Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis exacted revenge over his former Gophers team in victory formation Saturday, kneeling out a 26-19 win over the Gophers.
Minnesota led on the scoreboard heading into the fourth quarter, but self-inflicted wounds haunted the Gophers as they handed the Scarlet Knights the football and the game.
Gophers quarterback Max Brosmer hit Jameson Geers in the flat who turned right into a collision and fumbled the football in the fourth quarter. Minnesota’s first turnover in 17 quarters led Kaliakmanis to find Ian Strong open across the middle for a four-yard touchdown, giving the Scarlet Knights a 21-16 lead.
Rutgers hounded Brosmer and sacked him inside the 10-yard line to open the ensuing drive. The Gophers’ offensive line could not handle the pass rush as Rutgers defensive line Jordan Walker sacked Brosmer in the end zone for a safety.
Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck said he was not good at doing his job on Saturday but his team had opportunities to win the game.
“We did not play Gopher football like we have over the last however many weeks,” Fleck said. “It’s college football. It’s not an excuse nor is it acceptable.”
Kaliakmanis threw for 240 yards and three touchdowns leading his team to a victory and concluding their four-game losing skid.
The Gophers started the day with a strong opening offensive drive. Brosmer scampered for 28 yards and set up the offense deep in Rutgers territory.
Gophers offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh Jr. decided to go heavy with extra tight ends on third-and-eight. Darius Taylor broke through an open hole for an 18-yard touchdown run but the Gophers score stayed at six after kicker Dragan Kesich missed the extra point.
The Gophers’ defense looked to make Kaliakmanis beat them early and the Scarlet Knight answered the challenge. Kaliakmanis began the game 5-for-7 for 80 yards and threw a fourth-and-goal touchdown to Dymere Miller to take a 7-6 lead over the Gophers.
After missing the first extra point of his career, Kesich nailed a 51-yard field goal to reclaim the lead.
Kaliakmanis, otherwise known as the “Greek Rifle,” continued firing, connecting with Miller for a second touchdown. He completed 80% of his passes through three drives for 146 yards.
Kirk Ciarrocca, the Scarlet Knights offensive coordinator, picked apart the defense he matched up with in practice over four years as the coordinator at Minnesota. First-year Gophers defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman is familiar with Ciarrocca’s offense after spending last season as the linebackers coach for Rutgers.
Ciarrocca tested the Gophers’ secondary, who traveled to Piscataway, New Jersey third in the nation with 15 interceptions.
Rutgers dialed up a deep ball to Strong, and Kaliakmanis put it right on the money for 65 yards, the longest completion of the senior quarterback’s career.
Kaliakmanis pressured in the red zone and threw an ill-advised interception to Ethan Robinson in the end zone who mirrored Daniel Jackson’s toe-touch catch from last year. Robinson’s interception was his first for the maroon and gold.
Minnesota’s offense struggled to sustain drives down the first-half stretch entering the break trailing 14-9.
At halftime, Fleck said the offense is close to clicking but in football, close is a long way.
“We just got to make the available throw and make the completion,” Fleck said.
Fleck added the defense was giving up too many explosive plays in the passing game and sure up their tackling.
Robinson said the defensive backs needed to go back to the drawing board and trust their techniques after struggling in the first half.
“We were in good positions. I felt like we just got to make plays on the ball,” Robinson said.
Offensively, Harbaugh started using the quick passing game more so he could utilize running backs and tight ends through the air.
Taylor caught 11 passes in 2023 and already had 43 receptions through eight games played in 2024. The other half of the running back duo, Marcus Major, had 16 catches of his own.
Brosmer finished off the second half’s opening drive with three straight quick completions to the flats. The third pass found a wide-open Major who raced into the end zone retaking the lead.
Kaliakmanis struggled to start the second half going 1-for-8 through the first three drives, all of which ended in punts.
The Gophers handed Rutgers all the momentum needed to reclaim the lead after Geers fumbled, setting up the Scarlet Knights inside the red zone.
Brosmer said postgame the Geers fumble is a part of football and the team works hard to make sure positive things happen but the other team is on scholarships for a reason.
“He’s got our utmost confidence the rest of the season,” Brosmer said. “He’s one of my favorite targets.”
After a short touchdown pass from Kaliakmanis, his third of the game, the Scarlet Knights reclaimed their lead from halftime. Rutgers’ defense added to the advantage with a safety on a sack from Walker.
Minnesota’s comeback concluded as Rutgers recovered the onside kick ending the Gophers’ four-game win streak.
