Athan Kaliakmanis threw a pair of touchdown passes as Rutgers nipped visiting Ohio 34-31 Thursday in both teams’ season opener in Piscataway, N.J.
Kaliakmanis finished without an interception going 18-of-23 for 252 yards, while Antwan Raymond chipped in 88 rushing yards and a touchdown for Rutgers (1-0). Ian Strong led the Scarlet Knights’ receiving corps with 100 yards on seven receptions, while KJ Duff and DT Sheffield each caught a touchdown for the hosts.
Parker Navarro went 21-of-31 for 239 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for Ohio (0-1). He added a team-high 93 yards and a TD on the ground, while Jake Bruno had two catches for two scores for the visitors.
After squandering a 17-point lead, Rutgers used a 14-play drive, spanning the third and fourth quarters, to break a 31-31 tie. Jai Patel’s 26-yard field goal with 11:11 remaining gave the Scarlet Knights a 34-31 edge.
Ohio punted midway through the fourth quarter and never saw the ball again. Kaliakmanis’ 10-yard completion to Sheffield on fourth-and-7 with under two minutes remaining sealed the win.
The game began with the Scarlet Knights uncorking a 12-play, 75-yard drive that Raymond capped with a 14-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-2.
Patel kicked a 23-yard field goal on Rutgers’ next possession. Then, on the first play after a punt by Ohio, Kaliakmanis found a wide-open Sheffield streaking down the left sideline for a 54-yard score to make it 17-7.
However, the Bobcats kept fighting, as Navarro’s 28-yard scramble eventually led to his 14-yard TD pass to Bruno to make it 17-14.
On the ensuing Rutgers possession, Kaliakmanis threw a 6-yard scoring strike to Duff as the lead increased to 24-14.
The Bobcats were set to punt on their next trip, but the snap was low and Magnus Haines’ attempt was blocked by Kaj Sanders. Cam Miller corralled the ball in the end zone to make it 31-14.
Ohio kicked a field goal in the waning seconds of the first half to get within 31-17. Navarro then ran for a score (17 yards) and threw for one (13 yards to Bruno) to draw the visitors even with 4:07 left in the third quarter.
