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Rutgers University Athletics

Scoreboard

Big Ten Conference
Greg Schiano
(Ben Solomon/Rutgers Athletics)
38
Winner Rutgers RU 1-0 , 1-0
27
Michigan State MSU 0-1 , 0-1
Winner
Rutgers RU
1-0 , 1-0
38
Final
27
Michigan State MSU
0-1 , 0-1
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
RU Rutgers 14 14 0 10 38
MSU Michigan State 7 6 7 7 27

Game Recap: Football |

Football Defeats Michigan State in 2020 Season Opener

RUTGERS 38 (1-0, 1-0), MICHIGAN STATE 27 (0-1, 0-1)
SPARTAN STADIUM • EAST LANSING, MICH.
OCTOBER 24, 2020
 
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Behind a dominant defensive effort and an opportunistic scoring attack, Rutgers football (1-0, 1-0) downed Michigan State (0-1, 0-1), 38-27, on Saturday afternoon in East Lansing to open the 2020 season. The Scarlet Knights – who never trailed in the road matchup and limited the Spartans to just one trip inside the red zone – scored 21 points off seven takeaways to deliver Greg Schiano his first win since returning as head coach.
 
A staple during Schiano's first tenure "On the Banks," RU's defense flourished against MSU. Rutgers' seven takeaways (six on defense and one on special teams) were the most in a conference game since it joined the Big Ten in 2014 and most overall since 2000. The Scarlet Knights generated 12 tackles-for-loss – which included two sacks from defensive end Mohamed Toure – and picked off Rocky Lombardi twice with interceptions from cornerback Tre Avery and safety Brendon White.
 
Noah Vedral made his first start at quarterback for Rutgers and finished 18-of-29 with 169 yards and a 14-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Shameen Jones. Vedral scored one of four rushing touchdowns for the Scarlet Knights, as running back Isaih Pacheco (two touchdowns) and quarterback Johnny Langan (one rushing score) also found paydirt to help Rutgers secure its fourth win all time against MSU.
 
The 11-point win tied for the largest margin of victory on the road in Big Ten action since Rutgers defeated Illinois, 35-24, on Oct. 14, 2017 in Champaign.
 
FIRST QUARTER
Rutgers wasted no time against the Spartans, as it capped 10-play, 75-yard opening drive with a 12-yard rushing touchdown from Pacheco to go up 7-0. The Scarlet Knights' defense followed with their first of seven takeaways after White scooped up a fumble caused by cornerback Avery Young.
 
RU turned another turnover – a forced fumble from Toure recovered by linebacker Tyreek Maddox-Williams at the MSU one-yard line – into seven points when Langan scored on the keeper to make it 14-0 Rutgers with 6:57 left in the quarter.  
Michigan State added a touchdown in the final minute of the opening quarter to make it a 14-7 contest in favor of Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights forced three MSU penalties, produced two turnovers, added a sack and stuffed the Spartans on a fourth-down attempt to set the defensive tone early.
 
SECOND QUARTER
RU's defense provided yet another opportunity for the offense when Avery picked off Lombardi at the 12:18 mark in the second quarter. Vedral followed two plays later with a 24-yard rushing touchdown to put Rutgers up 21-7.  
Young then provided his second takeaway in as many quarters, this time stripping MSU's Jayden Reed at the Scarlet Knights' 22-yard line, which was recovered by linebacker Olakunle Fatukasi.
 
RU's final score of the half came courtesy of Pacheco, who closed out a six-play, 53-yard drive with his second rushing touchdown of the afternoon, this one for three yards. Michigan State added two field goals in the final three minutes of the quarter, as Rutgers entered the locker room with a 28-13 advantage, its largest halftime lead in league play since joining the conference.
 
THIRD QUARTER
Rutgers' defense continued its strong play in the second half, though Michigan State outscored the Scarlet Knights, 7-0, in the third quarter. Toure recorded his second sack of the day on a third-and-11 attempt with 6:30 left in the quarter to force a punt, but the Spartans recovered a muffed punt and scored a 30-yard touchdown to make it 28-20 heading into the final 15 minutes.
 
FOURTH QUARTER
The Scarlet Knights left no doubt in the fourth quarter, as it used more than nine minutes of game clock and scores on two possessions to put the game away. Place kicker Guy Fava connected on a 44-yard attempt to close out RU's first drive of the quarter to make it 31-20 with 12:20 left to play.
 
Rutgers was forced to punt on its following possession, but MSU fumbled its return attempt which was recovered by wide receiver Bo Melton at the Michigan State 26-yard line. Vedral quickly turned the opportunity into a touchdown, as he found Jones in the back of the end zone on a 14-yard toss to make it 38-20 with just over four minutes to go.
 
After the Spartans added a touchdown with under two minutes to go and got the ball back for another possession, the Scarlet Knights closed the door when White hauled in a deflected pass during MSU's final drive to secure the 38-27 road win.
 
UP NEXT
Rutgers returns to New Jersey to face Indiana in its home opener at SHI Stadium Oct. 31. The game, presented by PNC Bank, is set to start at 3:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network.

PARTICIPATION TEAM NOTES
  • Rutgers improved to 78-64-9 in season openers and 8-4 under Greg Schiano.
  • Rutgers is 1-0 in the Big Ten for the first time.
  • Rutgers won on the road in the Big Ten for the fourth time. The last road conference win was at Illinois in 2017. The 11-point win also marked Rutgers' largest margin of victory in a Big Ten road game since the 35-24 win in Champaign.
  • Rutgers defeated Michigan State for the first time in Big Ten play and for the fourth time overall. It was the third victory for RU at Spartan Stadium (1988, 1991). The 38 points are the most for RU in seven games played in East Lansing.
  • The 38 points are the most for Rutgers in a Big Ten game since posting 55 at Indiana in 2015.
  • Rutgers forced seven turnovers (five fumble recoveries, two interceptions), most for the team in a Big Ten league game and most since totaling seven versus Pitt in 2000. It was the ninth time under Schiano the Scarlet Knights forced at least five turnovers.
  • Rutgers forced five fumbles, tied for most the program under Schiano (2005 Syracuse).
  • Rutgers led 28-13 at halftime for its largest lead after two quarters since joining the Big Ten. The previous best was an 11-point margin over Illinois in 2017.
  • Greg Schiano earned his 69th win as the Rutgers head coach, moving to within four wins of tying John Bateman for third in program history.
  • Rutgers scored touchdowns on all four of its trips to the red zone and held Michigan State to just one trip to the red zone.
  • The Oct. 24 start date is the latest beginning to a Rutgers season since 1943, an Oct. 30 win over Lehigh.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
  • PK Guy Fava
    • Connected on first career field goal attempt from 44 yards.
    • Made all five extra points for a career-high eight points scored.
  • LB Tyshon Fogg
    • Recorded a team-high 14 tackles for sixth career game with double-digit stops.
  • WR Shameen Jones
    • Scored second career touchdown on a 14-yard reception in the fourth quarter.
  • QB Johnny Langan
    • Scored fourth career rushing touchdown.
  • RB Isaih Pacheco
    • Scored two rushing touchdowns to make it 12 for his career.
    • Third game with multiple touchdowns.
    • Led the team with a career-high five receptions.
  • QB Noah Vedral
    • Made third career start and first for Rutgers.
    • Set career highs with 18 completions and 29 attempts.
    • Scored seventh career rushing touchdown on a career-long 24-yard carry in the second quarter.
    • Threw second career passing touchdown on a 14-yard throw to Shameen Jones in the fourth quarter.
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), subscribe to the YouTube channel and visit Rutgers.Football.
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