Rice University
1-3 , 0-1
Southern Miss
4-1 , 1-1
Rice Falls on the Road at USM, 48-24
10/2/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 2, 2011
Final Stats | Notes
Rice vs Southern Miss Game Book
Rice returned two fumble recoveries back for touchdowns, the second giving the Owls a 14-13 lead, but Southern Miss scored the final 28 points en route to a 48-24 win Saturday at M.M. Roberts Stadium.
Southern Miss (4-1, 1-1) rolled up 654 yards of total offense including 260 yards in the third quarter. The Golden Eagles' defense held Rice to 67 yards of total offense after the intermission.
Rice (1-3, 0-1) grabbed a 24-20 lead early in the second half. USM began the half by moving the ball from its own 20 to the Rice four. Facing fourth-and-one, Kendrick Hardy carried over right tackle and was stripped of the ball. Xavier Webb returned the fumble 96 yards for the score.
Webb's play ended a Rice streak of 35-straight games without a defensive touchdown. The Owls' previous defensive score came on a Chris Douglas' interception return in the fourth quarter of the North Texas game in 2008.
Webb would force another fumble on the Golden Eagles' next drive but USM would maintain possession and go on to score on a one-yard touchdown run by Austin Davis that gave Southern Miss a 27-24 lead.
On the night, Webb had 13 tackles (7 solo stops), setting a new career high.
USM would go on drive 75 and 63 yards on their next two series and would lead 41-24 heading into the fourth quarter.
Davis completed a 23-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Balentine with 3:13 to play to cap the Golden Eagles' scoring. The final drive included five straight carries by Tracy Lampley (48 yards on the drive) before the touchdown pass.
Lampley had 70 rushing yards and a touchdown on the night. Hardy led USM with 172 yards and a score on 23 carries. Davis completed 21-of-33 passes for 284 yards while Kelvin Bolden had nine receptions for 132 yards and one touchdown.
Southern Miss had drives of 78 and 60 yards in the first quarter, culminating with a 47-yard touchdown run by Hardy and a 46-yard Davis to Balentine hookup.
Rice would strike for a pair of touchdowns late in the quarter to take a 14-13 lead.
Vance McDonald's 2-yard touchdown reception from Taylor McHargue got the Owls on the board with five seconds to play in the quarter.
Rice had been held to -2 yards of total offense on its first three offensive series (a trio of three-and-outs) before going on an 7-play, 80-yard drive, highlighted by a 42-yard McHargue to McDonald pass down to the USM 16. The drive was sustained by a pass interference call in the end zone.
On the ensuing kickoff, Zach Patt forced Golden Eagle returner Francisco Llanos to fumble at the 17. Michael Kutzler picked up the loose ball, returning it into the end zone for the score. Chris Boswell's point-after try gave the Owls' a 14-13 lead at the end of the quarter.
Southern Miss took a 20-14 lead when Cordarro Law forced Taylor McHargue to fumble. Marquese Wheaton picked up the loose ball and raced 75 yards for the USM score.
Boswell would connect on a 41-yard field goal in the final minute of the first half and the Owls went to the locker room trailing 20-17.
Rice did not have an interception in its first three games before Bryce Callahan ended the drought with a pair of picks against Southern Miss. He became the first Rice player to have two interceptions in a game since Chris Douglas against SMU on Aug. 29, 2008.
Callahan was credited with three tackles, including an assist on a tackle for loss and broke up a pass in addition to his pair of interceptions.
Linebackers Justin Allen and Cameron Nwosu each finished with 12 tackles. Defensive end Scott Solomon had seven tackles including a quarterback sack.
Rice returns to action on Saturday when the Owls play host to Memphis. The Tigers suffered a 38-31 loss at Middle Tennessee to fall to 1-3. Saturday's game is set for an 11:30 a.m. kickoff and will be broadcast by CSS.
Team Stats
RICE 0, USM 6
USM - HARDY, Kendrick 47 yd run (HRAPMANN, Danny kickfailed), 6 plays, 78 yards, TOP 2:20
RICE 0, USM 13
USM - BALENTINE, Ryan 46 yd pass from DAVIS, Austin (HRAPMANN, Danny kick) 2 plays, 60 yards, TOP 0:32
RICE 7, USM 13
RICE - McDonald, Vance 2 yd pass from McHargue, Taylo (Boswell, Chris kick) 7 plays, 80 yards, TOP 2:56
RICE 14, USM 13
RICE - Kutzler, Michae 17 yd fumble recovery (Boswell, Chris kick)
RICE 14, USM 20
USM - WHEATON, M. 75 yd fumble recovery (HRAPMANN, Danny kick)
RICE 17, USM 20
RICE - Boswell, Chris 41 yd field goal 13 plays, 56 yards, TOP 2:12
RICE 24, USM 20
RICE - Webb, Xavier 96 yd fumble recovery (Boswell, Chris kick)
RICE 24, USM 27
USM - DAVIS, Austin 1 yd run (HRAPMANN, Danny kick), 7 plays, 44 yards, TOP 2:22
RICE 24, USM 34
USM - LAMPLEY, Tracy 2 yd run (HRAPMANN, Danny kick), 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:13
RICE 24, USM 41
USM - BOLDEN, Kelvin 45 yd pass from DAVIS, Austin (HRAPMANN, Danny kick) 3 plays, 63 yards, TOP 1:11
RICE 24, USM 48
USM - BALENTINE, Ryan 23 yd pass from DAVIS, Austin (HRAPMANN, Danny kick) 7 plays, 94 yards, TOP 3:51
