Rutgers Rains Down on Temple with 23-Point Quarter
RUTGERS 36 – TEMPLE 7
On a night that started with a monsoon washing over Piscataway, the Scarlet Knights rained down on Temple with an explosive fourth quarter, as Rutgers scored 23 unanswered points in a 36-7 victory at SHI Stadium, Saturday night.
Kyle Monangai ran for a new career high, 165 yards on the ground, besting his 162-yard effort against Michigan State last year. His one-yard plunge into the end zone culminated in a 75-yard scoring drive to open the fourth quarter and begin the onslaught.
Monangai’s touchdown gave Rutgers a 19-7 lead, and the Rutgers defense would pin its ears back and dominate Temple.
Kyle Monangai takes it in for 6️⃣ to extend @RFootball's lead. 😎
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) September 10, 2023
📺: @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/z0owNNL1Sr
On E.J. Warner’s first pass of the ensuing drive, he was picked off by Jordan Thompson. The pick set up a Jai Patel field goal with 9:57 to go in the game.
After Rutgers’s defense stiffened again, this time on a three-and-out, Rutgers pounded the football offensively, grinding out a 65-yard drive on seven plays that culminated in a Sam Brown V touchdown to put the contest out of reach at 29-7.
Rutgers defense
In the fourth drive alone in the fourth quarter that highlighted RU’s 23-point run, the Scarlet Knights out-gained the Owls in yards 179 to 1.
Rutgers’s stingy defense held an opponent to just seven points for the second straight week. They also forced a pair of turnovers; RU is now +3 in the turnover margin.
Gavin Wimsatt
Saturday night’s victory was another solid outing for quarterback Gavin Wimsatt, who completed 10-of-21 passes for 198 yards and a touchdown. His 33-yard touchdown strike to Ja’Shon Benjamin in the first quarter set the tone for the evening.
Beep, beep 🏃♂️💨
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) September 10, 2023
Ja'Shon Benjamin shows off the speed on @RFootball's first TD of the night. ⚫
📺: @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/zfxB81i7Uj
And to think that throw wasn’t Wimsatt’s biggest of the night. He connected on a 61-yard laser to JaQuae Jackson on a play that helped set up a field goal that made it 13-0.
Watch @RFootball QB @GavinWimsatt let this one fly. 🎯
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) September 10, 2023
📺: @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/GkyISOd9IX
The victory moves Rutgers to 2-0 on the year, a place they have been to before — each of the last two years in fact — but this feels different. Through two games, the Scarlet Knights play physically defensively, have stability under center, and can run the rock at will.
Good Knight ‼️ pic.twitter.com/KKUZbPnDMZ
— Rutgers Football (@RFootball) September 10, 2023
Rutgers hosts Virginia Tech next Saturday at 3:30 p.m. from SHI Stadium.
