Massachusetts Pulls Away From Rutgers With 17-Point Second Quarter in 37-21 Win
| Quarter 1 | Quarter 2 | Quarter 3 | Quarter 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAS | 7 | 17 | 3 | 10 | 37 |
| RUT | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
PISCATAWAY, New Jersey - Massachusetts turned a second-quarter takeaway into the decisive scoring surge and defeated Rutgers 37-21 on Sept. 3 at SHI Stadium. Romando Johnson sacked the Rutgers quarterback, forced a fumble and recovered it at the Scarlet Knights' 36. Two plays later, Watson William Iii connected with Griffin Jr.,Joseph for a 31-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 21-7 during a run of 17 unanswered points before halftime.
Rutgers opened the game with a 12-play, 75-yard drive capped by Kj Duff's 4-yard touchdown reception. Massachusetts answered in 2:54, moving 75 yards in seven plays and tying the score on Elijah Faulkner's 21-yard touchdown catch. Elijah Faulkner added a 2-yard scoring reception early in the second quarter to put Massachusetts ahead for good, and Derek Morris made a 30-yard field goal with 3:42 remaining to send the visitors into halftime with a 24-7 advantage.
Watson William Iii directed an efficient offense, completing 19 of 22 passes for 197 yards and three touchdowns without an interception while adding 40 rushing yards. Massachusetts finished with 397 total yards, including 200 on the ground, and held the ball for 36:21. Elijah Faulkner rushed 19 times for 62 yards in addition to two touchdown catches, while Kimmons Curtis Iv led the rushing attack with 78 yards on 11 carries. Morris contributed 13 points, converting all three field-goal attempts and four extra points.
Morris opened the second-half scoring with a 52-yard field goal after Massachusetts possessed the ball for 6:38. The defense then stopped Rutgers on fourth-and-1 at the Massachusetts 12, preserving a 27-7 lead. Massachusetts recorded five sacks and forced four turnovers overall. Isaiah Reed intercepted a pass early in the fourth quarter, and Jahmad Harmon added two interceptions. Timmy Hinspeter led the defense with nine tackles, while Zeraun Daniel recorded seven tackles, one sack and a pass breakup.
Rutgers cut the margin to 30-14 when Kj Duff scored on a 78-yard reception on fourth-and-13 with 7:09 remaining, but Jahmad Harmon's second interception set up the clinching score. Kimmons Curtis Iv raced 17 yards for a touchdown eight seconds later, restoring a 37-14 lead. Kj Duff, who finished with nine catches for 196 yards and all three Rutgers touchdowns, added a 6-yard scoring reception with 1:57 left. Griffin Jr.,Joseph recovered the ensuing onside kick, allowing Massachusetts to run out the clock and secure the 37-21 victory.
uReport has been approved for inclusion in the ISTE+ASCD EdTech Index, a trusted resource used by educators to discover high-quality digital learning tools. As part of this process, uReport was reviewed and vetted for its alignment with effective teaching and learning practices, including support for authentic learning, digital citizenship, and responsible use of AI. uReport has also earned 1EdTech TrustEd Apps certification for Data Privacy.
