Owls Make the Bucket a Battle to Remember

Saturday, September 2

Rice Stadium

8:00 PM

Rice University

0-1 , 0-1

Houston

1-0 , 1-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Houston

Rice

9/5/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

Sept. 3, 2006

Final Stats

HOUSTON -

The Todd Graham era of Rice football opened with a thriller as the Owls gave cross-town rival Houston all it could handle before dropping a 31-30 decision at Rice Stadium on Saturday night.

Thanks to the big play heroics of Quinton Smith and a blitzing defense the sacked Cougar QB Kevin Kolb four times, the Owls stormed back from a 14-0 deficit to score 30 consecutive points to take a 30-14 lead early in the third quarter.

Smith spured the Owls comeback, sprinting 52 yards on his second carry of the game only moments after the Cougars had capped a 93-yard drive with a touchdown. His dash to the Cougar 25 put the Owls in business and five plays later, Chase Clement hit Jarrett Dillard in the end zone for a 13-yard score.

Moments later, Clement and Smith teamed up on an 80-yard scoring play that saw Smith turn the corner and sprint past a stunned Cougar sideline to tie the game at 14-14.

After holding Houston to a three-and-out, Rice was back in business at the Houston 45 and needed only five plays to take the lead, as Smith bolted over from seven yards out.

On the night, Smith rushed for 108 yards, the eighth time in his career he has surpassed the century mark and he became the 17th Owl to surpass 1,500 yards rushing in his career.

The Owls stuffed the Cougars for a second straight series, and the offense rewarded the defense by beating the clock and marching for another score, as Smith knifed in from the one with just 21 seconds left in a very productive half for Rice. The score was Smith's third of the half.

The Cougars set Rice up early in the third quarter after punter Justin Laird dropped the snap from center and was tackled at the UH22. But the Cougar defense stiffened and the Owls settled for a 44-yard field goal by Luke Juist to raise the margin to 30-14.

Houston rallied to take a 31-30 lead midway through the fourth quarter, but after a missed field goal, the Owls had one last chance to provide the crowd of 23,352 an ending to cherish. They drove to the Houston 44 before Clement was intercepted on fourth down with only 2:40 left in the game. UH then ran out all but the final eight seconds on the clock, which ran out as Brandon King returned the Cougars punt for 10 yards.

Rice hits the road next week, traveling to Pasadena, California to meet UCLA in the Rose Bowl. Kickoff is set for 9 pm (central).