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Rutgers University Athletics

Scoreboard

Big Ten Conference
O'Neal
(Ben Solomon/Rutgers Athletics)
27
Rutgers RU 1-2 , 1-2
49
Winner Ohio State OSU 3-0 , 3-0
Rutgers RU
1-2 , 1-2
27
Final
49
Ohio State OSU
3-0 , 3-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
RU Rutgers 3 0 6 18 27
OSU Ohio State 7 28 7 7 49

Game Recap: Football |

Football Battles to the End at No. 3 Ohio State

NO. 3 OHIO STATE 49 (3-0, 3-0), RUTGERS 27 (1-2, 1-2)
OHIO STADIUM • COLUMBUS, OHIO
NOVEMBER 7, 2020
 
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Despite outscoring its opponent, 24-14, in the second half, Rutgers football (1-2, 1-2) dropped a hard-fought 49-27 loss to No. 3 Ohio State (3-0, 3-0) on Saturday night in Columbus. Wide receiver Bo Melton returned a punt for a score, tight end Jovani Haskins hauled in a touchdown, quarterback Johnny Langan found the end zone on a one-yard rush and offensive lineman Raiqwon O'Neal scored on a trick play from four yards out for the Scarlet Knights.

Defensively, linebacker Olakunle Fatukasi reached double-digit tackles for the third-straight week with a game-high 13, while defensive lineman Julius Turner picked up three tackles-for-loss. Linebacker Tyshon Fogg forced a fumble recovered by defensive lineman Mike Tverdov.
 
FIRST HALF
After Ohio State scored on its first possession, Rutgers responded with a nine-play, 63-yard scoring drive that resulted in a field goal. The highlight of the series came courtesy of wide receiver Aron Cruickshank, who took a reverse 20 yards to get the Scarlet Knights well within Buckeye territory. Kicker Guy Fava closed the drive with a 30-yard field goal to make it 7-3 with 6:11 left in the opening quarter.
 
RU produced on the following defensive series, as defensive lineman Robin Jutwreten sacked OSU quarterback Justin Fields for a loss of six yards. The defensive stand forced Ohio State to punt as kept the Buckeyes off the scoreboard heading into the second quarter.
 
The Buckeyes controlled the pace in the final 15 minutes of the first half and entered the locker room with a 35-3 lead. Jutwreten and lineman CJ Onyechi recorded sacks in the first half, while Turner added two tackles-for-loss before the break.
 
SECOND HALF
Rutgers provided plenty of trickery in the second half, starting with running back Isaih Pacheco. The Vineland, New Jersey, native took a direct snap up the home sideline for 66 yards, giving the Scarlet Knights possession at the Ohio State 4-yard line.
 
RU followed on the next play with a four-yard trick play from quarterback Noah Vedral to O'Neal for its first touchdown of the night at the 8:08 mark in the third quarter. Rutgers added three touchdowns in the final 15 minutes. Langan found Haskins for a six-yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter. After the Scarlet Knights forced OSU to punt, defensive back Avery Young received the punt and hauled it across the field to Melton, who took it 58 yards for his first-career punt return touchdown. Langan tallied the final score of the game, as he capped a nine play, 64-yard scoring drive with a one-yard touchdown rush to make it 49-27 with 7:17 left in the game.
 
UP NEXT
Rutgers hosts Illinois on Nov. 14 at SHI Stadium in a game presented by Horizon BCBSNJ. Kickoff is set for noon on Big Ten Network.

PARTICIPATION 
TEAM NOTES 
  • Three Rutgers quarterbacks combined for 34 completions, the most for the team in a Big Ten game and one off the single-game school record of 35 set in 2005 versus West Virginia and 1988 versus Vanderbilt.
  • The 27 points scored Saturday was the most by Rutgers in seven games against Ohio State. It was also the most for the program on the road against a top-three opponent (six games all time). 
  • Rutgers allowed one sack against an Ohio State defense that entered the game averaging four sacks per game and ranked third in the NCAA in the category.
  • Rutgers posted eight tackles-for-loss defensively, most in a game against Ohio State. The defense also induced four holding penalties. 
  • OL Raiqwon O'Neal scored his first career touchdown on a four-yard rush in the third quarter. 
  • TE Jovani Haskins hauled his first receiving touchdown for Rutgers and second in his career overall. 
  • DB Avery Young threw back to WR Bo Melton for a 58-yard punt return touchdown in the fourth quarter. It was the first Rutgers punt return for a touchdown since Janarion Grant versus New Mexico in 2016. In addition, it marked the 52nd non-offensive touchdown for Rutgers under head coach Greg Schiano. 
  • WR Bo Melton now has recorded a reception in 15 consecutive games. 
  • LB Olakunle Fatukasi reached double-digit tackles for the third-straight game with a game-high 13 stops. He has also posted multiple tackles-for-loss in back-to-back weeks.
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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