PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Kyle Monangai carried 27 times for a career-high 208 yards and scored three short touchdowns to lead Rutgers to a 49-17 victory over Akron on Saturday.
The defending Big Ten Conference rushing champion, who has rushed for 373 in two games, tallied on runs of 3, 1 and 2 yards in helping the Scarlet Knights (2-0) post their ninth straight non-conference win. It was his 10th game of at least 100 yards yarding rushing and Rutgers’ biggest since Josh Hicks ran for 202 in 2014. It was Monangai’s second three-touchdown performance.
Transfer Athan Kaliakmanis threw for three touchdowns for the second straight week for Rutgers, including a career-long 58-yarder to Chris Long in the third quarter. His others covered 6 yards to KJ Duff in the second and 9 yards to tight end Kenny Fletcher in the fourth.
Akron quarterback Ben Finley, who played despite being banged up in a 52-6 loss to Ohio State last weekend, threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Adrian Norton for the Zips (0-2). Jordon Simmons added a late 73-yard TD run.
Garrison Smith, who missed a 41-yard field goal attempt in the first quarter, connected from the same distance with 6:06 left in the second quarter to cut Akron’s deficit to 7-3.
A career-long 62-yard run by Monangai on the ensuring series set up Duff’s first collegiate TD catch. It came on a pass deflected by Akron lineman Bennett Adler. Monangai stretched the lead 21-3 with his 1-yard run, capping a quick 80-yard drive that was highlighted by a 31-yard pass from Kaliakmanis (14 of 23 for 230) to Dymere Miller.
For the second straight week Rutgers’ offense got off to a slow start and needed Monangai to wake it up. He had a 46-yard run to set up a 3-yard run that he finished by rolling over a body to get into the end zone. It gave Rutgers a 7-0 lead it never lost in opening 2-0 for the fourth straight year.
Finley was 14 of 31 for 138 yards with one touchdown and one interception for Akron. Simmons carried nine times for 109 yards and a score.
Akron: Play home opener against Colgate Saturday.
Rutgers: Bye week followed by a game at Virginia Tech on Sept. 21
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