How did Rutgers football beat Northwestern? Here are 5 defining plays

PISCATAWAY – All Gavin Wimsatt heard was the crowd’s reaction. He missed what the fans had just witnessed, but he knew it was a big moment.

“I just heard the crowd go, ‘Ooooooo,” the Rutgers football quarterback said following the Scarlet Knights’ 24-7 win over Northwestern Sunday at SHI Stadium. “I turned around and Kyle (Monangai) was screaming. I didn’t see anything. I was kind of bummed.”

Wimsatt finally saw a clip later on social media, and understood the crowd’s reaction.

Rutgers had third-and-10 from the Wildcats 24 early in the second quarter. Wimsatt took the snap and blitzing Northwestern linebacker Xander Mueller burst through a hole in the middle… only to be absolutely leveled by Monangai making a vicious block.

That allowed Wimsatt to stay poised in the pocket and make a strong throw to Isaiah Washington for a 12-yard gain and a first down. Three plays later Wimsatt ran the ball into the end zone from six yards out for his first-career rushing touchdown, which gave the Scarlet Knights a 14-point lead.

Monangai’s block elicited plenty of reaction from Rutgers fans both in the stadium and watching at home. But the Don Bosco product was just doing what he felt he had to.

“I just saw the clip actually,” Monangai said after the game. “It was a blitzing linebacker and I had to step up and make the play. He’s a bigger guy. I think I just won the law of physics right there. Low man wins.”

Monangai’s block was one of several defining plays that helped vault Rutgers to its win.

Here are four more:

Key successful fourth-down conversion

Rutgers actually had two successful fourth-down attempts on its opening drive, but the second was the most impressive of the two.

Rutgers had fourth-and-5 from the Northwestern 39. Greg Schiano kept his offense on the field.

His offense rewarded him.

Wimsatt delivered a strong pass to the left to Christian Dremel for a 17-yard gain to keep the drive going.

It ended with Wimsatt delivering an 11-yard touchdown pass to Ian Strong, who did a great job to get his left foot down inbounds in the left back former of the end zone.

Why was Rutgers so aggressive on the opening drive?

“it was just what the plan was to win the game today,” Schiano said. “That's what we do.”

EDELSON As QB Gavin Wimsatt takes charge, Rutgers football inches forward in win over Northwestern

Ian Strong’s Welcome-to-college-football moment

Strong had an impressive training camp, in the process earning himself a big opportunity on Sunday.

The true freshman wide receiver responded well, making a stellar catch to open up the scoring for Rutgers.

The Scarlet Knights had first-and-10 from the Northwestern 11 on their opening possession. Wimsatt unleashed a pass into the back left corner of the end zone. Strong went up, made the catch, came down and just managed to keep his foot inbounds for the touchdown (it was initially ruled an incomplete pass but the officials overturned it after a review).

“It was a great throw from Gavin,” Strong said. “Nothing more I could ask for. …Once I saw that foot down (on the replay) everyone came over and congratulated me. It was a great team moment.”

For Schiano, Strong earned the moment.

“In training camp, he didn't miss a practice,” Schiano said. “He just worked his tail off every day, and Coach Brock has done a very good job bringing him along. (Wide receivers) Coach (Dave) Brock is a seasoned veteran. He didn't put too much on his plate at first and then just kept loading him up.”

Rene Konga’s second quarter sack

Northwestern didn’t have many promising drives on Sunday. The Wildcats didn’t have the ball all that much, let alone spend much time in Rutgers territory.

But one of those drives came in the second quarter when the Wildcats had first-and-10 at the Rutgers 46.

Rutgers defensive tackle Rene Konga burst into the backfield, sacked Northwestern quarterback Ben Bryant for a loss of three yards while also knocking the ball out his hand (it was recovered by the Wildcats).

That gave Northwestern second-and-13 at the Rutgers 49 – after a one-yard run and an incomplete pass, the Wildcats were forced to punt.

Carnell Davis' big special teams play

Northwestern had fourth-and-8 from its own 38 and sent out its punt unit early in the second quarter.

But the Wildcats faked, with Hunter Renner hitting Rod Heard near the left sideline. But Carnell Davis played it perfectly, tackling Heard a yard short of a first down to kill the drive for Northwestern and force a turnover on downs.

Jai Patel kicked a 32-yard field goal on the Scarlet Knights’ ensuing possession to put his team up 17-0.

Any momentum Northwestern was seemingly building ended quickly.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Rutgers football: 5 defining plays vs. Northwestern