Watch: Rutgers tight end Jovani Haskins’ touchdown catch from an endzone camera

A perfect pass from Noah Vedral and a strong drive into the end zone from tight end Jovani Haskins gave Rutgers football a 14-7 lead in what would become an important Week 2 win over Syracuse.

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If Rutgers football is going to make a bowl game in 2021, then they had to win on Saturday. And should Rutgers actually make it into the postseason, then Jovani Haskins’ touchdown catch at Syracuse is likely to be one of the big reasons.

A 17-7 win at Syracuse is a jolt of credibility for the Scarlet Knights and their bowl hopes as their record stands now at 2-0 on the season. With a game against Delaware on Saturday where Rutgers will likely be a heavy favorite, the idea of starting the season with three wins in as many games is not far-fetched. Also not far-fetched is the idea that Rutgers could make a bowl game for the first time since 2014.

Also, the last time Rutgers was 2-0 to start a season? 2014 under then head coach Kyle Flood.

With 23 seconds left in the third quarter and the game tied at 7-7, Rutgers quarterback Noah Vedral threw a tight pass to a wide-open Jovani Haskins. The senior tight end caught the ball at the 3-yard line and fought his way into the endzone for what would become a 14-7 lead. The 30-yard touchdown pass from Vedral to Haskins crushed Syracuse’s momentum at the time.

Rutgers would never look back.

 

Now, should Rutgers win at home over Delaware on Saturday (certainly far from a foregone conclusion as the Fightin Blue Hens are 2-0), it puts Rutgers at the very least in the discussion for a bowl game.

Last year in the first season under head coach Greg Schiano, Rutgers went 3-6 in a season that only featured Big Ten play. The same Big Ten record this season coupled with three out of conference wins would put Rutgers in position to finish the season 6-6 and be bowl eligible.

Still lots of football to go but even having a conversation about Rutgers possibly making a bowl game in the second year of a rebuild is a testament to what Schiano has been able to do in such a short amount of time.