RUTGERS 20 (4-4, 1-4), ILLINOIS 14 (3-6, 2-4)
MEMORIAL STADIUM • CHAMPAIGN, ILL.
OCTOBER 30, 2021 • ATTENDANCE: 36,942

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Rutgers football (4-4, 1-4) earned a come-from-behind 20-14 victory over Illinois (3-6, 2-4) on Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium. Down 14-10 at halftime, the Scarlet Knights held the Fighting Illini off the scoreboard in the second half, as a 15-yard touchdown run from quarterback Noah Vedral in the fourth quarter proved to be the difference in RU's first Big Ten victory of the season.
 
Vedral completed 10 passes for 138 yards to go along with 56 yards on the ground and a touchdown. Running back Kyle Monangai scored on a seven-yard rush in the first quarter, while running back Isaih Pacheco produced 21 carries for a team-high 91 yards on the ground.
 
After the Illini rushed for 357 yards last week at No. 7 Penn State, RU's defense held Illinois to just 107 rushing yards. Linebacker Olakunle Fatukasi collected a team-high eight stops and 1.5 tackles-for-loss and defensive back Kessawn Abraham added four tackles and a pass breakup.
 

FIRST HALF

Both teams were held scoreless on their opening possessions before Rutgers orchestrated a 10-play, 61-yard touchdown drive towards the end of the first quarter. Monangai scored his fourth rushing touchdown of the season – this one from seven yards out – as the Scarlet Knights took an early 7-0 lead on Illinois with 4:20 left in the quarter. RU would keep the Illini off the scoreboard after the first 15 minutes of action.
 
Illinois responded in the second quarter after quarterback Brandon Peters found wide receiver Isaiah Williams for a 52-yard touchdown pass to make it 7-7 at the 10:13 mark in the quarter. But Rutgers punched right back. Vedral found tight end Victor Konopka for a 20-yard reception and followed with a 28-yard pass to wide receiver Bo Melton to get the Scarlet Knights deep into enemy territory. Kicker Valentino Ambrosio followed with a 35-yard field goal to give RU back the lead at 10-7 with just over five minutes to go in the half.
 
The Fighting Illini took a 14-10 lead into halftime after Peters tossed his second touchdown pass of the game.

.@kylemonangai breaks through to put @RFootball on the board 💥. pic.twitter.com/UvNgH6szuF

— Rutgers On BTN (@RutgersOnBTN) October 30, 2021

SECOND HALF

With no scoring in the third quarter, Rutgers strung together a 13-play, 88-yard scoring drive that spanned five minutes of game clock and two quarters to regain its lead. Vedral found Johnny Langan at the start of the drive with a 27-yard completion down the sideline. Rookie quarterback Gavin Wimsatt then found Melton for a crucial fourth-and-five conversion in Illinois territory, while Vedral finished off the drive with a 15-yard touchdown run. Vedral's impressive scoring run made it 17-14 Rutgers with 14:16 left to play.
 
Adam Korsak produced a crucial punt five minutes later, as he drilled a 50-yard punt inside the 1-yard line with 9:42 on the clock. The punt was Korsak's fourth inside the opponent 1-yard line this season.
 
The Scarlet Knights added another scoring drive on their next possession, as Ambrosio's 25-yard attempt put RU up 20-14 with just under four minutes to go.
 
Illinois had one final chance to take the lead, as it marched into RU territory with under two minutes to play. But on fourth-and-one from the Rutgers' 34-yard line, Abraham stopped running back Chase Brown behind the line to turn the ball over on downs. Rutgers ran out the clock for the final result.

.@Noah11_V taking it to the house himself with a gutsy run and dive 💪 @RFootball takes the lead. pic.twitter.com/kJFxPXwUlv

— Rutgers On BTN (@RutgersOnBTN) October 30, 2021

UP NEXT

Rutgers returns to SHI Stadium on Nov. 6 to host Wisconsin for Military Appreciation Day. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network. The game is presented by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. Tickets are available at ScarletKnights.com or by calling 866-445-GORU (4678).
 

PARTICIPATION

• Collegiate debut (2): DB Shaquan Loyal, QB Gavin Wimsatt
• LS Billy Taylor and DL Julius Turner each played in their 53^rd consecutive game. The 53 games played overall ties Scott Vallone for the program record.

 

NOTES

• Rutgers improved to 4-4 to be .500 or better through eight games for the first time since 2014.
• In the last nine seasons under head coach Greg Schiano, Rutgers improved to 10-5 coming off an open week.
• Rutgers is now 3-5 all-time against Illinois and 2-2 under Schiano. The Scarlet Knights won at Memorial Stadium for the second time (2017).
• Rutgers last played consecutive games in the same state (other than New Jersey) in 1982 with back-to-back contests at Penn State and Temple.
• Schiano took over sole possession of second place in program history with his 75^th victory leading the Scarlet Knights. Frank Burns holds the school record with 78 wins.
• Rutgers allowed only 10 first downs, the least amount in a Big Ten game, also done in 2016 versus Illinois.
• Rutgers rushed for 230 yards, improving to 29-2 under Schiano when reaching 200 rushing yards in a game.
• Rutgers won a game for the 13th time under Schiano when trailing in the fourth quarter.
• Rutgers had its fourth game of the season with no turnovers.
• Rutgers allowed no sacks, its fifth game of the season permitting one or less.
• Rutgers improved to 5-3 on the road since 2020.
• Rutgers held Illinois to 3-for-12 on third down. For the season, opponents have been held to 31-for-106 (29.3 percent).
• Rutgers' go-ahead drive in the third quarter into the fourth spanned 88 yards, its fourth touchdown drive of the season of at least 80 yards.
• RB Kyle Monangai scored his team-leading fourth rushing touchdown of the season. He totaled a career-high 15 carries and 77 yards in the game.
• RB Isaih Pacheco rushed for a game-high 91 yards on 21 carries. He moved into sole possession of 11th place in program history with 2,215 career rushing yards.
• QB Johnny Langan hauled in a career-long 27-yard catch on a third down in the third quarter. It extended the eventual go-ahead drive.
• QB Noah Vedral scored his first rushing touchdown of the season and eighth of his career.
• WR Bo Melton contributed five receptions to move into seventh in program history with 146 in his career. The 58 receiving yards advanced him into 14th in the school record book at 1,799 yards.
• P Adam Korsak posted a net of 47 yards on six attempts with three inside the 20, including his fourth punt of the season settling at the 1-yard line. He has now logged 94 consecutive attempts with a touchback dating back to 2019.
• PK Valentino Ambrosio connected on two field goals, his seventh career game with multiple makes.

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