RUTGERS 38 (5-5, 2-5), INDIANA 3 (2-8, 0-7)
MEMORIAL STADIUM • BLOOMINGTON, IND.
NOVEMBER 13, 2021 • ATTENDANCE: 40,171

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Behind a balanced rushing attack and six takeaways on defense, Rutgers football (5-5, 2-5) secured a 38-3 win at Indiana (2-8, 0-7) on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Isaih Pacheco (two rushing touchdowns), Noah Vedral and Aaron Young all found the end zone, while offensive lineman Raiqwon O'Neal scored in the second half to help the Scarlet Knights to their second Big Ten win of the season and to the program's largest margin of victory in conference play since it joined the league in 2014.
 
RU collected a season-high six takeaways, which included interceptions from defensive back Max Melton and linebacker Tyreem Powell, and fumble recoveries from defensive linemen Ifeanyi Maijeh and Rashawn Battle, linebacker Mohamed Toure and long snapper Billy Taylor. Linebacker Drew Singleton finished with a career-high 10 tackles in the victory.
 
Pacheco paced the offense with 79 yards on the ground and two touchdowns, while Young crossed the goal line on a 10-yard rush in the third quarter. O'Neal's third-quarter touchdown marked the second of his career after he scored on a similar play last season. The Scarlet Knights finished with 218 rushing yards.


 

FIRST HALF

Rutgers went right to work on defense, as Toure recovered a fumble on IU's opening play to give the Scarlet Knights possession at the Hoosiers' 21-yard line. Three plays later, Pacheco rushed from eight yards out to put RU up, 7-0, two minutes into the contest.
 
Pacheco found paydirt again two drives later, this time on a direct snap for a three-yard touchdown run. The eight-play, 70-yard scoring drive made it 14-0 Rutgers with 3:21 left in the first quarter. Quarterback Noah Vedral found wide receiver Shameen Jones for a 21-yard hookup during the drive.
 
Rutgers closed the first quarter with another turnover, as Powell intercepted Jack Tuttle at the home 29-yard line. Placekicker Valentino Ambrosio then drilled a 38-yard attempt to put the Scarlet Knights up 17-0 a minute into the second quarter. The field goal made it 10 points off turnovers.
 
The defense shined for the remainder of the quarter. Max Melton picked off Tuttle with a highlight-reel grab on the following Indiana possession. Several drives later, IU fumbled in RU territory, as Maijeh recovered the ball to secure Rutgers' fourth turnover of the half. The Hoosiers added a late field goal to make it 17-3 Rutgers heading into the locker room.
 

SECOND HALF

RU corralled its fifth turnover of the game early in the third quarter, as Indiana's Ty Fryfogle muffed a punt from Adam Korsak that was recovered by Taylor at the IU 10-yard line. Young punched it in on the following possession to make it 24-3 with 12:27 left in the quarter.
 
After Indiana turned the ball over on downs later in the quarter, the Scarlet Knights orchestrated their first scoring drive of the half. Vedral linked up with wide receiver Bo Melton for a 27-yard completion before Vedral threw behind the line to O'Neal three plays later, as the offensive lineman dove for the pylon for six. The play gave Rutgers a 31-3 lead with 30 seconds to go in the third. Vedral than all but put the game out of reach after he scored on a nine-yard rush to cap a 53-yard scoring drive. The touchdown made it 38-3 in favor of the Scarlet Knights as they would hold on down the stretch for the victory.
 

UP NEXT

Rutgers is set for a fourth road game in five outings at No. 23 Penn State on Nov. 20. Kickoff is set for noon on Big Ten Network.
 

NOTES

• Rutgers improved to 5-5 to be at least .500 through 10 games for the first time since 2014. 2014 (8-5) was also the last season the Scarlet Knights won at least five games.
• Rutgers' 35-point win was the largest margin of victory for the Scarlet Knights in a Big Ten game. It was also the largest margin of victory in program history in a conference road contest.
• Rutgers allowed a team-low three points in a Big Ten game, making it the first time not permitting a touchdown in such game. It was the 20th time overall under head coach Greg Schiano not allowing an offensive touchdown.
• Rutgers allowed just 262 yards of total offense, the least amount permitted in a Big Ten game since joining the league.
• Rutgers won back-to-back Big Ten road games for the second time since joining the conference, also doing so in 2020 (Purdue, Maryland). The Scarlet Knights have won five Big Ten road games since 2020 after winning three such contests the first six years in the league. Overall, RU is 6-3 on the road over the past two seasons.
• Rutgers defeated Indiana for the third time and second time in Bloomington.
• Rutgers did commit a turnover for the fifth time in 2021, improving to 5-0 when not surrendering a turnover. The last season with five turnover-free games was 2009.
• Schiano earned his 76^th victory leading the Scarlet Knights. Frank Burns holds the school record with 78 wins.
• Rutgers gained six turnovers, a season high. It was the 10^th time under Schiano with at least five turnovers gained and third time with at least six takeaways.
• Rutgers improved to 57-28 under Schiano when scoring first, 30-2 when rushing for at least 200 yards, 44-13 when scoring at least 30 points, 25-0 when allowing less than 10 points, 26-2 when permitting no sacks and 53-19 when winning the turnover battle.
• Rutgers held Indiana to 1-for-14 on third down, the 11th time under Schiano permitting one third-down conversion or less. For the season, the Scarlet Knights have held opponents to 38-for-132 (28.8 percent).
• Rutgers rushed for five touchdowns, done once before in a Big Ten game at Illinois in 2017.
• RB Isaih Pacheco rushed for 79 yards and two touchdowns. It was his fifth career game with multiple scores and he now ranks eighth in program history with 2,349 career yards, passing Bryant Mitchell (1966-68), who had 2,286.
• OL Raiqwon O'Neal scored his second career touchdown on a seven-yard rush in the third quarter.
• LB Tyreem Powell recorded his first career interception, while DB Max Melton recorded his team-high third pick of the year.
• LB Drew Singleton reached double-digit tackles for the first time in his career.
• WR Bo Melton moved into 12th in program history with 1,910 career receiving yards after adding 50. He passed Brian Leonard (2003-06), who had 1,868.
• P Adam Korsak downed 5-of-9 punts inside the 20. He now has logged 108 consecutive attempts without a touchback, the longest active streak in the nation. The Scarlet Knights' net punt is now at 45.7.
• First career start (1): LB Tyreem Powell
• LS Billy Taylor and DL Julius Turner each played in their 55^th consecutive game.

The big guy gets a TD for @RFootball! 😤 pic.twitter.com/63Z4Dcv0fa

— Rutgers On BTN (@RutgersOnBTN) November 13, 2021

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