Rutgers defeated Washington, winning 4-0 for the first time since 2012

Rutgers bent but did not break through in a level-headed, 21-18 win over Washington — last year’s national championship runner-up — to move to 4-0 on Friday for the first time since 2012.

Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis and running back Kyle Monangai led the charge.

And when they needed it, several stupid Huskies penalties helped the Scarlet Knights.

The nationally televised game was Rutgers’ first Big Ten game of the year after facing Howard, Akron and Virginia Tech to start the season.

Kaliakmanis completed 14 of 24 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown.

Monangai produced his third straight rushing game of over 100 yards on a night he surpassed Isiah Pacheco for seventh on Rutgers’ all-time rushing list.

Monangai ran for 132 yards, including an impressive rush in which he broke a number of tackles for a 42-yard gain in the third quarter.

The Huskies were able to make the game interesting with a drive in the final minute, trailing by only three.

Washington was able to get the ball into Rutgers territory with a series of passes before kicker Grady Gross missed a 55-yard field goal attempt wide left as time expired.

It was his third missed field goal of the game.

The Rutgers sideline poured onto the field and the lights flashed in celebration as the final whistle blew.

The Blackout Game at SHI Stadium attracted 54,079 fans, the second highest attendance in its history.

“You felt it in that stadium tonight. That’s what Big Ten football is, and that’s what I want for New Jersey,” Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano said. “That’s what I’ve always wanted for New Jersey: that would be in our state. … Tonight was a good step, but that’s all. It’s one win. It’s an exciting one; it is a good one.”

Monangai’s 1-yard rushing touchdown run with 11:16 left in the second quarter erased a Scarlet Knights 3-0 deficit.

Later in the second, the Scarlet Knights took advantage of one of the biggest blunders of the night for the Huskies.

Washington blocked a 38-yard Rutgers field goal attempt, but it was negated when Vince Holmes was called for an illegal substitution to give Rutgers new life.

On the ensuing play, Kaliakmanis connected with receiver Ian Strong for a jump-ball touchdown to extend the Scarlet Knights’ lead to 14-3 with 30 seconds left in the half.

Washington finally found the end zone late in the third quarter after a six-play drive that culminated in Huskies quarterback Will Rodgers finding Denzel Boston for a 51-yard touchdown pass.

While the touchdown late in the third quarter brought the Huskies within five, Rutgers answered back with a touchdown of its own 4:03 into the final quarter as Samuel Brown V muscled his way on a 37-yard scoring run, clinching the lead expanded to 21-10.

The Huskies managed to close it out with a late game drive in the fourth quarter to cut Rutgers’ lead to three on a drive that started at Washington’s 24-yard line.

It culminated in the Huskies keeping it alive with a short rush on fourth-and-1 before Rodgers connected with Boston in the end zone.

The Huskies completed the two-point conversion to cut the lead to 21-18 with 1:40 left on the clock.

Washington scored first with a 22-yard field goal, marking the first time since Nov. 25 that Rutgers allowed an opponent to score in the first quarter.

Friday marked the first time the Huskies and Scarlet Knights have faced each other since 2017 and it was Washington’s first road game against a Big Ten opponent as a member of the conference.

“Hats off to what Greg (Schiano’s) has done. He rebuilt this thing. I think the fans and the students are evolving and growing with him,” Huskies coach Jedd Fisch said.