Raymond runs for three scores as Rutgers overwhelms Howard 58-7

Rutgers was looking for its first win Friday and made the answer clear early against Howard. The Scarlet Knights scored three touchdowns in the first quarter, led 41-7 at halftime and finished with a 58-7 victory in Piscataway. Running back Antwan Raymond gained 140 yards on 16 carries and scored three times. The final game summary supplies the scoring sequence and individual lines.

Quarterback Dylan Lonergan began the scoring with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Ben Black III. He followed with a 77-yard connection to KJ Duff, and Raymond's 18-yard run made it 21-0 before the first quarter was over. Howard's Eden James broke a 75-yard touchdown run 13 seconds later, but that was the visitors' only score. Raymond answered with one-yard and 13-yard touchdown runs in the second quarter as Rutgers widened the margin.

Dane Pizzaro kicked field goals from 29 and 47 yards before halftime, sending Rutgers to the break ahead by 34. The third quarter brought a four-yard Clay Thevenin touchdown run and another Pizzaro field goal, this one from 40 yards. AJ Surace found Vernon Allen III for a nine-yard score early in the fourth. That last touchdown set the final 58-7 score. The points were spread across the game, but the first-half separation removed any real late uncertainty.

Lonergan completed 12 of 17 passes for 214 yards and two touchdowns. Duff caught five passes for 131 yards and a touchdown, giving Rutgers a passing complement to Raymond's three rushing scores. Howard's James finished with 116 rushing yards, most of it on his long touchdown, while quarterback Ja'Shawn Scroggins threw for 38 yards and was intercepted twice. Rutgers did not need to shut down every individual play; it prevented Howard from building another scoring drive after the opening-quarter run.

The Rutgers schedule identifies Howard as Friday's home opponent and Indiana as the next scheduled visitor on October 3. The 58-7 win follows Rutgers' three losses to open the season. For the Scarlet Knights, Friday delivered a first victory with contributions from the ground game, two quarterbacks and special teams. Raymond's 140 yards and three touchdowns were the central individual story of a result decided well before halftime.

Rutgers also limited Howard to one touchdown after the visitors briefly answered its 21-point opening surge.