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The longest touchdown run by a freshman in Rutgers history went 80 yards.
It also came with a message.
“Every chance I get, I try to take advantage,” Isaih Pacheco said after the Scarlet Knights’ 42-7 loss to No. 4 Michigan on Saturday at HighPoint.com Stadium in Piscataway.
“We don’t have anything to lose. We’ve just got to keep fighting, keep going, and we’re going to get somewhere.”
On Saturday night, the big play just allowed Rutgers to enjoy a brief moment of euphoria and avoid being shut out by the nation’s best defense. But the Scarlet Knights wanted to take a broader view of the long run after the game, with Pacheco as individual and the team as a whole.
“When Isaih hit that run, we were all excited,” quarterback Artur Sitkowski said. “It shows we can do it. We can do anything we put our minds to.”
We’ll start with Pacheco: His ability is as advertised. When he enrolled in January, the buzz was he had the ability to be a dynamic playmaker. There were even whispers he could be Rutgers’ best running back since Ray Rice. Who knows if he’ll live up to that lofty designation, but it certainly appears he’ll have the chance 10 games into his career.
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Rutgers’ usage of Pacheco has been curious at times this season, and there have been anticipated growing pains as he learns his new position after playing quarterback in high school. But Pacheco has now led Rutgers in carries in three of the last four games, and he figures to have a heavy workload over the final two before becoming the featured back in 2019 and beyond.
His ability and presence also gives the Scarlet Knights hope for an offense that will finish in the national basement yet again, but has at least shown flashes of promise with a young lineup that gives hope better days could finally be ahead.
“I felt like we’ve been there before. It was a play we can do to any team,” Pacheco said. “We’ve just got to all play together and keep working hard. Keep moving forward.”
Pacheco and running back Raheem Blackshear give Sitkowski a pair of playmakers to grow with, and Pacheco’s knack for making things happen outside of his normal role – see his kick return prowess and second successful halfback pbad of the season on Saturday – is welcomed by a Rutgers team that desperately needs to find ways to generate more production on the margins and stop relying on a struggling offense for everything.
“I thought it was outstanding,” head coach Chris Ash said when asked about Pacheco’s performance. “I think you’ve seen glimpses of that throughout the season. To do it against an opponent and a defense like that, those are just signs of things to come.”
James Kratch may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @JamesKratch. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.
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