Rutgers’ trip against No. 24 Northwestern unraveled almost immediately, and the damage was done long before the Scarlet Knights had a chance to settle in. By the time the first quarter was over, Rutgers was staring at a 21-3 hole in a 42-14 loss, with a shaky offense and a defense that couldn’t slow the Wildcats’ ground game.
Northwestern opened with force, marching 75 yards in 10 plays for a touchdown on its first possession. Rutgers answered with a field goal, but the drive came at a cost: starting quarterback Dylan Lonergan left after injuring himself on a five-yard run. AJ Surace stepped in after Lonergan exited.
The Wildcats wasted little time stretching the lead. Their next drive also covered 75 yards, this time in only five plays, and ended with another touchdown.
Rutgers then coughed it up on the very first play of the following possession when Northwestern DL Michael Kilbane forced a Surace fumble that the Wildcats recovered. Two plays later, Northwestern had a 21-3 advantage.
The pressure never really let up. Northwestern added another touchdown in the second quarter, and Rutgers managed only a second field goal before halftime to go into the break down 28-6.
Rutgers tried to shake things up after halftime by turning to Sean Ashenfelder at quarterback. For a brief stretch, that move sparked something.
D. K.
Gilley picked off Northwestern’s Aidan Chiles, and Antwan Raymond followed with a 46-yard touchdown run. A converted two-point try cut the deficit to 14, but that was as close as Rutgers would get.
Northwestern answered with two more fourth-quarter touchdowns to finish off the 28-point win and cover the spread.
The passing game never found its footing. Lonergan did not attempt a pass before leaving, and Surace and Ashenfelder combined to complete just nine of 27 throws for 100 yards, with no touchdowns and two interceptions. Rutgers’ offensive line had a rough afternoon too, giving up four sacks and plenty of pressure.
KJ Duff was also held in check, finishing with three catches for 33 yards.
Northwestern controlled the line of scrimmage on the other side of the ball, piling up 283 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 41 carries. Chiles added to that with a sharp passing day of his own, going 19 of 25 for 219 yards and three touchdowns, with one interception, his first of the year.
Rutgers did have something to build on in the run game. Raymond ran for 150 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, and Clay Thevenin added 116 yards on 14 carries.
The Scarlet Knights will try to bounce back next week at home against Michigan, which lost in overtime to No. 6 Indiana 13-6 on Saturday. That game is set for next Saturday on Halloween at 12:30 p.m. and will air on the Big Ten Network.
In Other News...
Rutgers Just Got Exposed In One Area Fans Feared Most
Rutgers spent much of the day chasing Northwestern after the No. 24 Wildcats burst out to an early lead and never let go, turning a home date into a reminder of how thin the margin can be when the Scarlet Knights fall behind. The offense kept grinding through a strange day under center, with three quarterbacks taking snaps as injuries and performance issues forced constant adjustments, but the ground game did at least give Rutgers something to build on.
Antwan Raymond and Clay Thevenin both gave the Scarlet Knights a real push on the ground, and that was the kind of physical answer Rutgers has been looking for. The harder question was on the other side of the ball, where Aidan Chiles had room to work and made the most of it, throwing for 219 yards and three touchdowns as Northwestern repeatedly found the soft spots Rutgers has worried about most. [Read more 🡒]
Rutgers Faces A Brutal Test Against A Top 25 Team On Road
Rutgers heads to Evanston, Illinois, coming off a much-needed win over Maryland, but the challenge waiting on the other side looks significantly steeper. No. 24 Northwestern brings a sturdy running game and an offense that has given the Scarlet Knights plenty to think about, and the staff preview around the matchup paints this as the kind of road test that can quickly expose where a team is still vulnerable.
The biggest concern for Rutgers is familiar: the defense has had trouble against the run and against quarterbacks who can make plays with their legs. That makes this trip feel like a particularly tough stylistic fit, especially with Northwesterns offense built to stress those exact areas and the Wildcats positioned as the likelier winner going in. [Read more 🡒]
Rutgers Fans Should Know The N.J. QB Turning Heads Fast
Highland Park kept rolling Friday with a 35-0 Big Central Conference win over Metuchen, and senior Marcus Smith was at the center of it from start to finish. He helped pace the offense, ran the ball effectively, and even got involved on defense as Highland Park improved to 8-1 overall and 4-1 in conference play.
The night also carried a special moment for the home crowd with Highland Park honoring one of its own, as the school retired the jersey of alum L.J. Smith. For Rutgers fans keeping an eye on New Jersey talent, it was the kind of local showcase that can make a player stand out fast, especially when the stage is packed with the sort of attention that comes with a dominant win. [Read more 🡒]