Saturday, November 30
El Paso, TX
2 PM
Rice University
3-9 , 3-5
30
at
16
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UTEP
1-11 , 0-8
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Rice
14
0
10
6
30
UTEP
6
10
0
0
16
Rice closes season with 30-16 win at UTEP
11/30/2019 5:15:00 PM | Football
The Lead
Rice outscored UTEP 16-0 in the second half to defeat the Miners, 30-16, and end the 2019 campaign on a three-game winning streak, Saturday afternoon from the Sun Bowl.
The Story
Rice started fast. After a 21-yard punt that saw Rice start its first possession at UTEP's 28-yard line, Tom Stewart hit Austin Trammell for a three-yard touchdown. Rice forced a punt that was downed on its two-yard line, but on third down, Stewart couldn't handle the snap and the Miners recovered the fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. However, UTEP missed the extra point. On Rice's next possession, the Owls drove down to the UTEP 30-yard line before Aston Walter took it the rest of the way for his eighth rushing touchdown of the year. The Miners began the second half driving 71 yards for a touchdown. Rice was forced to punt on its next two possessions and UTEP connected on a 45-yard field goal as time expired as Rice entered halftime trailing 16-14. Rice started the second half with a 21-yard field goal from Chris Barnes to give the Owls the lead for good. JoVoni Johnson then came in and started using his feet, rushing 10 times for 62 yards, including scoring the first two touchdowns of his career.
Postgame Notes
Team
Individual
Rice outscored UTEP 16-0 in the second half to defeat the Miners, 30-16, and end the 2019 campaign on a three-game winning streak, Saturday afternoon from the Sun Bowl.
The Story
Rice started fast. After a 21-yard punt that saw Rice start its first possession at UTEP's 28-yard line, Tom Stewart hit Austin Trammell for a three-yard touchdown. Rice forced a punt that was downed on its two-yard line, but on third down, Stewart couldn't handle the snap and the Miners recovered the fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. However, UTEP missed the extra point. On Rice's next possession, the Owls drove down to the UTEP 30-yard line before Aston Walter took it the rest of the way for his eighth rushing touchdown of the year. The Miners began the second half driving 71 yards for a touchdown. Rice was forced to punt on its next two possessions and UTEP connected on a 45-yard field goal as time expired as Rice entered halftime trailing 16-14. Rice started the second half with a 21-yard field goal from Chris Barnes to give the Owls the lead for good. JoVoni Johnson then came in and started using his feet, rushing 10 times for 62 yards, including scoring the first two touchdowns of his career.
Postgame Notes
Team
- Rice won the coin toss and deferred to the second half.
- Rice improved to 3-9 on the year, 3-5 in Conference USA.
- This was the 23rd meeting between the Owls and Miners. Rice leads the series, 15-8.
- In games played in El Paso, Rice leads, 6-5.
- This was the 21st consecutive year that the teams have met, Rice's longest active streak versus any opponent.
- Rice came back from a halftime deficit for the first time since August 25, 2018 against Prairie View A&M.
- Rice's eight tackles for loss tied a season-high.
- Rice scored on its opening possession for the third straight game and the sixth time in the last eight games.
- Rice allowed a touchdown in the first quarter for the first time since Oct. 26 against Southern Miss.
Individual
- DE Cameron Valentine made his first career start.
- QB Tom Stewart was 8-of-16 for 115 yards and a touchdown. It was Stewart's eighth touchdown pass of the year and the 23rd of his career.
- RB Aston Walter rushed 16 times for a career-high 149 yards and a touchdown. It was his fifth 100-yard rushing day of the season.
- It is the most 100-yard rushing games in a season since Charles Ross had seven in 2013.
- Walter scored on a 30-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. It was his eighth rushing touchdown of the year.
- Walter tied his career-long run in the fourth quarter with a 64-yard rush.
- Walter finished the year with 10 total touchdowns. He is the first Owl to score at least 10 total touchdowns since Darik Dillard in 2014.
- WR Austin Trammell caught four passes for 54 yards and a touchdown.
- With four catches, Trammell has 60 this year, moving past Doug Cunningham (1976) and Jordan Taylor (2012) for eighth-place on the Rice single-season list.
- He becomes just the second player in school history with at least 60 catches in consecutive seasons, joining Jarett Dillard (2006-08).
- Trammell has a career-high four touchdowns this year and seven in his career.
- Trammell now has 1,409 career receiving yards, tying Melvon Robinson (1981-84) for 10th-place on the Rice all-time list.
- Trammell also had two kickoff returns for 34 yards. He now has 1,014 career kickoff return yards.
- QB JoVoni Johnson rushed 10 times for 62 yards and two touchdowns. It was his first two touchdowns of his career.
- WR Bradley Rozner caught three passes for 19 yards. He finished the year with 55 catches and 770 receiving yards, which are both the most in school history by a first year player.
- K Chris Barnes connected on a 21-yard field goal in the third quarter. It was his eighth field goal this year.
- LB Blaze Alldredge finished with a career-high 14 tackles. It is his third double-digit tackle game this year and the fifth of his career.
- Alldredge had 3.5 tackles for loss. He has 21.5 tackles for loss this year, passing Brandon Green (2001) and Brian Nordstrom (2004) for second on the Rice single-season list.
- LB Antonio Montero tied a career-high with 11 tackles. It is his third career double-digit tackle game.
- DL Anthony Ekpe recorded a sack in the first quarter. He has 2.5 sacks this year and 9.5 in his career.
Team Stats
RICE
UTEP
Total Yards
371
312
Pass Yards
115
213
Rushing Yards
256
99
Penalty Yards
17
70
1st Downs
16
18
3rd Downs
6
7
4th Downs
0
1
TOP
27:27
32:33
1st Quarter
RICE 7, UTEP 0
RICE - TRAMMELL, A. 3 yd pass from STEWART, Tom (BARNES, Chris kick) 3 plays, 28 yards, TOP 1:07
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RICE 7, UTEP 6
UTEP - AMAEWHULE, P. 0 yd fumble recovery (VILES, Brady kickfailed)
RICE 14, UTEP 6
RICE - WALTER, Aston 30 yd run (BARNES, Chris kick), 6 plays, 67 yards, TOP 2:57
2nd Quarter
RICE 14, UTEP 13
UTEP - GARRETT, Justin 12 yd pass from LOCKSLEY, Kai (BAECHLE, Gavin kick) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:24
RICE 14, UTEP 16
UTEP - BAECHLE, Gavin 45 yd field goal 11 plays, 47 yards, TOP 3:51
3rd Quarter
RICE 17, UTEP 16
RICE - BARNES, Chris 21 yd field goal 9 plays, 72 yards, TOP 4:06
RICE 24, UTEP 16
RICE - JOHNSON, JoVoni 8 yd run (BARNES, Chris kick), 6 plays, 67 yards, TOP 3:29
4th Quarter
RICE 30, UTEP 16
RICE - JOHNSON, JoVoni 11 yd run (BARNES, Chris kickblocked), 4 plays, 80 yards, TOP 2:36
Game Leaders
CMP
8
TD
1
YDS
115
INT
1
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
P
/ Football
DE
/ Football
QB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
WR
/ FootballQB
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WR
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DE
/ Football
RB
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