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Julius Turner, Isaih Pacheco, Bo Melton
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Football

Game 12: Football vs. Maryland

Senior Day and Season Ticket Holder Appreciation Day at SHI Stadium

RUTGERS (5-6, 2-6) vs. MARYLAND (5-6, 2-6)
November 27, 2021 • 12:01 p.m. ET • Big Ten Network
SHI Stadium • Piscataway, N.J.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Returning home after a stretch of playing 4-of-5 games on the road, Rutgers football hosts Maryland to close out the regular season Saturday at SHI Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon. The Scarlet Knights will honor members of the 2020 and 2021 senior classes in a pregame ceremony. Tickets are available at ScarletKnights.com or by calling 1-866-445-GORU (4678).
 
Both teams enter one win shy of gaining bowl eligibility. Head coach Greg Schiano has previously led the Scarlet Knights to six bowl trips, winning five.
 
It will also be Season Ticket Holder Appreciation Day with recognitions throughout the game. A limited edition "I CHOPPED 2021" button will be given out to the first 20,000 fans in attendance.
 
In an effort to encourage a safe environment for fans as well as improve the ease of entry into the stadium, Rutgers moved to mobile-only tickets, which can be added to an Apple Wallet or Google Pay app. Digital tickets provide for contactless entry, limiting person-to-person interactions, while speeding entry time into the venue and also offers a secure means to transfer and exchange tickets. Representatives from the Rutgers ticket staff will be on hand to help assists customers with any digital ticket related matters. Fans will also receive mobile parking passes that they can manage like their digital tickets. Fans are encouraged to download mobile tickets and parking passes to their Apple Wallet or Google Pay apps prior to arriving at the stadium.
 
Parking on game day will be available at Johnson Park across from the SHI Stadium south entrance on River Road. Click here for more information on parking and traffic patterns. When traveling to Piscataway, please avoid using Landing Lane Bridge to access SHI Stadium. The roadway will be closed to vehicles while repairs are completed. A full detour is in place for the duration of the project. Motorists are asked to follow posted detour signage. Please allow for extra time as stadium traffic could become congested on Rutgers football game days.
 
The game will broadcast on Big Ten Network. Viewers can find the channel through btn.com/gamefinder and through the New Jersey listing. The FOX Sports App will also stream the game.
 
TV: Big Ten Network (FOX Sports App)
Play-By-Play: Cory Provus
Analyst: Matt Millen
Reporter: Krystle Rich
 
Radio: RWJBarnabas Health Rutgers Sports Network
FOX Sports New Jersey 93.5-FM & 1450-AM, WOR 710-AM, XM 196, Sirius 111, Scarlet Knights App
Play-By-Play: Chris Carlin
Analyst: Mike Teel
Analyst: Eric LeGrand
Sideline: Anthony Fucilli
Engineer: Paul Shrager
Pre/Post: Marc Malusis & Julian Pinnix-Odrick
 
Student Radio: WRSU 88.7-FM
Dylan McCoy & Doug Willig

Rutgers Football Student Section
 
SCOUTING RUTGERS
  • Rutgers has won at least five games for the first time since 2014.
  • Rutgers is 5-0 this season when committing no turnovers, establishing a +0.55 per game turnover margin (+6 overall) to rank fifth in the Big Ten and 25th nationally. The last season with five turnover-free games was 2009, seeking to make it six for the first time since 1993.
  • Rutgers has held opponents to 43-for-147 on third down (29.3 percent), the fifth-best percentage nationally. The best mark for a season under Schiano is 30 percent (2006 & 2009).
  • Rutgers leads the nation with a net punt of 45.33, which is higher than the FBS season record set by BYU in 1983 at 45.04.
  • Rutgers is fourth in the Big Ten with just 43.8 penalty yards per game. That includes six games with four penalties or less.
  • Schiano is second in program history with 76 wins leading the Scarlet Knights. Frank Burns holds the record (78).
 
LAST TIME OUT
  • Rutgers and Penn State traded punts on the first 12 possessions of the game before the Nittany Lions scored with 4:37 left in the second quarter and added three touchdowns in the second half to win, 28-0.
  • The Rutgers defense held Penn State to 120 yards of total offense in the first half, including 1-for-7 on third down. LB Drew Singleton led the unit with a career-high 12 tackles in the game.
  • P Adam Korsak boomed a season-long 74-yard punt and downed four inside the 20 with a net of 43.3.
 
OFFENSE
  • Rutgers allowed two or less sacks in eight games and topped 300 yards of total offense in seven games.
  • Rutgers has gone for it on fourth down 31 times, the most in the Big Ten and 10th nationally. The Scarlet Knights have 13 conversions.
  • QB Noah Vedral has 22 completions this season of at least 20 yards and has rushed for 280 yards.
  • RB Isaih Pacheco is eighth in program history with 2,356 career rushing yards and seventh with 547 carries.
  • WR Bo Melton has seven games this season with at least five receptions, ranking sixth in the school record book in career receptions (160) and 10th in career receiving yards (1,947). He is one of 11 players in program history with at least five games of 100 or more receiving yards. He posted 125 all-purpose yards (62 rushing, 45 receiving, 18 kickoff return) with two touchdowns last season at Maryland.
 
DEFENSE
  • Rutgers ranks fifth nationally holding opponents to 29.3 percent on third down. That includes nine games allowing five or less conversion.
  • Rutgers has allowed just 17 points in the fourth quarter this season.
  • LB Olakunle Fatukasi, named one of 16 semifinalists for the Butkus Award, ranks 11th nationally and third in the Big Ten with 9.9 tackles per game. One of 12 players in program history to reach 300 career tackles, he is at 302 and needs 21 to move into the top-10 list.
  • DL Julius Turner is up to 19.5 career tackles-for-loss and leads the defense with 42 starts.
  • DB Avery Young paces the roster with 21 career passes defended (19 breakups, two interceptions).
 
SPECIAL TEAMS
  • Rutgers leads the nation with a net punt of 45.33, which would be a school and NCAA record for a season.
  • P Adam Korsak has had 118 consecutive punts without a touchback, the longest active streak nationally. He has downed 35 inside the 20 with four settling at the 1-yard line. Opposing punt returners have had a return of less than four yards 63-of-66 attempts, with 59 for zero yards or less. The Aussie is a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award.
  • Rutgers scored its fourth special teams touchdown since 2020 against Delaware on a 62-yard punt return by WR Aron Cruickshank. It was his fifth career kick return score (four kickoff, one punt), needing three to tie the NCAA record.
  • Rutgers has blocked 61 kicks under head coach Greg Schiano.
  • PK Valentino Ambrosio is 11-for-15 on field goals with seven career games with multiple makes.
Mike Tverdov, Mohamed Toure
 
VERSUS MARYLAND
  • Rutgers will take on Maryland in a Big Ten game for the eighth time and 17th time overall. The teams have split eight previous meetings in New Jersey.
  • Last season in College Park, Rutgers rallied from a 24-21 deficit with 2:56 remaining with an 11-play drive over 61 yards that ended with PK Valentino Ambrosio hitting a 39-yard field goal to force overtime. The game featured seven lead changes. After Ambrosio connected from 42 yards, the defense held Maryland without a first down on its series, with DL Mike Tverdov recording a sack on third down to force a 50-yard field goal attempt, which sailed wide left and set a 27-24 final score. Rutgers notched season highs with 13 tackles-for-loss and seven sacks, which set a team Big Ten record. Tverdov became the fourth player in program history to record at least three sacks in a game.
  • Also under the direction of head coach Greg Schiano, RU earned a 34-13 road victory over the Terrapins in 2009. The Scarlet Knights forced five turnovers (three interceptions, two fumbles) and allowed just 28 rushing yards and 12 first downs. Both LB Antonio Lowery (interception return) and DL George Johnson (fumble recovery in end zone) scored on defense as one of seven RU games under Schiano posting multiple scores on defense/special teams. Offensively, RB Joe Martinek posted 147 yards on the ground with a pair of touchdowns, while PK San San Te converted two goals. P Teddy Dellaganna was named Big East Special Teams Player of the Week after averaging 40.6 yards on five attempts, with a long of 51, to pin Maryland to an average starting field position of its own 12.
  • In the first Big Ten matchup in College Park in 2014, Rutgers rallied from a 35-10 deficit to win 41-38. The 25-point comeback is tied for the school record, also done in 2015 at Indiana. QB Gary Nova threw for 347 yards, as WR Leonte Carroo, WR Janarion Grant and WR Andre Patton all topped 100 yards receiving. Defensively, RU allowed just three points in the second half, using a short-yardage stop on a late fourth down to seal the win.
  • The Scarlet Knights last won in the series at home in 2017. RU trailed 24-17 entering the fourth quarter before scoring two unanswered touchdowns. RB Robert Martin evened the game with a 10-yard rushing score and RB Gus Edwards later hauled in a 23-yard touchdown from QB Giovanni Rescigno to put the Scarlet Knights ahead. The defense sealed the win by preventing Maryland from reaching the end zone on a 17-play drive that lasted 6:39. The secondary knocked away passes on three of the final four plays, including a breakup by DB Isaiah Wharton on fourth down to force a turnover on downs. DB Kiy Hester previously had a 52-yard pick-six in the second quarter.
  • Rutgers has six players on its roster from the state of Maryland: DB Tre Avery (Baltimore), LB Tyshon Fogg (Baltimore), DL Kyonte Hamilton (District Heights), DL Jamree Kromah (Glenarden), OL Kamar Missouri (Baltimore) and Reggie Sutton (Towson).
  • Defensive line coach Jim Panagos is a 1993 graduate of Maryland, playing for the Terrapins from 1989-92 and leading the team with five sacks and 12 tackles-for-loss as a senior.
  • Rutgers game highs versus Maryland:
    • Rushing Yards: Joe Martinek, 147 (2009)
    • Passing Yards: Gary Nova, 347 (2014)
    • Receiving Yards: Leonte Carroo, 183 (2015)
 


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Players Mentioned

Tre Avery

#21 Tre Avery

DB
5' 11"
Senior
Olakunle Fatukasi

#3 Olakunle Fatukasi

LB
6' 1"
Senior
Tyshon Fogg

#8 Tyshon Fogg

LB
6' 1"
Senior
Adam Korsak

#94 Adam Korsak

P
6' 1"
Senior
Jamree Kromah

#45 Jamree Kromah

DL
6' 4"
Junior
Bo Melton

#18 Bo Melton

WR
5' 11"
Senior
Isiah Pacheco

#1 Isiah Pacheco

RB
5' 11"
Junior
Drew Singleton

#11 Drew Singleton

LB
6' 2"
Senior
Reggie Sutton

#70 Reggie Sutton

OL
6' 4"
Junior
Julius Turner

#50 Julius Turner

DL
6' 0"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Tre Avery

#21 Tre Avery

5' 11"
Senior
DB
Olakunle Fatukasi

#3 Olakunle Fatukasi

6' 1"
Senior
LB
Tyshon Fogg

#8 Tyshon Fogg

6' 1"
Senior
LB
Adam Korsak

#94 Adam Korsak

6' 1"
Senior
P
Jamree Kromah

#45 Jamree Kromah

6' 4"
Junior
DL
Bo Melton

#18 Bo Melton

5' 11"
Senior
WR
Isiah Pacheco

#1 Isiah Pacheco

5' 11"
Junior
RB
Drew Singleton

#11 Drew Singleton

6' 2"
Senior
LB
Reggie Sutton

#70 Reggie Sutton

6' 4"
Junior
OL
Julius Turner

#50 Julius Turner

6' 0"
Senior
DL
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