PISCATAWAY, N.J. — — Reigning Big Ten Conference rushing champion Kyle Monangai matched his career-best performance by rushing for 165 yards and scoring a touchdown to lead Rutgers to a 44-7 victory over two-time Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champion Howard on Thursday night.

Transfer quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis threw three touchdowns and defensive back Eric Rogers returned an interception 52 yards for a score on Howard’s first possession. The Scarlet Knights rallied after a slow start to win their eighth straight non-league game.

Antwan Raymond scored on an 11-yard run on the final play of the game. There was no PAT.

Eden James, the son of NFL great Edgerrin James, scored on a 2-yard run late in the first half for Howard, which received a $425,000 guarantee to face a Power 4 opponent. Redshirt sophomore Ja’shawn Scroggins started his first game at quarterback for the Bison and rushed for 67 yards and passed for 116.

Monangai had 19 carries and scored on a 7-yard run in the third quarter for an 8.7 yards per carry average. The senior also had 165 yards against Temple early last season, when he led the conference with 1,262 rushing yards. He had seven 100-yard games.

Kaliakmanis had a 2-yard scoring pass to Dymere Miller in the first half and added scoring passes of 34 yards to Samuel Brown and 3 yards to converted defensive end Kenny Fletcher in the second half. The University of Minnesota transfer hit eight different receivers on 15 of 24 passes for 147 yards and no interceptions.

Jai Patel scored a 36-yard field goal late in the first half to give Rutgers a 17-7 lead.

Rutgers rushed for 329 of the 476 total yards, while Brown added 68 yards on 14 carries.

Rutgers had most of its Top 20-ranked defense back this season, and the unit put the Scarlet Knights on the board when Howard first got possession of the ball. Rogers intercepted Scroggins and returned the ball 52 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown.

NEXT:

Howard: Will play the season opener against Mercyhurst on September 7.

Rutgers: plays at home against Akron on September 7.

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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll