The Bergen Record

Big chances remain for Rutgers football with three games left

- Chris Iseman NorthJerse­y.com

PISCATAWAY – Three games remaining, three big opportunit­ies ahead.

Rutgers football’s upset bid against Ohio State fell short on Saturday despite the Scarlet Knights putting up a solid fight, but Greg Schiano’s team has chances ahead to make this season, already a step in the right direction after it achieved traditiona­l bowl eligibilit­y, even more successful.

The big question now is whether the Scarlet Knights can capitalize?

“We’re making progress but still got a lot of way to go,” said running back Kyle Monangai, who rushed for 159 yards in Rutgers’ 35-16 loss to Ohio State for his fifth 100-yard performanc­e of the season. “We’re going to come back...and start working on making progress to get there.”

Next for Rutgers: Iowa

Rutgers’ next opportunit­y “to get there” will come Saturday against Iowa at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, and the Hawkeyes look to be a more vulnerable team than expected coming into the season.

Iowa has lost quarterbac­k Cade McNamara and tight end Erick All to season-ending injuries, and the Hawkeyes barely got by Northweste­rn Saturday in a 10-7 win at Wrigley Field – the same Northweste­rn team Rutgers blew out 24-7 in the season opener.

The Hawkeyes’ defense is stout, allowing just 13.7 points per game, but their offense is one of the worst in the nation (119th), averaging 18.4 points per game. That output has already cost embattled offensive coordinato­r Brian Ferentz his job – athletic director Beth Goetz announced last week that he will not return after this season.

“We’ve got a really tough game against Iowa here in seven days and we have to go out to Iowa City which is a tough place to play,” Schiano said following his team’s loss to Ohio State. “We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us.”

Still, Rutgers’ defense continues to play at a high level, holding Ohio State to 328 total yards of offense and making things difficult for quarterbac­k Kyle McCord.

If the Scarlet Knights can play that way against Iowa and Monangai can run with effectiveness against the Hawkeyes’ defense, then Rutgers will give itself a good chance at returning home with its seventh victory of the season.

Easier said than done? Of course, especially since Iowa is vying for the Big Ten West title and has plenty to play for.

But the Scarlet Knights have proven they can compete with good teams in the Big Ten.

“I think we can go toe to toe with anyone,” tight end Johnny Langan said.

Rutgers’ final two games will be at Penn State, then home against a Maryland team that looks to be in a freefall with four straight losses, including a 33-27 defeat against Northweste­rn.

For now, the Scarlet Knights’ focus remains on beating Iowa.

Rutgers couldn’t pull of the upset against Ohio State, but plenty of big chances remain. Preparatio­n has already begun. “We’ve got a 24-hour rule,” linebacker Mohamed Toure said. “We’re going to come in tomorrow, watch film, see what mistakes we made and just chop on.”

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