TAXSLAYER GATOR BOWL
NO. 20 WAKE FOREST 38 (11-3), RUTGERS 10 (5-8)
TIAA BANK FIELD • JACKSONVILLE, FLA.
DECEMBER 31, 2021 • ATTENDANCE: 28,508
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Competing in the postseason for the first time since 2014, Rutgers football (5-8) lost to No. 20 Wake Forest (11-3), 38-10, on Friday in the 77th TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, held at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida.
With the 2021 bowl season impacted by the pandemic, the Scarlet Knights put together a roster to compete on just nine days' notice after it was selected to compete in the prestigious Gator Bowl, the sixth-oldest bowl game, on Dec. 23.
Quarterback
Johnny Langan earned Rutgers' MVP for the game with 57 receiving yards on a career-high six receptions, 20 rushing yards and two completions for 21 yards. Running back
Aaron Young scored his team-leading sixth touchdown of the season on the team's opening possession and quarterback
Gavin Wimsatt produced a team-long 32-yard rush. Five different Scarlet Knights attempted a pass in the game.
On defense,
Mohamed Toure (1.5),
Desmond Igbinosun (1.0) and
Drew Singleton (0.5) all contributed sacks, while
Kessawn Abraham led the way with two passes batted away. RU posted eight tackles-for-loss, including one to force a fumble by Igbinosun. Toure recorded a team-high seven tackles to match his career high.
After Wake Forest found the end zone on its first possession, Rutgers responded with an 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive of its own. Quarterback
Noah Vedral completed long third-down completions to
Matt Alaimo,
Jovani Haskins and
Joshua Youngblood to set up a 12-yard touchdown run by Young with 5:11 left in the quarter. The Demon Deacons would add another touchdown for a 14-7 advantage at the end of one.
The Scarlet Knights marched into enemy territory on their following possession to open the second quarter. Wide receiver
Isaiah Washington threw across the field to
Johnny Langan for a 27-yard gain, while placekicker
Valentino Ambrosio drilled a 28-yard field goal four plays later to make it 14-10 with 12:02 left in the quarter.
RU's defense held strong for the remainder of the first half, as it allowed just two field goals from Wake Forest's Nick Sciba before the break. Rutgers ended with 192 yards of total offense in the first two quarters and trailed just 20-10 at halftime.
Rutgers once again held Wake Forest to just a field goal after the Demon Deacons entered the red zone. Sciba connected from 23-yards out to extend Wake Forest's lead to 23-10 with just over six minutes to play in the third quarter. Both teams would keep one another off the scoreboard for the remainder of the quarter. The Demon Deacons added two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to secure the win.
- Today marked Rutgers' 11th bowl appearance in program history and first time in the Gator Bowl. It was the seventh bowl for the Scarlet Knights under head coach Greg Schiano.
- It marked the third all-time meeting between Rutgers and Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons were the fourth ranked opponent of the season for RU.
- Rutgers had its fourth game of the season with at least three sacks.
- RB Aaron Young scored his team-leading sixth touchdown of the season (fifth rushing) on a 12-yard carry in the first quarter.
- WR Joshua Youngblood, who made his first start as a Scarlet Knight, posted a game-high 135 all-purpose yards (110 kickoff return, 25 receiving).
- WR Isaiah Washington picked up two catches and threw his first collegiate completion playing in his hometown.
- DB Kessawn Abraham notched his third career game with multiple pass breakups.
- DB Desmond Igbinosun recorded a career-best two tackles-for-loss, including a strip sack.
- P Adam Korsak pinned his 16th punt of the season at the 10-yard line or closer. Rutgers' finishes 2021 with a net punt of 45.25, on pace for a new NCAA record.
- LS Billy Taylor and DL Julius Turner end their careers playing in a school-record 58 games, all consecutive.
- Rutgers played a game on New Year's Eve for the first time in program history.
- Collegiate debut (2): QB Austin Albericci, OL Tyler Needham
- First collegiate start (1): DB Robert Longerbeam
