Rutgers Late Rally Stuns Boston College 22-21
In the weeks leading into Rutgers season opener at Boston College, Head Coach Greg Schiano had been koy about whom his starting quarterback would be on September 3. That curiosity…
Rutgers Head Coach Greg Schiano celebrates RU’s 22-21 win over Boston College. Photo: Rutgers Athletics.
In the weeks leading into Rutgers season opener at Boston College, Head Coach Greg Schiano had been koy about whom his starting quarterback would be on September 3.
That curiosity was only ratcheted up when word came down in the hours before Saturday's game that Noah Vedral would miss the game with what was later described as a "upper body injury." As it turned out, Gavin Wismet and Evan Simon combined to take 54 of the Scarlet Knights 62 snaps from center, and did exactly what they were asked to do: manage the game and keep chopping.
And chop is exactly what the Scarlet Knights did. Running the football down the throat of the Eagles for a combined 245 yards, Rutgers stunned B.C. 22-21 thanks to a late fourth quarter rally that saw Al-Shadee Salaam gash the Eagles on a 22-yard scamper for the game winning score with 2:45 to go in the game.
The Salaam touchdown was preceded by a heavy dose of runs -- 12 of them to be exact, on a grueling and commanding 96-yard drive that ate up five minute off the clock.
It was an impressive display as Salaam and Kyle Monangai exchanged carries as the Rutgers offensive pounded Boston College upfront. Soon the damn broke as Monangai gained 15-yards on 1st and 10 at the Rutgers 27 to spot the ball at the 42.
Three plays later, Salaam gashed the Eagles on a 23-yard run to the 22, before running to paydirt a play later.
Defensively RU held firm all day against Boston College. They held the Eagles to only 29 yards rushing, and put an enormous amount of pressure of Eagles quarterback Phil Jurkovec, picking him off twice and sacking him four times.
Two of those sacks came on B.C.'s last drive of the game when the Scarlet Knights brought him down for two huge losses to force the Eagles to punt from the shadow of their own goalline on a fourth and 25.
It was a huge statement victory. One that could lead to an incredible season ahead. Next: Home Opener vs. Wagner on September 10 at SHI Stadium at 4 p.m.
Relieve the Rutgers Game Winning Score
Here's another angle of Saturday's game winner!
