Saturday, November 21
Denton, TX
1 P.M. CT
Rice University
1-2 , 1-2
17
at
27
North Texas
3-3 , 2-2
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Rice
10
0
0
7
17
North Texas
0
14
3
10
27
Photo by: Mattman Images
Rice Falls to North Texas, 27-17
11/21/2020 4:35:00 PM | Football
The Lede
North Texas took advantage of Rice miscues and the Owls couldn't find their footing, as the Mean Green came back from an early 10-0 deficit to score 27 straight points on its way to a 27-17 win.
The Story
Rice began the game strong as Collin Riccitelli tied a career-long with a 45-yard field goal on its opening drive. After forcing a North Texas punt, the Owls went 97 yards in seven plays, its longest drive since 2012, as Mike Collins hit Austin Trammell for a 25-yard touchdown to give Rice a 10-0 lead after the first quarter. Rice started the second quarter by getting to the North Texas 28-yard line. But on third down, Khalan Griffin fumbled and the Mean Green recovered. Rice then forced its second straight three-and-out. Rice drove down to the UNT 11-yard line, but on fourth-and-two, Collins couldn't connect with Jake Bailey in the end zone, turning the ball over on downs.
North Texas wasted no time getting on the board, needing just four plays to go 89 yards. The teams then traded three-and-outs. However, Trammell muffed the punt and UNT recovered at the Rice 38. Six plays later, North Texas scored on a 25-yard pass to grab a 14-10 lead heading into halftime.
Rice couldn't get anything going in the third quarter, gaining just 48 yards as North Texas extended its lead to 17-10. The Mean Green eventually took its largest lead of the game, 27-10, before Collins connected with Bailey on a 17-yard touchdown pass just before the end of regulation to close out the scoring.
Postgame Notes
Team
Individual
North Texas took advantage of Rice miscues and the Owls couldn't find their footing, as the Mean Green came back from an early 10-0 deficit to score 27 straight points on its way to a 27-17 win.
The Story
Rice began the game strong as Collin Riccitelli tied a career-long with a 45-yard field goal on its opening drive. After forcing a North Texas punt, the Owls went 97 yards in seven plays, its longest drive since 2012, as Mike Collins hit Austin Trammell for a 25-yard touchdown to give Rice a 10-0 lead after the first quarter. Rice started the second quarter by getting to the North Texas 28-yard line. But on third down, Khalan Griffin fumbled and the Mean Green recovered. Rice then forced its second straight three-and-out. Rice drove down to the UNT 11-yard line, but on fourth-and-two, Collins couldn't connect with Jake Bailey in the end zone, turning the ball over on downs.
North Texas wasted no time getting on the board, needing just four plays to go 89 yards. The teams then traded three-and-outs. However, Trammell muffed the punt and UNT recovered at the Rice 38. Six plays later, North Texas scored on a 25-yard pass to grab a 14-10 lead heading into halftime.
Rice couldn't get anything going in the third quarter, gaining just 48 yards as North Texas extended its lead to 17-10. The Mean Green eventually took its largest lead of the game, 27-10, before Collins connected with Bailey on a 17-yard touchdown pass just before the end of regulation to close out the scoring.
Postgame Notes
Team
- This was the 11th meeting between Rice and Southern Miss. Rice fell to 5-6 all-time against the Mean Green and 2-3 in Denton.
- In Conference USA games, North Texas leads 5-3.
- North Texas won the toss and deferred to the second half.
- Rice has scored first in each of its last six games dating back to last season.
- Rice has not allowed its opponent to score on its first possession in its last 12 games.
- Rice's 97-yard touchdown drive in the first quarter was its longest since Sept. 29, 2012 against Houston.
Individual
- RB Khalan Griffin and DE Josh Pearcy made their first career starts.
- DE Caleb James saw his first career action.
- QB Mike Collins was 23-of-34 for 327 yards and two touchdowns.
- Collins' 23 completions tied a career-high.
- The 327 passing yards are the most since Tyler Stehling had 407 against Prairie View A&M on Oct. 22, 2016 and the most in a conference game since Driphus Jackson's 359 at UTSA on Nov. 21, 2015.
- WR Austin Trammell caught six passes for 116 yards and a touchdown.
- It is Trammell's second 100-yard game this year and the fourth of his career.
- Trammell is the first player with consecutive 100-yard games since Jorden Taylor in 2014.
- Trammell has now caught a pass in 30 consecutive games.
- Trammell has 13 receiving touchdowns in his career, tying him with Froggy Williams (1946-49), Buddy Dial (1956-58) and Toren Dixon (2006-09) for eighth-place on Rice's all-time list.
- Trammell's 31-yard punt return in the first quarter was a season-long.
- With 164 all-purpose yards, Trammell passed Quinton Smith (2003-06) for eighth-place on the school's career list with 3,191.
- WR Jake Bailey set career-highs with four catches for 80 yards and a touchdown. It is his second touchdown of the season.
- Bailey's 35-yard reception in the first quarter was the longest of his career.
- TE Jordan Myers set career-highs with eight receptions and 73 yards.
- Griffin set career-highs with 20 rushes for 72 yards.
- K Collin Riccitelli connected on a 45-yard field goal in the first quarter, tying a career-long.
- LB Blaze Alldredge recorded 11 tackles, his second double-digit tackle game this year and seventh in his career.
- DE Josh Pearcy recorded a career-high seven tackles.
Team Stats
RICE
UNT
Total Yards
376
389
Pass Yards
327
120
Rushing Yards
49
269
Penalty Yards
25
42
1st Downs
23
17
3rd Downs
3
7
4th Downs
0
0
TOP
36:25
23:35
1st Quarter
RICE 3, UNT 0
RICE - RICCITELLI, C. 45 yd field goal 8 plays, 48 yards, TOP 3:49
RICE 10, UNT 0
RICE - TRAMMELL, A. 14 yd pass from COLLINS, Mike (RICCITELLI, C. kick) 7 plays, 97 yards, TOP 4:01
2nd Quarter
RICE 10, UNT 7
UNT - BEAN, Jason 66 yd run (MOONEY, Ethan kick), 4 plays, 89 yards, TOP 1:17
RICE 10, UNT 14
UNT - DARDEN, Jaelon 25 yd pass from BEAN, Jason (MOONEY, Ethan kick) 6 plays, 38 yards, TOP 2:00
3rd Quarter
RICE 10, UNT 17
UNT - MOONEY, Ethan 27 yd field goal 13 plays, 55 yards, TOP 5:04
4th Quarter
RICE 10, UNT 20
UNT - MOONEY, Ethan 30 yd field goal 9 plays, 67 yards, TOP 2:40
RICE 10, UNT 27
UNT - TORREY, DeAndre 1 yd run (MOONEY, Ethan kick), 6 plays, 39 yards, TOP 2:43
RICE 17, UNT 27
RICE - BAILEY, Jake 17 yd pass from COLLINS, Mike (RICCITELLI, C. kick) 6 plays, 80 yards, TOP 1:18
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
23
TD
2
YDS
327
INT
0
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
WR
/ FootballQB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
DE
/ Football
TE
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OLB/DE
/ Football
K
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WR
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