All-purpose threat Janarion Grant scored three times, including on a kick return, as Rutgers gave Chris Ash his first victory as a head coach, beating lower-division Howard 52-14 in Piscataway, N.J., on Saturday afternoon.

Grant returned a kickoff 84 yards for a score in the first quarter, took a direct snap for a 58-yard score early in the second half and scored on a 21-yard jet sweep later in the third quarter.

Grant, a wide receiver, finished with just two catches for 24 yards, but he posted a team-high 106 yards on six carries and finished with 249 all-purpose yards.

Grant's big plays helped Rutgers (1-1) overcome an early 14-0 lead by Howard (0-2), a Football Championship Subdivision team that lost 52-13 to Maryland in its opener.

Bison quarterback Kalen Johnson connected with receiver Robert Mercer on a 38-yard touchdown pass on the opening possession, and Johnson scored on a 15-yard run soon after defensive back Alonte Dunn picked off Rutgers quarterback Chris Laviano on the Scarlet Knights' first snap.

Rutgers immediately answered as Grant shredded multiple tackles on his 84-yard kick return. That marked the senior's seventh career return touchdown -- five on kickoffs.

The Knights tied the game with 9:49 to go in the second quarter on a 22-yard pass to receiver Andre Patton, but they struggled through the opening half, gaining just 151 total yards.

Again, it was Grant to the rescue.

His longest career run came on third-and-1 early in the second half. He made a tackler miss in the backfield, reversed field and sped into the end zone for a 58-yard touchdown and a 21-14 lead. On his third score, he lined up in the backfield to the right of Laviano and took the handoff to the left.

Laviano completed 11 of 22 passes for 137 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Johnson was 8 of 18 for 82 yards. Bison running back Anthony Philyaw gained 112 yards on 22 carries.

Rutgers scored 17 points in the fourth quarter, including a 42-yard touchdown run from backup quarterback Giovanni Rescigno.