Noah Vedral directs Rutgers’ blowout against Temple
Noah Vedral directed eight scoring drives as Rutgers snapped a seven-game home losing streak with a 61-14 victory over Temple on Saturday afternoon in Piscataway, N.J., in the season opener for both teams.
The Scarlet Knights (1-0) won their delayed opener after heavy flooding from Tropical Storm Ida postponed the game from Thursday night. They scored the game’s first 26 points and also got a pair of defensive scores en route to their first home win since beating Liberty on Oct. 26, 2019.
Vedral completed 15 of 27 passes for 138 yards as Rutgers scored its most points since a 65-0 win over Morgan State on Sept. 16, 2017. His only TD pass was a 40-yard strike to Bo Melton that put Rutgers up 33-14 midway through the third.
Johnny Langan had a pair of short touchdown runs in the first half while the Scarlet Knights also got two short TD runs from Kyle Monangai along with short TD runs by Isaih Pacheco and Aaron Young as Rutgers totaled 220 rushing yards.
The Rutgers defense contributed to the rout with an early safety and a 46-yard interception return from Max Melton.
D’Wan Mathis struggled in his debut for Temple (0-1), completing 8 of 24 passes for 148 yards. He also rushed for a TD but was sacked three times and exited the game in the third quarter with an apparent leg injury.
The Scarlet Knights held a 12-0 lead after the opening quarter by getting points from defense, special teams and offense.
Olakunle Fatukasi sacked Mathis for a safety a little over three minutes in and Valentino Ambrosio converted a 25-yard field goal with 8:52 left. An interception by Tre Avery at the Temple 23 was returned for 21 yards and Rutgers went up 12-0 on Langan’s 2-yard run with 1:44 remaining.
Temple’s De’Von Fox fumbled the ensuing kickoff return, which was recovered by Tyreek Maddox-Williams to give Rutgers another short field. The Scarlet Knights capitalized less than a minute into the second quarter when Langan scored on a 1-yard run.
Rutgers forced another turnover when Ifeanyi Maijeh pounced on Mathis’ fumble. Monangai rushed for a 2-yard touchdown four plays later with 10:59 left.
Temple finally scored with 9:15 left in the half on Edward Saydee’s 11-yard run, and was within 26-14 when Mathis scored from 3 yards out with 12:02 remaining in the second.
Rutgers went up 33-14 when Melton raced down the right sideline for a 40-yard TD with 8:05 left and cruised the rest of the way.
–Field Level Media
