FIRST QUARTER

WImsatt, QB Evan Simon and TE Johnny Langan all took snaps during RU's first drive. On Rutgers' first defensive series, Longerbeam picked up his first career sack on BC's first play from scrimmage, dropping Phil Jurkovec and forcing a fumble.

The Eagles took a 7-0 lead on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Jurkovec to Zay Flowers with 8:42 on the clock. 

The Scarlet Knights were able to get into field-goal range thanks to a career-long rush by Wimsatt, but the drive ultimately resulted in a punt by P Adam Korsak downed at the BC 3-yard line.

With Boston College looking to extend its lead, Braswell intercepted Jurkovec with 1:12 left, giving Rutgers the ball back at its own 39-yard-line.
                                              

SECOND QUARTER

Riding the momentum of Braswell's interception, RU's offense went right down the field, with WR Aron Cruickshank taking a reverse 26 yards for a touchdown, making the score 7-6 in favor of the Eagles with 13:40 remaining.

For the second time in the game, Jurkovec connected with Flowers for a touchdown, this one a 26-yard catch-and-run to put Boston College up by a score of 14-6.

Although the Eagles started their final drive of the half at the Rutgers 31-yard-line, the RU defense held firm, forcing a 44-yard field goal attempt that sailed wide.

Simon kneeled out the half with the Scarlet Knights trailing, BC 14-6.
 

THIRD QUARTER

The Rutgers defense came out ready in the second half and pushed the Boston College offense backwards until the Eagles fumbled a snap on third down, which Bailey recovered for RU, setting up the offense at the 6-yard-line. Two plays later, Monangai punched it in from one yard for his first touchdown of the season with 13:03 remaining in the quarter, making it 14-12. 

It turned out to be a back-and-forth affair in the third quarter, with BC going right down the field to score another touchdown and extending its lead to 21-12. But the Scarlet Knights had a quick answer, marching down the field and making it a one-possession game thanks to a 33-yard field goal from PK Jude McAtamney. His first-career connection brought the score to 21-15 in favor of the Eagles.
                  

FOURTH QUARTER

In the final quarter of play, the RU defense continued to make life difficult for Jurkovec and the Boston College offense. After a number of big hits on the quarterback, Longerbeam jumped a route and grabbed his first career interception to give Rutgers the ball with a chance to take the lead. The offense's drive stalled and Korsak punted to the Boston College 33-yard-line with just over 11 minutes remaining in the game. 
 
After forcing another Eagles punt, the RU offense took over at its own 4-yard-line and needing a touchdown. The Scarlet Knight offense, led by a dominant stretch from the offensive line, marched right down the field in 5:02, taking a 22-21 lead on a 22-yard touchdown rush by Salaam, his first-ever score. 

The Rutgers defense sealed the deal, with Bailey and DB Christian Izien combining to sack Jurkovec on second down before Bailey dropped Jurkovec again on third down to force a punt. Boston College would not touch the ball again, as Rutgers was able to kneel out the victory.
 

UP NEXT

The home opener (Back to the Birthplace Game) is set for Saturday, Sept. 10 at 4 p.m. versus Wagner at SHI Stadium. It will be the first meeting on the gridiron between the Scarlet Knights and Seahawks. Tickets are available at ScarletKnights.com and the game will broadcast on Big Ten Network.
                

NOTES

• Rutgers defeated Boston College for the seventh time and first time since 1991. It was the Scarlet Knights' first trip to Chestnut Hill since 2004.
• Rutgers improved to 10-4 in season openers under head coach Greg Schiano. It was the third-straight season RU won its opener, improving to 80-64-9 all-time.
• Schiano earned his 77^th victory leading the Scarlet Knights. Frank Burns holds the school record with 78 wins.
• Rutgers improved to 7-4 in road games since Schiano returned in 2020.
• Rutgers picked up its 14^th fourth-quarter comeback win under Schiano.
• Rutgers improved to 53-21 under Schiano when scoring at least three offensive touchdowns, 73-26 when allowing less than 30 points, 40-18 when forcing three or more turnovers and 54-19 when winning the turnover battle.
• Rutgers improved to 44-20 in non-conference games under Schiano.
• Rutgers scored 12 points off turnovers.
• Rutgers held Boston College to 29 rushing yards, the least amount permitted since Norfolk State had -3 in 2015 and least in a road game since holding Washington State to six in 2014. It was the 11th time under Schiano the Scarlet Knights held an opponent to 30 rushing yards or less, all victories.
• RB Kyle Monangai compiled a career-high 19 carries with 64 yards on the ground. He scored his fifth career rushing touchdown.
• DB Al-Shadee Salaam scored the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter, his first career score.
• DB Christian Braswell recorded his fourth career interception and first as a Scarlet Knight.
• WR Aron Cruickshank notched his third career rushing touchdown on a 26-yard run. It was his fifth touchdown for the Scarlet Knights.
• DB Robert Longerbeam and LB Tyreem Powell both notched their first career sack. Longerbeam added his first career interception.
• P Adam Korsak has not recorded a touchback in 131 consecutive punts.
• DB Christian Izien notched 10 tackles, his sixth career game in double figures.

 

PARTICIPATION

• Collegiate debut (6): RB Samuel Brown V, DL Shawn Collins, LB Dariel Djabome, DL Kenny Fletcher, RB Al-Shadee Salaam, LB Micah Wing  
• Rutgers debut (14): DB Christian Braswell, RB Samuel Brown V, OL Mike Ciaffoni, DL Shawn Collins, LB Dariel Djabome, OL Curtis Dunlap Jr., DL Kenny Fletcher, WR Taj Harris, PK Jude McAtamney, LS Ed Rogowski, WR Sean Ryan, RB Al-Shadee Salaam, OL Willie Tyler III, LB Micah Wing 
• First career start (5): DL Wesley Bailey, DB Desmond Igbinosun, TE Victor Konopka, DL Aaron Lewis, RB Kyle Monangai
• True Freshmen (4): RB Samuel Brown V, LB Dariel Djabome, DL Kenny Fletcher, LB Micah Wing 
• Consecutive games played: P Adam Korsak (47), DB Avery Young (46), WR Shameen Jones (45)