Athan Kaliakmanis threw a pair of touchdown passes as Rutgers nipped visiting Ohio 34-31 Thursday in both teams’ season opener in Piscataway, N.J.Kaliakmanis finished without an interception going 18-of-23 for 252 yards, while Antwan Raymond chipped in 88 rushing yards and a touchdown for Rutgers (1-0). Ian Strong led the Scarlet Knights’ receiving corps with 100 yards on seven receptions, while KJ Duff and DT Sheffield each caught a touchdown for the hosts.Parker Navarro went 21-of-31 for 239 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for Ohio (0-1). He added a team-high 93 yards and a TD on the ground, while Jake Bruno had two catches for two scores for the visitors.After squandering a 17-point lead, Rutgers used a 14-play drive, spanning the third and fourth quarters, to break a 31-31 tie. Jai Patel’s 26-yard field goal with 11:11 remaining gave the Scarlet Knights a 34-31 edge.Ohio punted midway through the fourth quarter and never saw the ball again. Kaliakmanis’ 10-yard completion to Sheffield on fourth-and-7 with under two minutes remaining sealed the win.The game began with the Scarlet Knights uncorking a 12-play, 75-yard drive that Raymond capped with a 14-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-2.Patel kicked a 23-yard field goal on Rutgers’ next possession. Then, on the first play after a punt by Ohio, Kaliakmanis found a wide-open Sheffield streaking down the left sideline for a 54-yard score to make it 17-7.
