Rutgers Dominates Indiana as Pacheco Runs Over Hoosiers

RUTGERS 38 - INDIANA 3 

This was the kind of performance Rutgers has been waiting for since they entered the Big 10 portion of their 2021 schedule.

Behind two early touchdowns by running back Isaih Pacheco, the Scarlet Knights throttled the Indiana Hoosiers (2-8) 38-3 for their most lopsided win since a 45-13 victory over Delaware in Week 3.

In fact, it was Rutgers' most lopsided in-conference victory since joining the Big 10 back in 2014. The previous mark was last season's 38-27 win at Michigan State to open the COVID-shortened season.

One common theme throughout the contest was Indiana's inability to protect the football. The Hoosiers turned the ball over six times and Rutgers took full advantage.

That trend was apparent right from the get-go when Indiana's Donaven McCulley fumbled on the second play of the game at their own 21-yard line. Rutgers recovered and needed only four plays to put it in the end zone when Pacheco took the hand-off from Noah Vedral, blasted through the line, and scored to give RU a 7-0 lead.

Later in the opening quarter, Vedral guided Rutgers on a nifty nine-play, 70-yard scoring drive.  He connected with Shammen Jones for 21-yards to the Indiana 31.  A play later, Pacheco gashed the Hoosiers defense for 18 more yards to the 13-yard line.

Five plays later, Pacheco took the direct snap from center in the Wild Cat formation, and plowed into the end zone  for the score to make it 14-0.

Meanwhile, Rutgers defense went right to work against Indiana. Of the next five Indiana possessions, three of them ended in a turnover, including two interceptions of quarterback Jack Tuttle.

Come the second half, the good vibes just kept coming for the Scarlet Knights. A fumble by Indiana on a punt return in the opening minute of the third quarter gave RU the football at the Indiana 10-yard line. That's all Aaron Young needed to explode into the end zone to give the Scarlet Knights a commanding 24-3 lead.

Even with the game all but won, Rutgers kept pouring it on come the fourth quarter. Touchdowns by Raiqwon O'Neil and Vedral, himself, pushed Rutgers up to 38 points with seven minutes to go in the game.

With the victory, Rutgers improves to 5-5 on the season, 2-5 in the BIG 10. Rutgers needs to win one of its last two games in order to become Bowl eligible.

The Scarlet Knights have a huge contest next Saturday at Penn State (6-4). Kick-off at noon. The Nittany Lions have been unpredictable all season.  Penn State has wins against Auburn and Wisconsin, but suffered close losses to Michigan, Ohio State and Iowa.

The season finale will be back at SHI Stadium on November 27 against Maryland (5-4).