On Saturday, Rutgers University defeated Northwestern University 24-7 in the Wildcats’ first game since a hazing scandal rocked the team. The scandal, which came to light in late August, resulted in the suspension of several players and the dismissal of head coach Pat Fitzgerald.
The game was a hard-fought battle between two teams that had been through a lot in the past few weeks. Rutgers, who had been on a four-game winning streak, was looking to continue its success while Northwestern was hoping to put the scandal behind them and get back to playing football.
Rutgers was able to get off to a fast start, scoring two touchdowns in the first quarter. Northwestern was able to respond with a touchdown of their own in the second quarter, but it wasn’t enough as Rutgers held on for the victory.
Rutgers quarterback Artur Sitkowski had a great game, throwing for three touchdowns and no interceptions. He was also able to spread the ball around, completing passes to seven different receivers.
The Rutgers defense also played well, holding Northwestern to just seven points and forcing two turnovers. The Scarlet Knights were able to pressure Northwestern quarterback Aidan Smith all game long, sacking him four times and forcing him into several errant throws.
The win was a big one for Rutgers, as it moved them to 5-1 on the season and kept them in contention for the Big Ten Championship. It was also a big win for Northwestern, as it showed that they could still compete despite all of the turmoil they had gone through in the past few weeks.
The win was a big step forward for both teams and showed that they could still compete at a high level despite all of the distractions they had faced. It will be interesting to see how both teams fare in the coming weeks as they look to move past this scandal and get back to playing football.
