RUTGERS 16 (3-0), TEMPLE 14 (1-2)
LINCOLN FINANCIAL FIELD • PHILADELPHIA, PA.
SEPTEMBER 17, 2022 • ATTENDANCE: 33,297
PHILADELPHIA – Rutgers football (3-0) defeated Temple (1-2), 16-14, on Saturday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field. The victory pushed the Scarlet Knights to 3-0 for the second consecutive season, as head coach
Greg Schiano picked up his 79th career win, passing the legendary Frank Burns for the most head coaching victories in program history.
PK
Jude McAtamney kicked a career-high three field goals and DB
Shaquan Loyal had a 43-yard interception return for a touchdown to account for the Scarlet Knights' scoring.
On the defensive side, DL
Aaron Lewis had a dominant game, picking up a career-high 11 tackles, two tackles-for-loss and a forced fumble. DB
Max Melton had a strong day as well with 1.5 tackles-for-loss and two pass breakups.
After back-to-back punts, the Owls struck first on a 1-yard touchdown rush by QB Quincy Patterson to make it 7-0 wth 6:41 remaining in the quarter.
The Scarlet Knights responded later in the quarter when McAtamney booted a 45-yard field goal to make it 7-3 in favor of Temple. It was his second 45-plus yard field goal in as many weeks after kicking a 49-yarder against Wagner.
The defense stepped up for Rutgers in the second quarter when Loyal came free on a blitz, tipped the pass and returned a touchdown for a 43-yard touchdown. RU took a 10-7 lead into the locker room.
McAtamney drilled his second field goal of the day -- a 25-yarder -- to give Rutgers a 13-7 advantage with 7:25 remaining in the quarter.
As the defensive battle continued, McAtamney made his career-high third field goal to put the Scarlet Knights up 16-7 with 14:55 left in the game. McAtamney would finish the game with field goals of 45, 38 and 25 yards.
Temple responded just 40 seconds later, converting a 47-yard touchdown pass to make it 16-14 in favor of RU with 14:15 remaining.
The Rutgers offense chewed up clock with a 12-play drive that took 7:54 off the clock and ended with punt from P
Adam Korsak that was fair caught at the 6-yard line.
On the ensuing drive for the Owls, they advanced the ball the their own 41-yard line, but were stopped on fourth down by the RU defense forcing an incomplete pass.
TE
Johnny Langan put the game away, lining up at quarterback and carrying the ball five straight times for 38 yards to close out the victory.
- Rutgers defeated Temple for the sixth-straight time and now leads the all-time series, 23-15. It was the first meeting between the teams in Philadelphia since 2012. The Scarlet Knights improved to 9-4 in games at NFL venues since 2006.
- Rutgers improved to 3-0 for the second-straight season and for the 22nd time in program history. The last time beginning consecutive seasons with a 3-0 record was in 2006 and 2007.
- Rutgers completed its non-conference schedule undefeated for the second-straight season is now 46-20 in non-conference games overall under head coach Greg Schiano.
- Rutgers improved to 8-4 in road games since 2020, the best 12-game road stretch since also winning 8-of-12 between 2005 and 2007.
- Schiano earned his 79th victory leading the Scarlet Knights to surpass Frank Burns (78) for the most wins in program history. As head coach from 1973 to 1983, Burns posted an undefeated season in 1976 (11-0). He was named the Walter Camp Foundation Coach of the Year in 1976 and the New Jersey Football Writers Coach of the Year in 1976, 1978 and 1979. In 1993, Burns was inducted into the Rutgers Hall of Distinguished Alumni. He is also a member of the Rutgers Athletic Hall of Fame and the New Jersey Athletic Hall of Fame.
- Rutgers has allowed just 97 rushing yards through three games, the first time holding opponents to 50 rushing yards or less in three consecutive games since 2009 (FIU, Maryland, Texas Southern). It is the best three-game span since the same stretch in 2009 (95 yards).
- Rutgers won a game without scoring an offensive touchdown for the first time since defeating Michigan State, 19-14, on Sept. 4, 2004.
- DB Shaquan Loyal recorded his first career interception and returned it for a touchdown. It was the first pick-six for the Scarlet Knights since DB Max Melton versus Temple in the 2021 season opener and 57th non-offensive touchdown under Schiano.
- PK Jude McAtamney connected on a season-high three field goals (45, 25, 38). The last Scarlet Knight with three makes in a game was Justin Davidovicz versus Liberty in 2019.
- P Adam Korsak allowed zero return yards on five punts with a net average of 43.2. He has not had a touchback in 136 consecutive punts dating back to 2019.
- DL Aaron Lewis recorded a career-high 11 tackles with two for loss and a forced fumble.
- DB Max Melton posted a career-high 1.5 tackles-for-loss and had his second game with multiple pass breakups.
- First career start: QB Evan Simon
Rutgers opens Big Ten play Sept. 24 at SHI Stadium against Iowa. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on FS1. As part of the "
R Community Game," the Scarlet Knights look forward to welcoming and honoring representatives from youth band, youth cheer/spirit, R Heroes, Special Olympics, Rutgers University Dance Marathon (RUDM) and several other community groups.
