Inside look at Rutgers football's come-from-behind victory against Michigan State
Earlier today, the Rutgers football team entered the locker room, down 17-6 against Michigan State at halftime at SHI Stadium on Busch campus in its annual Homecoming game. The Scarlet Knights (5-2, 2-2) trailed even into the third quarter but ultimately managed to come back and win 27-24.
"If we played a clean game of football coming out and just stayed in the moment, we'd be able to battle back, and that's what we did," said junior defensive back Robert Longerbeam, who led the defense with two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. "It was good to see."
How did Rutgers trail by 11 at the half? Two interceptions, one muffed punt deep in its own territory and a controversial targeting call on junior linebacker Tyreem Powell.
The game wasn't over, but the rainy conditions driving the fans under cover or out of the stadium at the halfway mark made it feel like it was. Nonetheless, the Knights played on and, with perseverance, scored 21 points in the fourth quarter for a statement victory against the Spartans (2-4, 0-3).
Special teams make a huge impact
With nearly 3 minutes remaining in the third quarter, Michigan State extended its lead to 24-6 after a touchdown pass to Tre Mosley from Katin Houser, who was making his first collegiate start at quarterback.
Rutgers' offensive struggles from the first half extended into the second, but nearly 2 minutes into the fourth quarter, it was an unlikely source that gave the team the jolt it needed.
Early in the final quarter, the special teams were able to put pressure on the Spartans' punter Michael O'Shaughnessy, who fumbled the snap. The ball rolled behind him and into the endzone, where senior running back Aaron Young was able to fall on it for the score. The Knights trailed 24-13 with approximately 13 minutes left in the game.
Young spoke about what it felt like to see the loose ball in the endzone.
"My eyes (were) big, so big I can't even explain it," Young said. "Just right there in front of me to pick it up. And that, I feel like, started our momentum."
Gavin Wimsatt and his receivers come up clutch
The Rutgers defense was able to get a quick three-and-out to force another punt after Young's pivotal fumble recovery. The Knights' offense took over from there with a 12-play, 73-yard drive that culminated in a short touchdown pass from junior quarterback Gavin Wimsatt to senior receiver Isaiah Washington.
"I put it back there, and I knew (Washington) was going to catch it," Wimsatt said of the touchdown. "It's just a testament to his hard work ... Super proud to get to throw him the touchdown."
A two-point conversion pass to senior wide receiver Christian Dremel made the score 24-21. Rutgers was inching closer, lurking in Michigan State's shadow.
"We obviously practice for situations like that," Dremel said of his two-point conversion. "All credit to (Washington) and (freshman wide receiver Ian Strong), those guys made it happen on that play. They blocked it up perfectly, (Wimsatt) got the ball out, and we were able to capitalize on it."
Thomas Amankwaa makes his mark
Following the touchdown, the Knights did the unthinkable: a sky kick. Head coach Greg Schiano explained after the game that a sky kick isn't like a usual, shorter onside kick. Rather, the kicker aims for a spot downfield, and the kicking team races to try to recover it.
That's exactly the type of kick that senior placekicker Jude McAtamney did on the kickoff after Washington scored. Sophomore defensive back Thomas Amankwaa raced down the field to recover the sky kick. The trick play worked, and Rutgers put itself in a great field position at the Spartans' 21-yard line.
Amankwaa spoke about practicing that play routinely before the game.
"Just being able to go down there and recover it. It was nothing new," Amankwaa said. "I never broke stride. It was a great kick by our kicker, and I'm just glad I was able to finish it."
Amankwaa also talked about the feeling of celebrating with his teammates after the recovery.
"It was like everything," Amankwaa said. "Just being able to celebrate with all of my teammates, all of my best friends, all of my brothers … Having all of those guys there around me that I've been going through summer workouts, all those workouts with, it was amazing."
The game-winner
Right on cue, junior running back Kyle Monangai was able to cross the goal line for the Knights with a 21-yard run into the endzone that electrified SHI Stadium even more.
It was Monangai's team-leading seventh rushing touchdown of the season, and it came, once again, in a big moment for Rutgers.
"(Michigan was) bringing some type of blitz," said Monangai, recalling the play. "I was just able to out-leverage the play … I was able to just outrun the backers, made the safety miss ... (so) I was able to get into the endzone."
Monangai's score was the last of the game as the Knights were able to secure a 3-point victory.
"It's definitely a win we needed, definitely a win that we wanted to have," Monangai said.
The celebration
Celebrations after a win are always fun, and Schiano relishes the feeling of victory.
"People do a lot of things in life, and they are quite successful," Schiano said. "But unless you're in that locker room, you never really know what that feeling is like. You'd like to be able to bottle it, but you can't. It's for a short period of time. But man, it's fun."
Senior tight end Johnny Langan spoke to the media inside the locker room after the win.
"There's so much energy in there," Langan said. "If you could bottle that up and sell it, you'd be a millionaire. It was great. The boys were bouncing around, dancing ... It was electric."
There is a lot for Rutgers to celebrate as the team is now one win away from being bowl-eligible and is 5-0 at home to start the season for the first time since 2006.
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