers Sports Network (WCTC 1450-AM, WOR 710-AM, WENJ 97.3-FM, WNJE 920-AM, Sirius 135, XM 202) with Chris Carlin (play-by-play), Ray Lucas (analyst), Eric LeGrand (analyst) and Anthony Fucilli (sideline). The broadcast is also available via ScarletKnights.com, the Scarlet Knights App and TuneIn. The WRSU 88.7-FM student radio broadcast will have Jake Ostrove and Brad Loprinzi.
 
Rutgers continues its support of Coach to Cure MD. The national game day charity project, led by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), aims to raise awareness and money to fund research for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Now in its 11th year, the program has raised over $2.1 million. To make a donation, visit CoachToCureMD.org or text the word "CURE" to 501501 to make a $25 donation.
 
As part of the year-long celebration of the 150^th anniversary of the first college football game played, the week will celebrate the program's 70 All-Americans. The game will feature honorary captains, as well as social and in-venue content leading up.
 

SCOUTING RUTGERS

Rutgers University Director of Athletics Pat Hobbs announced Sunday that head football coach Chris Ash and offensive coordinator John McNulty have been relieved of their duties, effective immediately. Tight ends coach Nunzio Campanile will serve as interim head coach and offensive coordinator for the remainder of the season. Campanile, a native of Fair Lawn, New Jersey, is currently in his second season at Rutgers. He served as head coach at Bergen Catholic High School from 2010-17 and compiled a 60-28 (.681) record.
 
Most recently, the Scarlet Knights fell to No. 20 Michigan, 52-0, in Ann Arbor in the second road game this season at a ranked opponent. Sophomore Artur Sitkowski completed his first seven passes and finished 17-of-24 (70.8 percent) for his personal-best completion percentage in a game. The quarterback owns a 70.1 completion percentage (40-for-57) in two starts this season with only one interception.
 
Junior Raheem Blackshear added seven more receptions against the Wolverines, leading all running backs nationally with 77.5 receiving yards and 7.3 receptions per game. He paces the active roster with 211 career carries, 912 rushing yards, 80 receptions, 810 receiving yards, 2,239 all-purpose yards and 12 touchdowns.
 
Defensively, senior Damon Hayes recorded his fifth career interception last week. Sophomore Jarrett Paul had eight tackles with a pass breakup in the game, while junior Tyshon Fogg was in on seven stops and ranks 19^th nationally at 10 tackles per game.
 
Junior Adam Korsak has helped the Scarlet Knights to a net punt of 42.96 yards per attempt, which ranks 14^th in the country. The Australian has won the Ray Guy Punter of the Week twice this season. Junior Justin Davidovicz is 5-for-5 on field goals in 2019 with a long of 50 yards.
 

SCOUTING MARYLAND

The Terrapins suffered a 59-0 home loss to No. 12 Penn State last Friday in their Big Ten opener. Josh Jackson has started all four games at quarterback and is 61-for-121 for 789 yards and eight touchdowns. Anthony McFarland has scored five touchdowns on the ground, while Tyler Mabry owns three receiving touchdowns. The Maryland defense is averaging 24.3 points allowed per game. Keandre Jones ranks third in the Big Ten at 0.88 sacks per game (3.5 overall).
 
Mike Locksley is in his first full season as head coach, previously serving as interim head coach for the Terrapins in 2015.

THE SERIES

Rutgers will take on Maryland in a Big Ten game for the sixth time and 15th time overall. The Scarlet Knights have won 4-of-7 meetings played in New Jersey. That includes a 31-24 victory in 2017. RU trailed 24-17 entering the fourth quarter before scoring two unanswered touchdowns. Robert Martin evened the game with a 10-yard rushing score and Gus Edwards later hauled in a 23-yard touchdown from Giovanni Rescigno to put the Scarlet Knights ahead. The defense sealed the win by preventing Maryland from reaching the end zone on a 17-play drive that lasted 6:39. The secondary knocked away passes on three of the final four plays, including a breakup by Isaiah Wharton on fourth down to force a turnover on downs. Kiy Hester previously had a 52-yard pick-six in the second quarter.
 
Maryland won last season's game, which was played in College Park, 34-7. Isaih Pacheco scored his first collegiate touchdown and recorded his first career 100-yard rushing performance (107) in the game.
 

UP NEXT

Rutgers heads to Indiana on Oct. 12 for a game set to start at noon on Big Ten Network.
 
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding football, follow the program on Twitter (@RFootball). For additional updates, please download the Scarlet Knights App via the app store or play store.