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  • Rutgers Tries To Make It Interesting, But The Scarlet Knights Ultimately Fall To the USC Trojans, 42-20

Rutgers Tries To Make It Interesting, But The Scarlet Knights Ultimately Fall To the USC Trojans, 42-20

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Football

Rutgers football (4-4, 1-4) lost to USC (4-4, 2-4) by a score of 42-20 on Friday night at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. It was the first meeting on the gridiron between the programs.

QB Athan Kaliakmanis completed a career-high 27 passes for 313 yards and a touchdown to WR Christian Dremel. WR Dymere Miller hauled in 11 passes for 131 yards, which marked the first time a Scarlet Knight had at least 10 receptions in a game since Mohamed Sanu against Army in 2011. RB Kyle Monangai rushed for 86 yards, while RB Antwan Raymond posted his third rushing touchdown of the year.

DB Shaquan Loyal and LB Tyreem Powell paced the defense with six tackles each, while PK Jai Patel made both of his field goal attempts.

FIRST HALF
The Trojans opened up the scoring with a one-yard touchdown rush on the game's opening drive. The Scarlet Knights responded with a 12-play, 67-yard drive that culminated with a 26-yard field goal from Patel.

USC would add on back-to-back touchdowns to extend its lead to 21-3 with 10:26 remaining in the second.

The Scarlet Knights answered with another long touchdown drive. Raymond ran it in from three yards out to cap off the 11-play, 75 yard drive, bringing the score to 21-9.

USC added another touchdown on a 22-yard rush, but Rutgers closed the half with a season-long 16-play drive and a 20-yard field goal from Patel to head into the locker room down 28-12.

SECOND HALF
The RU defense forced a Trojan punt early in the third quarter and followed it up with another touchdown drive, set up by a 45-yard pass from Kaliakmanis to Miller. On the next play, Dremel hauled in a 25-yard score from Kaliakmanis, his first of the season. WR Chris Long found Kaliakmanis on a pass for a two-point conversion to cut it to 28-20 with 8:11 left in the third quarter.

The Trojans scored on the next drive with a seven-yard touchdown rush and added a 40-yard touchdown pass to push the score to 42-20 late in the third, which would hold as the final score.

UP NEXT
Following an open week, Rutgers is back in action Nov. 9 to host Minnesota at SHI Stadium. Military Appreciation Day is presented by Provident Bank.