Saturday, September 28
Houston, TX
6 p.m.
Rice University
0-5 , 0-1
20
vs
23
Louisiana Tech
4-1 , 2-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
OT
F
Louisiana Tech
7
0
7
3
6
23
Rice
7
7
0
3
3
20
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Owls Fall in Overtime to LA Tech
9/28/2019 10:38:00 PM | Football
Walter rushes for 112 yards and scores twice
The Lede: J'mar Smth's 12-yard dash in overtime gave Louisiana Tech a 23-20 win over Rice on Saturday night at Rice Stadium.
The Details: Rice stormed to a 14-7 halftime lead on the strength of a pair of Aston Walter touchdown runs and a stout defense that held Conference USA's top offense in check for the first 30 minutes. The Owls took their first lead of 2019 by driving 46 yards on six plays after the defense had bottled up the Bulldogs on their initial possession, forcing a short punt. Walter, who would top 100 yards on the ground for the first time in his career (112 on 20 carries), covered the final 16 yards. After LA Tech answered with their only scoring drive of the first half to knot the score at 7-7, Rice responded with a 65-yard drive to retake the lead on a short run by Walter. The Owls seemed poised to add to their lead late in the half, but saw their bid spoiled by their first interception of the year in the end zone. Rice took the second half kickoff and drove to the Bulldog 18, but saw a field goal attempt miss to the right. The Owls found their offense bottled up for the majority of the second half and LA Tech evened the score late in the third quarter. Rice re-took the lead on Chris Barnes' first career field goal with 2:51 left in the game, but the Bulldogs answered with a field goal of their own to force the Owls' first overtime since September 24, 2016 vs. North Texas. Barnes staked Rice to a 20-17 lead with his second field goal, but Smith handed the Owls their sixth loss in 12 overtime games with his touchdown.
The Defense: Rice held LA Tech to 159 yards under its season average, including nearly half of its rushing average (86/161.8). The Owls matched their season total for sacks with three, all of them in the first half, and broke up nine passes, the most in game by the Owls since they broke up 10 vs. Houston in 2013.
The Notes:
Next Up: After a month of games in the city of Houston, Rice will venture outside the city limits next weekend, traveling to Birmingham, Alabama to take on defending C-USA Champion UAB at 6 p.m. next Saturday.
The Details: Rice stormed to a 14-7 halftime lead on the strength of a pair of Aston Walter touchdown runs and a stout defense that held Conference USA's top offense in check for the first 30 minutes. The Owls took their first lead of 2019 by driving 46 yards on six plays after the defense had bottled up the Bulldogs on their initial possession, forcing a short punt. Walter, who would top 100 yards on the ground for the first time in his career (112 on 20 carries), covered the final 16 yards. After LA Tech answered with their only scoring drive of the first half to knot the score at 7-7, Rice responded with a 65-yard drive to retake the lead on a short run by Walter. The Owls seemed poised to add to their lead late in the half, but saw their bid spoiled by their first interception of the year in the end zone. Rice took the second half kickoff and drove to the Bulldog 18, but saw a field goal attempt miss to the right. The Owls found their offense bottled up for the majority of the second half and LA Tech evened the score late in the third quarter. Rice re-took the lead on Chris Barnes' first career field goal with 2:51 left in the game, but the Bulldogs answered with a field goal of their own to force the Owls' first overtime since September 24, 2016 vs. North Texas. Barnes staked Rice to a 20-17 lead with his second field goal, but Smith handed the Owls their sixth loss in 12 overtime games with his touchdown.
The Defense: Rice held LA Tech to 159 yards under its season average, including nearly half of its rushing average (86/161.8). The Owls matched their season total for sacks with three, all of them in the first half, and broke up nine passes, the most in game by the Owls since they broke up 10 vs. Houston in 2013.
The Notes:
- Rice's last six overtime games have been in C-USA play (3-3). Rice is now 3-3 in overtime both at Rice Stadium and on the road.
- TE Jack Bradley and FB Brendan Suckley made their first career starts.
- RB Charlie Booker made his first start at Rice.
- WR Zane Knipe and CB Myles McCord saw their first career action.
- RB Aston Walter set career highs with 20 rushing attempts for 112 yards and two touchdowns. It is his first career 100-yard rushing game.
- Walter's touchdowns were 16 and 2-yards. He has four rushing touchdowns on the season. He also has six total touchdowns this year.
- Walter's 28-yard run in the fourth quarter was his longest of the season.
- RB Charlie Booker ran 21 times for 70 yards. Both were his Rice highs.
- WR Austin Trammell had five receptions for 53 yards.
- Trammell also had two kick returns for 36 yards.
- Trammell now has 40 career kick returns, passing Andray Downs (2003-06) for 10th-place on Rice's all-time list.
- Trammell has 891 career kick return yards, passing Gene Fleming (1962-64) and Chuck Latourette (1964-66) for ninth-place on Rice's all-time list.
- WR Jake Bailey caught his first career reception, a five-yarder in the third quarter. He finished with two catches for 11 yards.
- LB Blaze Alldredge tied his career high with 13 tackles.
- DE Anthony Ekpe recorded a sack in the first quarter. He has 1.5 on the season and 8.5 sacks in his career.
- Ekpe has recorded at least a half-TFL in every game this season.
- DE Myles Adams recorded his first sack of the season. He has 4.5 in his career.
- DT De'Braylon Carroll recorded his first career sack in the second quarter.
- DE Myron Morrison recorded his first career tackle in the first quarter.
Next Up: After a month of games in the city of Houston, Rice will venture outside the city limits next weekend, traveling to Birmingham, Alabama to take on defending C-USA Champion UAB at 6 p.m. next Saturday.
Team Stats
LATECH
RICE
Total Yards
294
338
Pass Yards
210
148
Rushing Yards
84
190
Penalty Yards
11
40
1st Downs
19
19
3rd Downs
3
4
4th Downs
0
2
TOP
23:07
36:53
Quarter
LATECH 17, RICE 20
RICE - BARNES, Chris 36 yd field goal 4 plays, 8 yards, TOP 0:00
LATECH 23, RICE 20
LATECH - SMITH, J'Mar 12 yd run (), 5 plays, 25 yards, TOP 0:00
1st Quarter
LATECH 0, RICE 7
RICE - WALTER, Aston 16 yd run (HARRISON, Will kick), 6 plays, 46 yards, TOP 3:09
LATECH 7, RICE 7
LATECH - HARDY, Adrian 9 yd pass from SMITH, J'Mar (HALE, Bailey kick) 11 plays, 73 yards, TOP 6:26
2nd Quarter
LATECH 7, RICE 14
RICE - WALTER, Aston 2 yd run (HARRISON, Will kick), 10 plays, 65 yards, TOP 5:07
3rd Quarter
LATECH 14, RICE 14
LATECH - HENDERSON, J. 26 yd run (HALE, Bailey kick), 7 plays, 76 yards, TOP 2:58
4th Quarter
LATECH 14, RICE 17
RICE - BARNES, Chris 37 yd field goal 14 plays, 53 yards, TOP 7:09
LATECH 17, RICE 17
LATECH - HALE, Bailey 31 yd field goal 8 plays, 56 yards, TOP 1:41
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
14
TD
0
YDS
128
INT
0
CMP
2
TD
0
YDS
20
INT
1
Players Mentioned
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RB
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