PISCATAWAY N.J.– The Scarlet defeated the White 23-21 in the Rutgers football 2021 spring game Thursday night in a contest which saw plenty of offense.
This was the first time since the return of head coach Greg Schiano that fans were able to watch Rutgers football live inside of SHI Stadium. The stadium set a fan attendance cap of 5,000 due to COVID-19.
Spring Game Saw Solid Quarterback Play
Schiano previously announced senior Noah Vedral as the team’s starting quarterback, but the depth chart of backups is undecided. Vedral, who started seven games last season, connected on 9-of-13 pass attempts for 113 yards for the Scarlet.
Sophomore Cole Snyder played at quarterback for the White while freshman Evan Simon played for the Scarlet.
Snyder finished the game with 13-of-16 passes for 148 yards and two touchdowns, plus a rushing score from the 4-yard line. Not to be outdone, Simon kept pace with Snyder by going 9-of-16 for 114 yards and a touchdown. However, it was Snyder who took part in the biggest play of the game midway through the second quarter.
Facing a third-and-10 from his own 35-yard line, Snyder hit a streaking Isaiah Washington down the left sideline. Washington, a sophomore wide receiver for the Knights, snagged the pass with one hand completely away from his body and raced to the end zone for a 65-yard score.
Big Play Zay 👀 👀 @ZayWash4 | #CHOP pic.twitter.com/cOpy03HHaG
— Rutgers Football (@RFootball) May 20, 2021
Rutgers legend Eric LeGrand, who called the game on commentary, said Washington recently changed his number to 14 during the offseason. The number 14 is notably used by NFL superstar DK Metcalf who Washington certainly resembled on the breathtaking catch and run.
Schiano gushed over the play during a sideline check-in with commentators LeGrand and Chris Carlin.
“That was a heck of a catch, I’ll tell you what,” he said. “And a really good throw too. Cole (Snyder) put it right on the money. There’s been some really good passing out there by all the quarterbacks.”
Washington finished the game with four catches for 76 yards and one touchdown.
The tight ends also shined for Rutgers.
Big Vic = Big Problems @iamv15k | #CHOP pic.twitter.com/g6TC4QXGwF
— Rutgers Football (@RFootball) May 20, 2021
Senior Jovani Haskins and freshman Victor Konopka had six catches for 78 yards and three catches for 55 yards, respectively.
Schiano was quoted by the Asbury Park Press after the game about his tight end group’s performance.
"I was really pleased with the way they played tonight," Schiano said. "I've been pleased with the way they progressed in the spring. It makes you a much more potent offense, a harder offense to defend when you have multiple tight ends and you can change out of multiple tight end sets, single tight-end sets, and if you want to, zero tight-end sets."
Starting running back Isaih Pacheco saw limited action, rushing one time for six yards.
Rutgers other backs, freshman Kyle Monangai, sophomore Aaron Young and freshman Jamier Wright-Collins each made a case to be second on the depth chart.
💼 💼 @aaronyoung04 | #CHOP🪓 pic.twitter.com/WyMqNtAz66
— Rutgers Football (@RFootball) May 20, 2021
Monangai rushed 11 times for 36 yards and a touchdown and had a 40-yard burst that was called back on a holding penalty.
Young had 13 carries for 84 yards while Wright-Collins chipped in six rushes for 61 yards.
Rutgers will look to build upon Schiano’s first season back when they open the year at home against the Temple Owls Sept. 4 at SHI Stadium. Jersey Sporting News will follow Rutgers Athletics all year and keep you updated.
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