Football Loses at Nebraska, 14-7

Saturday, October 5

Lincoln, Neb.

4 p.m.

Rutgers University

4-1 , 1-1

Nebraska

5-1 , 2-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Rutgers

Nebraska

Photo by: Sammy Smith

Oct 05 | Football

Box Score Game Book Head Coach Greg Schiano Postgame Press Conference Statistics Photo Gallery

NEBRASKA 14 (5-1, 2-1), RUTGERS 7 (4-1, 1-1)
MEMORIAL STADIUM • LINCOLN, NEB.
OCTOBER 5, 2024 • ATTENDANCE: 87,464

LINCOLN, Neb. – Rutgers football (4-1, 1-1) lost to Nebraska (5-1, 2-1), 14-7, on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

QB Athan Kaliakmanis completed 15 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown, RB Kyle Monangai rushed for 78 yards on 19 carries and WR Ben Black caught two passes for 54 yards, including his first career touchdown.

LB Dariel Djabome contributed a team-high eight tackles and a sack, while DL Aaron Lewis, DL Jordan Thompson and DL Kyonte Hamilton each added a sack.

DB Flip Dixon and LB Jamier Wright-Collins both blocked punts, while Dixon added his first interception of the season.

Head Coach Greg Schiano Opening Statement
"Thanks for coming out here to cover us. The guys had plenty of opportunities to win a game. We have to coach better. We have to play better. I know this sounds like every losing coach. This doesn't just happen today, it's all week long. The little things, where do you find the inches, you have to search for the inches everywhere. I haven't had this feeling since Thanksgiving weekend. Those guys in that locker room, I'm proud of how hard they played, proud of how smart they played. Just didn't play well enough to win this game. We will get on a plane, go home and get back to work."

FIRST HALF

On the first drive of the game, Rutgers forced a punt, with Dixon bolting through the Nebraska line to block the attempt. However, the Cornhuskers struck first later in the quarter, scoring on a one-yard rush on fourth-and-goal to take a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. After the teams traded interceptions in the second quarter, Nebraska extended its lead to 14-0 on an 11-yard touchdown rush with 1:48 left in the half.

SECOND HALF

In the third quarter, the Scarlet Knight special teams made another big play with Wright-Collins blocking the second punt of the game. RU was stopped on fourth-and-goal later in the quarter and the 14-0 score held going into the fourth.

With 4:08 left in the game, Kaliakmanis found Black for an 11-yard touchdown - the first score of Black's career - to make it a 14-7 game.

After forcing an NU punt on the ensuing drive, RU's offense turned it over on down and the Cornhuskers kneeled out the 14-7 victory.

NOTES

• Rutgers blocked two punts, the 15th time under head coach Greg Schiano blocking multiple kicks in a game. The Scarlet Knights have blocked 43 punts and 73 kicks overall under Schiano.
• The defense held Nebraska to 55 yards in the second half.
• LB Dariel Djabome, DL Kyonte Hamilton, DL Aaron Lewis and DL Jordan Thompson all recorded sacks.
• DB Flip Dixon blocked his first career kick to hold Nebraska to a 10-yard punt in the first quarter.
• Dixon hauled in his third career interception and second as a Scarlet Knight. He became the first Rutgers player to record a blocked kick and interception in the same game since Max Melton versus Nebraska in 2022.
• LB Jamier Wright-Collins blocked his first career punt, which DB Shaquan Loyal returned 15 yards.
• RB Kyle Monangai rushed for 78 yards to move to pass Glen Kehler (1975-78) for sixth in program history with 2,609 yards.
• WR Ben Black scored his first career touchdown on an 11-yard reception in the fourth quarter. He finished with a career-high 54 receiving yards.
• WR Christian Dremel became the 40th player in program history to reach 50 games played for Rutgers.
• First career start: WR KJ Duff, DB Bo Mascoe, OL Taj White
• Consecutive games played: DL Kyonte Hamilton (43), OL Hollin Pierce (43), DL Malcolm Ray (39), Dremel (34)
• The game-time temperature was 97 degrees.

UP NEXT

The Scarlet Out is set for the Oct. 12 game versus Wisconsin at SHI Stadium, presented by PNC. It will also be Band Day with special performances during the game and at halftime featuring bands from schools throughout the state. Kickoff is set for noon on Big Ten Network.

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