NEW YORK – On a cold and dreary Thursday (Dec. 28) in New York City, two colleges went out and played in the elements.
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights got the ball rolling early as they scored on their first drive, thanks to a tush-push on the goal line to give the them an early 7-0 lead. Rutgers would score again later to give the Big Ten team a 14-0 edge over the Miami Hurricanes.
Finally in the second quarter, Miami’s offense started to fire itself up as quarterback Jacurri Brown led his team on a productive drive which ended with him scoring on a quarterback keeper. This touchdown helped shrink the lead down to 14-7.
With time dying down in the second quarter, Miami had another commanding offensive drive and it almost ended with a touchdown as Brown aired it out to wide receiver Xavier Restepo. However, this pass was called back as Miami settled for the field goal to end the half.
Momentum looked to be in favor of Miami as it came out and scored a touchdown on the first drive of the second half, when Brown found Restapo for a deep pass to the end zone.
With that, Miami took a 17-14 lead over Rutgers. But the lead would not last.
After a three-and-out later in the quarter, Rutgers would block a Miami punt and bring it in for a touchdown, giving it back the lead 21-17.
Coming into the fourth, Rutgers (7-6 final record) would get back in the end zone via the “tush-push” and give itself a two-possession lead. Miami’s momentum had stalled out in the fourth quarter as the ACC team found itself down 31-17 with two minutes left.
Miami (7-6 final record) would attempt a late rally as Brown scrambled for a late touchdown, bringing the lead back to one possession at 31-24.
The Hurricanes recovered the onside kick in an attempt to tie or win the game. However, all would fizzle out as the Scarlet Knights defense stood firm to end this year’s Pinstripe Bowl.
For the Scarlet Knights, this is their first bowl game win since 2014. They move on to a 7-5 all-time bowl record.
For the Hurricanes, they fall to 19-23 all time in bowl games.
