Rutgers Demolishes Nortfolk State; Big Ten Play Begins Next Week

A week before their Big Ten opener against Iowa, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights dominated the Norfolk State Spartans 60-10 in a game that was pretty much over by halftime.

Rutgers jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead when Jett Elad blocked his second punt of the season by shooting the gap and getting his hand up as punter Marco Perry tried to square up on the ball. The ball bounced around before Dylan Braithwaite scooped up the loose ball and scored the games first touchdown less than a minute into the game.

Later in the quarter,Kaj Sanders blocked the next Norfolk State punt, then, alertly picked up the loose ball and scored to push the Rutgers lead to 13-0.

Antwaan Raymond's two-yard plunge into the end zone with with 8:04 to go in the first half, completed a nine-play 62-yard drive, and all but ended the contest as Rutgers jumped out to a 20-3 advantage.

Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis had another strong effort, throwing for 309 yards, including a 37-yard touchdown to Ben Black in the third quarter.

Raymond, who ran for 79 yards on the day, added his second score late in the third quarter to extend the Rutgers lead to 39-10.

INJURIES: Rutgers does have some serious injury concerns coming out of the Norfolk State game. Tyler Needham who was filling in for Dante Chin at left tackle, left the game after getting hurt during an offensive play. He did not return. Serious concern here especially with Chin out for the year.

Meanwhile running back C.J. Campbell twisted his ankle according to reports, and did not return to the game. Wide Receiver Ian Strong was inactive on Saturday. Strong's status for next week's game against Iowa is up in the air.

The Scarlet Knights (3-0) will host Iowa (1-1) next Friday night at SHI Stadium. Rutgers is 0-4 all time against the Hawkeyes. Although with the way Rutgers has played so far to start the 2025 season, this contest figures to be a heck of a battle to open the Big Ten Schedule.

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