Metuchen High School graduate Dorian Miller admits he never experienced the lightening-quick pace at which the Rutgers University vs. Washington State University football game was played.
“Fast, very fast,” he said following the contest, which the Cougars won on a score with 13 seconds left to prevail, 37-34, before a stunned crowd of over 46,000 at High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway Sept. 12.
Perhaps it was too fast and too soon at this stage of his career for the redshirt sophomore who made his second start in a Scarlet Knights uniform.
Miller and right tackle J.J. Denman were caught making an illegal chop block on Rutgers’ first possession after the Knights fell behind, 7-0. It happened on a second and 8 at the Cougars’ 35-yard line, resulting in a 15-yard penalty that put field position at midfield. A 5-yard false-start penalty two plays later forced Rutgers to punt, thus ending what was a promising drive.
As the game went on, Miller said he felt more comfortable with his teammates, and Rutgers tied the game four seconds into the fourth quarter on a touchdown and two-point conversion to make the score, 20-20. The teams exchanged leads three times before Washington State scored the final touchdown.
“The beginning was shaky,” Miller said about his performance and the offensive line in general. “But we talked it over on the sideline, and the coaches talked it up and we got settled.” Rutgers (1-1) plays its first Big Ten Conference game Sept. 19 when it travels to Penn State University (1-1) in an 8 p.m. start. The next home game is Sept. 26 at noon with Kansas University (0-2).
Milewski still near Rutgers program
During a fourth down and 1 for Washington State from the Rutgers 12-yard-line in the first quarter, the Knights defense halted a drive that could have put the
Cougars up by two touchdowns.
Dave Milewski, former Rutgers lineman from Sayreville, jumped up and yelled, “Way to go!”
Milewski wasn’t on the field but in the second row of the press box. Told he could be ejected for verbalizing his rooting interest, Milewski responded, “I don’t care.”
The Sayreville War Memorial High School graduate is interning for WFAN and works with the station’s regular host, Marc Malusis, who also handles Rutgers football pregame and postgame radio reports for stations that broadcast Scarlet Knights games, including Greater Media’s WCTC.
Milewski missed almost two full seasons due to multiple leg injuries but chose to focus on finishing coursework, which will earn him a master’s degree in business communication in addition to his internship with WFAN.
“It’s what I want to do,” Milewski said about his sports communications gig. “I definitely want to be involved in sports in some capacity.”
Milewski is living in Sayreville and says he’s down 20 pounds from his playing weight, which was 245 pounds.
“I have another 10 to go,” he said.