BRONX, N.Y. — Rutgers football played what might have been their most complete game of the season, fighting off a tough and fast Miami in a 31-24 win over Miami. With the win, Rutgers won the 2023 Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl.
Big plays, especially a blocked punt late in the third quarter, proved to be he difference maker.
It was the first bowl win for Rutgers since 2014. The win gives Rutgers a 7-6 finish to the season, their first winning season since…yes, 2014.
Rutgers started the game off strong, rolling out a 7-0 lead on their opening drive. They doubled the lead at the midpoint of the second quarter with a seven-yard run by Kyle Monangai.
The Rutgers running back finished with 25 carries for 163 yards and a touchdown in being named the game’s MVP.
Miami fired back with 17 unanswered points, staking themselves to a 17-14 lead with 10:33 left in the third quarter.
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Trevor Yeboah-Kodie produced the play of the game for Rutgers. With 5:06 remaining in the third quarter, Yeboah-Kodie burst through the Miami offensive line and got both hands on a Dylan Joyce punt.
Timmy Ward jumped on the ball to restore the Rutgers lead at 21-17.
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Miami outgained Rutgers in yardage (311:292) and had more first downs (21:17) but lost the big play battle. Rutgers didn’t turn the ball over and had the blocked punt, doing just enough to get a rebuild-defining win for their program.