Rutgers Gets Much Needed Win, Back to .500

Rutgers (4-4) earned a hard fought, much needed victory over Illinois (3-6) on Saturday, holding on 20-14 in Champaign, Illinois.

The Scarlet Knights were led by a huge day on the ground by the trio of running back Isaih Pacheco (21 carries, 91 yards), Kyle Monangai (15 carries, 77 yards, 1 TD) and quarterback Noah Vedral (6 carries, 56 yards, 1 TD).

All told, RU ran for 230 yards on an Illinois defense that had been giving up 151 yards on the ground per game.

Rutgers grounded and pounded their way to the first score of the game in the first quarter. A 10-play, 62-yard drive that featured only one pass, a two-yard completion by  Cole Snyder to Shameen Jones. Other than it was all runs, mostly from Monangai, who carried the rock on the last four plays, including the 7-yard touchdown to give Rutgers a 7-0 lead.

After the Fighting Illini tied it on a 52-yard pass from Brandon Peters to Isaiah Williams, Rutgers regained the lead by once again keeping things simple. A heavy dose of runs, and only two pass plays, put RU in position to kick a field goal to make it a 10-7 game.

Still, it felt like the conservative approach was a bit of a gamble.

Illinois struck quickly in the final two minutes of the first half. First Peters connected with Casey Washington for 31-yards to the RU 49-yard line. Two plays later Illinois found pay-dirt when Peters zipped a pass a 26-yard pass to Daniel Barker for the score, and the halftime lead of 14-10.

Give Rutgers credit, they never relented.

A 13-play, 88-yard drive that ate up over five minutes at the end of the third quarter, produced the turning point of the game when Vedral took it himself on a quarterback scramble, and scored the go-ahead touchdown to put Rutgers in front 17-14.

Illinois never recovered. Rutgers stymied their offensive attack, holding them to a net total of 30-yards over the next three Illinois possessions.

With the victory in hand, Rutgers returns to .500 (4-4). They also notched their first Big 10 victory of the season. Rutgers needs two more victories to become bowl eligible this season.

Next week: The Scarlet Knights host the Wisconsin Badgers at SHI Stadium next Saturday at 3:30. Rutgers will host Military Appreciation Day. The Rutgers Brewfest will take place at 12:30.

Remember to catch the Britcher Leone Attorney's At Law Rutgers Tailgate show, and the Miller Lite GameDay Pregame show live outside the stadium, or by listening on 93.5 FM, 1450 AM FOX Sports New Jersey, next Saturday beginning at 1:00.