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Big Ten Conference
Chris Long Wagner
7
Wagner WAG 0-2 , 0-0
66
Winner Rutgers RUT 2-0 , 0-0
Wagner WAG
0-2 , 0-0
7
Final
66
Rutgers RUT
2-0 , 0-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
WAG Wagner 0 7 0 0 7
RUT Rutgers 28 10 14 14 66

Game Recap: Football |

Football Defeats Wagner in Home Opener, 66-7

Eight different Scarlet Knights score touchdowns in home-opening victory over Seahawks

RUTGERS 66 (2-0), WAGNER 7 (0-2) 
SHI STADIUM • PISCATAWAY, N.J.
SEPTEMBER 10, 2022 • ATTENDANCE: 47,621

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football (2-0) shined in its 2022 home opener with a 66-7 victory over Wagner (0-2) on Saturday in front of 47,621 fans at SHI Stadium. Eight different Scarlet Knights scored touchdowns in the win, while RU's defense allowed just 145 yards in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. 

QB Evan Simon (2), QB Gavin Wimsatt and TE Johnny Langan all threw touchdown passes – the first time Rutgers had three different players throw for scores since September 20, 1997, against Boston College. The Scarlet Knights scored touchdowns on each of their first four offensive drives and totaled 585 yards in the victory.

On the defensive side, DB Robert Longerbeam and DB Max Melton registered interceptions to help the Scarlet Knights to a 2-1 turnover advantage. The unit held the Seahawks to 19 rushing yards.
 
FIRST QUARTER

Rutgers scored four touchdowns in the first quarter, beginning with an 11 play, 62-yard scoring drive on its opening series. RB Kyle Monangai capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown to put the Scarlet Knights up 7-0 with 7:52 left in the quarter. RU ran the ball all 11 times on the drive, with Monangai accounting for 31 yards during the opening series. Three touchdown passes from three different signal callers followed. Simon found WR Aron Cruickshank for a 40-yard strike, as Cruickshank beat a host of Wagner defenders to make it a 14-0 game at the 4:51 mark in the quarter. 
 
On RU's first play from scrimmage on its next drive, Wimsatt then connected with WR Chris Long, who made a one-handed grab on the 41-yard touchdown connection for a 21-0 lead.  
Rutgers closed the first quarter with another highlight, this one provided by Langan. The captain dropped back and found WR Isaiah Washington for a 43-yard touchdown to put the Scarlet Knights up 28-0 at the end of the quarter.  RU's defense allowed just 42 yards of total offense in the first quarter, which included minus-10 rushing yards and an 0-for-4 mark on third downs.  
                                              
SECOND QUARTER

Wagner was able to get on the board thanks to an eight-yard touchdown pass from Nick Kargman to Jayvin Little, but that would be all thanks to Rutgers' strong defense effort. On Wagner's next possession, Longerbeam intercepted Kargman for the first takeaway of the day and his second pick in as many games. 
 
Rutgers tacked on 10 more points before the half. K Jude McAtamney drilled a 49-yard field goal with 4:31 left in the half, while Simon completed a pass up the middle of the field to Langan for a 10-yard touchdown reception three minutes later. RU entered halftime with a 38-7 lead.
 
THIRD QUARTER

The Scarlet Knights opened the second half with the ball and marched 65 yards for their sixth touchdown of the afternoon. On a first-and-10 from the Wagner 25-yard line, RB Al Shadee Salaam went left and carved out a touchdown run to put RU up 45-7.  
 
After an interception from Melton, Rutgers responded with another touchdown, as rookie RB Samuel Brown V punched in the first score of his career to hand the Scarlet Knights a 52-7 lead with 9:38 to go in the quarter. RU would take that score into the final 15 minutes of the game.
                  
FOURTH QUARTER

RU capped a 17-play, 78-yard scoring drive that spanned two quarters with a 1-yard touchdown run from WR Rashad Rochelle. The score extended Rutgers' lead to 59-7 with just over 11 minutes to play. 

Brown V added his second touchdown of the game with 4:22 left, putting the Scarlet Knights up 66-7 to punctuate the victory.
 
NOTES
  • Rutgers defeated Wagner in the first meeting on the gridiron between the programs. The Scarlet Knights are now 106-67-1 all-time when playing a team for the first time, with victories the last four occasions (2019 Liberty, 2018 Texas State, 2017 Purdue).
  • The Scarlet Knights improved to 101-40-10 all-time in home openers, winning 11 of the last 13, and 9-5 under head coach Greg Schiano.
  • Rutgers is 2-0 to start consecutive seasons for the first time since 2006 and 2007.
  • Rutgers holds a +11 turnover margin since Schiano returned in 2020 (41 forced). That includes one turnover or less against in 17-of-24 games.
  • Rutgers is 27-10 in non-conference home games under Schiano, having won 13 of the last 15. Overall, the Scarlet Knights are 45-20 in non-conference games led by Schiano.
  • Schiano earned his 78th victory leading the Scarlet Knights to match Frank Burns for the most wins in program history. Burns led RU from 1973 to 1983.
  • The 66 points scored were the most for the Scarlet Knights in a game under Schiano and the most for the team since posting 68 on Sept. 4, 1993, against Colgate at Giants Stadium. It was the seventh time under Schiano totaling 50 or more points and third time topping 60.
  • Rutgers scored 28 points in the first quarter and posted touchdowns on its first four offensive drives for the first time this century.
  • Rutgers picked up 328 rushing yards and 257 passing yards to top 250 in both categories in the same game for the first time since the 2008 International Bowl versus Ball State (303 passing, 292 rushing).
  • Rutgers had three different players throw a touchdown pass (QB Gavin Wimsatt, QB Evan Simon, TE Johnny Langan) in the same game for the first time since Sept. 20, 1997, versus Boston College (Mike McMahon, Brendan Edmonds, Bill Powell).
  • Rutgers did not punt in a game for the first time since Aug. 30, 2007, against Buffalo.
  • Rutgers allowed just 19 rushing yards in the game and has only surrendered 48 overall in the first two games.
  • Rutgers picked up 33 first downs, the most in a game under Schiano.
  • Eight different players combined to score nine touchdowns. The last time RU scored nine offensive touchdowns in a game was Dec. 4, 2008, versus Louisville.
  • WR Chris Long (receiving), RB Samuel Brown V (two rushing) and WR Rashad Rochelle (rushing) all scored their first career touchdowns. WR Aron Cruickshank (receiving), RB Kyle Monangai (rushing) and RB Al-Shadee Salaam (rushing) all scored for the second-straight week. TE Johnny Langan picked up his first career receiving score and threw a touchdown, making it 19 career touchdowns accounted for (10 rushing, eight passing, one receiving).
  • QB Evan Simon (two touchdowns, 151 yards) and QB Gavin Wimsatt (one touchdown, 63 yards) both recorded their first career passing touchdown and a career-high in passing yards.
  • DB Robert Longerbeam notched his second interception in as many weeks, while DB Max Melton recorded his fourth career pick.
  • PK Jude McAtamney recorded a touchback on 10-of-11 kickoffs. It was the most touchbacks for the team in a game this century.
 
PARTICIPATION
 
UP NEXT

Rutgers returns to the road to face Temple Sept. 17 at Lincoln Financial Field. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. on ESPN+. Fans coming to the Philadelphia area are invited to attend an official pregame pep rally/tailgate at Xfinity Live. The festivities begin at noon, with the Marching Scarlet Knights, national champion Rutgers Spirit Squad, Riot Squad and Sir Henry all scheduled to be in attendance. RU last visited the Owls in 2012, also winning last season's meeting in Piscataway.
      
Gallery: (9-10-2022) Football vs. Wagner (Sept. 10, 2022)

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