Photo by: (Ben Solomon/Rutgers Athletics)
Eleven-Year-Old Gavin Kane Scores Winning Touchdown in Final Second at 2022 Scarlet-White Game
Apr 22 | Football
Scarlet defeats White, 16-14
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football hosted its annual Scarlet-White game, presented by PNC, on Friday at SHI Stadium. The Scarlet team defeated the White team by a score of 16-14, with Toms River's Gavin Kane, 11, scoring a touchdown on the final play of the game.
Quarterback Gavin Wimsatt led Scarlet on offense, going 9-for-16 with 118 passing yards and a touchdown. Gavin Rupp also threw for 26 yards. Kyle Monangai led the rushing attack, going for 65 yards on seven carries, while adding a 2-yard touchdown catch. Parker Day also rushed for 58 yards on eight carries. Guy Fava booted a 33-yard field goal to round out the scoring. Sean Ryan (4-48), Victor Konopka (4-31), Matt Alaimo (3-23) and Christian Dremel (2-43) rounded out the receiving production.
For the White, quarterback Evan Simon went 12-for-19 with 109 yards and Noah Vedral was 5-for-8 for 80 yards and a touchdown. Vedral also rushed for another 23 yards and a touchdown. Al-Shadee Salaam carried the ball five times for 71 yards. Taj Harris had five catches for 49 yards and a touchdown to lead the receivers for the White team. Shameen Jones (3-67), Johnny Langan (3-16) and Joshua Youngblood (2-29) all contributed in the passing game as well.
On the defensive side of the ball, Desmond Igbinosun and Henry Hughes Jr. each collected two sacks for the Scarlet team. Robert Longerbeam also added an interception and Ifeanyi Maijeh picked up 2.5 tackles-for-loss for Scarlet.
Kessawn Abraham led White with seven tackles, while Jordan Thompson and Cam'Ron Stewart each added a sack. Damon Matthews also intercepted a pass.
Adam Korsak punted for both sides and finished the night with seven punts for 297 yards, good for a 42.4 yard average. Michael O'Connor also added three punts for 138 yards, a 46 yard average.
The White team got the ball first and got right to work, with Al-Shadee Salaam breaking free for a 37-yard gain to set up his team in opposing territory.
On the next play, Noah Vedral found new teammate Taj Harris on a beautiful back-shoulder throw for a touchdown, giving White a 7-0 lead.
It was an immediate response for the Scarlet team, as quarterback Gavin Wimsatt led his team right down the field on a touchdown drive.
The drive was highlighted by 26 and 15-yard passes to Sean Ryan and Isaiah Washington, as well as a 31-yard run by Kyle Monangai. Wimsatt punctuated the drive on a 1-yard touchdown pass to Monangai to even the score at 7-7.
Taj Harris continued to make plays in the second quarter, hauling in a 26-yard reception from Evan Simon early in the second quarter
The rest of the quarter featured a defensive battle, including an interception by Damon Matthews at the 7:57 mark.
Christian Dremel made a big play early in the third quarter when he hauled in a beautiful 21-yard reception from Wimsatt.
The White defense would half that drive with a fourth down stop and bounce right back. After a 49-yard pass from Noah Vedral to Shameen Jones set up White in the red zone, Vedral would scamper into the end zone for the touchdown to give White a 14-7 lead.
The Scarlet team cut into the deficit in the fourth quarter, with a 33-yard field goal by Guy Fava making it a 14-10 game.
On the final play of the game, Rutgers honored 11-year-old Gavin Kane of Toms River, New Jersey. Gavin suffered a traumatic brain injury at 19 months old in a car accident and has been a patient at Children's Specialized Hospital, an RWJ Barnabas Health facility.
Follow Rutgers football on Twitter (@RFootball & @RutgersFBfans), Facebook (/RFootballShow) and Instagram (@rfootball) for the latest news and updates. Also subscribe to the YouTube channel.
Quarterback Gavin Wimsatt led Scarlet on offense, going 9-for-16 with 118 passing yards and a touchdown. Gavin Rupp also threw for 26 yards. Kyle Monangai led the rushing attack, going for 65 yards on seven carries, while adding a 2-yard touchdown catch. Parker Day also rushed for 58 yards on eight carries. Guy Fava booted a 33-yard field goal to round out the scoring. Sean Ryan (4-48), Victor Konopka (4-31), Matt Alaimo (3-23) and Christian Dremel (2-43) rounded out the receiving production.
For the White, quarterback Evan Simon went 12-for-19 with 109 yards and Noah Vedral was 5-for-8 for 80 yards and a touchdown. Vedral also rushed for another 23 yards and a touchdown. Al-Shadee Salaam carried the ball five times for 71 yards. Taj Harris had five catches for 49 yards and a touchdown to lead the receivers for the White team. Shameen Jones (3-67), Johnny Langan (3-16) and Joshua Youngblood (2-29) all contributed in the passing game as well.
On the defensive side of the ball, Desmond Igbinosun and Henry Hughes Jr. each collected two sacks for the Scarlet team. Robert Longerbeam also added an interception and Ifeanyi Maijeh picked up 2.5 tackles-for-loss for Scarlet.
Kessawn Abraham led White with seven tackles, while Jordan Thompson and Cam'Ron Stewart each added a sack. Damon Matthews also intercepted a pass.
Adam Korsak punted for both sides and finished the night with seven punts for 297 yards, good for a 42.4 yard average. Michael O'Connor also added three punts for 138 yards, a 46 yard average.
| FIRST QUARTER |
The White team got the ball first and got right to work, with Al-Shadee Salaam breaking free for a 37-yard gain to set up his team in opposing territory.
⚡️Fast as lightning ⚡️@AlshadeeSalaam | #CHOP pic.twitter.com/yeL3pufXli
— Rutgers Football (@RFootball) April 22, 2022
On the next play, Noah Vedral found new teammate Taj Harris on a beautiful back-shoulder throw for a touchdown, giving White a 7-0 lead.
Taj Harris 🤝 Rutgers Nation @_harris3 | @Noah11_V pic.twitter.com/nzgzhfrvUo
— Rutgers Football (@RFootball) April 22, 2022
It was an immediate response for the Scarlet team, as quarterback Gavin Wimsatt led his team right down the field on a touchdown drive.
The drive was highlighted by 26 and 15-yard passes to Sean Ryan and Isaiah Washington, as well as a 31-yard run by Kyle Monangai. Wimsatt punctuated the drive on a 1-yard touchdown pass to Monangai to even the score at 7-7.
Gavin Wimsatt and the Scarlet team responds ‼️
— Rutgers Football (@RFootball) April 22, 2022
Wimsatt hits Monangai for the TD and we are tied at 7! @GavinWimsatt | @kylemonangai pic.twitter.com/6maGUn3ofx
| SECOND QUARTER |
Taj Harris continued to make plays in the second quarter, hauling in a 26-yard reception from Evan Simon early in the second quarter
Have a day, Taj!
— Rutgers Football (@RFootball) April 22, 2022
Evan Simon hits Taj Harris for the big gain. @_harris3 | @evan6simon | 🪓 pic.twitter.com/vHBL0p7Pwd
The rest of the quarter featured a defensive battle, including an interception by Damon Matthews at the 7:57 mark.
| THIRD QUARTER |
Christian Dremel made a big play early in the third quarter when he hauled in a beautiful 21-yard reception from Wimsatt.
All he does is make plays ‼️@ChristianDremel | #CHOP pic.twitter.com/fJKdUqEYhT
— Rutgers Football (@RFootball) April 23, 2022
The White defense would half that drive with a fourth down stop and bounce right back. After a 49-yard pass from Noah Vedral to Shameen Jones set up White in the red zone, Vedral would scamper into the end zone for the touchdown to give White a 14-7 lead.
| FOURTH QUARTER |
The Scarlet team cut into the deficit in the fourth quarter, with a 33-yard field goal by Guy Fava making it a 14-10 game.
On the final play of the game, Rutgers honored 11-year-old Gavin Kane of Toms River, New Jersey. Gavin suffered a traumatic brain injury at 19 months old in a car accident and has been a patient at Children's Specialized Hospital, an RWJ Barnabas Health facility.
Today's Shining Knight is 11-year-old NJ native Gavin Kane.
— Rutgers Football (@RFootball) April 23, 2022
Gavin is joined by his father and Rutgers legend @FlavaFraz21.
Gavin, through Kane's Mission, has inspired many by creating an inclusive outdoor area for those with special needs. @RWJBarnabas | @ChildrensSpecNJ pic.twitter.com/0DjYGhxGUn
Follow Rutgers football on Twitter (@RFootball & @RutgersFBfans), Facebook (/RFootballShow) and Instagram (@rfootball) for the latest news and updates. Also subscribe to the YouTube channel.
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