WASHINGTON (August 29, 2024) - Howard University played its host tough, trailing only 14-7, but the defense was unable to stop the running game and the Bison fell, 44-7, in a nonconference game against Rutgers at the SHI Stadium before 47,803.
 
It was the season opener for both teams. Rutgers (1-0) was coming off a bowl victory and the Bison played in the Celebration Bowl.
 
The game started slow until a Ja'Shawn Scroggins (Las Vegas) pass was intercepted and return for the game's first score, 7-0.
 
The Bison (0-1) regrouped and played strong defensively until the Scarlet Knights unleashed their running game, led by running back Kyle Monanagai, who picked up a game-high 165 yards and a TD.
 
Rutgers took advantage of Howard's miscues and took a 14-0 lead.
 
The Bison responded with a 11-play drive, spearheaded by the running of Eden James (Indianapolis) to cut the deficit, 14-7, with 40 seconds before the half, but before Howard could go in with some momentum, Rutgers took advantage of a Bison miscue and turned it into a 36-yard field to take a 17-7 lead to the locker room.
 
Howard was in good shape to start the second half as it had the first possession, driving from its own 20 to Rutgers 39 but was unable to convert of fourth down. From there, the Scarlet Knights would go on to run off 27 unanswered points to close out the victory.
 
The Scarlet Knights amassed 329 total rushing yards while the Bison collected 145 yards on the ground.

"We are disappointed in the results," said Howard Head Coach Larry Scott in the postgame press conference. "The result is not nearly what we came in here to do. I felt like coming into the second half, we could have played better. But give them credit because they established the run in the second half and then played to their character in how they want to play. We have to learn from this and get ready for the next game."
 
Scroggins, a redshirted sophomore, started his first game for Howard and finished with 67 rushing yards and 116 yards in the air.

"He used his legs well in terms of knowing when to run and to make the right decision," said Scott in his evaluation of Scroggins. "I thought he played a solid game tonight. We have something to build on."
 
Hunter got off to slow start but finished with 40 yards rushing and two receptions for 16 yards. James finished with 33 yards and a TD, most coming in the first half.
 
While the score was not in question, so was the play of graduate All American safety Kenny Gallop Jr. (Portsmouth, Va.). The graduate was without question the best defensive player of the field as he finished with 14 tackles (eight solos).

Instead of talking about his individual performance, Gallop instead talked about the Scarlet Knights.

"We competed well but they were more physical in the second half," Gallop stated. "They executed their game play and we have to learn from this and get ready for next week."
 
When asked what his takeaway from the game was, the All-American safety responded, "It was exciting for us to play on the Big 10 Network."
 
NEXT UP:  The Bison open their home season Saturday, September 7 when they host Mercy at 7 p.m., in Greene Stadium.

Derek W. Bryant, Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations & Sports Information, and Sareyah Rudd, MJFC major, c/o '25, contributed to this story
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.