Rice University
4-8 , 3-5
LA Tech
3-9 , 2-6
Owls Rally to Win Senior Day Thriller
11/27/2021 7:03:00 PM | Football
Rice 35, LA Tech 31
The Details: Looking to end a four-game losing streak and post a win on Senior Day for the 11th time in the last 14 years, Rice found itself with a 10-point deficit early in the four quarter. McMahon, who took over for Luke McCaffrey after halftime with the Owls leading 14-10, was making his debut at quarterback after serving as the holder on placements all season. Trailing 31-21 and the Owls pinned at their own eight-yard line after a Bulldog punt, McMahon completed four consecutive passes to cover the entire 92 yards, the last 31 on a pass to August Pitre III for the score. Two plays later, Terreance Ellis picked off a deflected pass to set the Owls up at the LA Tech 27, only to see the threat stall and McMahon stopped short a fake field goal attempt. With only 2:23 left, the Owls defense stiffened and forced a punt which Sean Fresch returned a career-best, 48 yards to the LA Tech 18 with just 1:19 on the clock (see notes below for more on his return). After a pair of incompletions, McMahon checked down to find Cedric Patterson III in the end zone to put the Owls ahead to stay. But as was typical of every Rice victory in 2021, the outcome was far from secure as the Bulldogs, who were looking to send their head coach, Skip Holtz, out with a win in his final game, drove to the Rice 33 in the final seconds. However, JD Head's second-down pass was intercepted by Gabe Taylor, sealing the win for the Owls and a memorable moment for the freshman from Miami on the 14th anniversary of the passing of his brother, Sean. Running back Cameron Montgomery sparked the Owls on the ground, rushing for the first two touchdowns of his career, including a 70-yard burst in the first half, the longest run by an Owl since Juma Otoviano covered 80-yards to score against ODU on Senior Day in 2018.
The Notes:
Team
- Rice's 35 points were its most in a Conference USA since scoring 44 against UTEP on Nov. 19, 2016.
- Rice won a conference game after trailing heading into the fourth quarter for the first time since Nov. 12, 2016 at Charlotte.
- Rice's 10 tackles for loss are a season-high and its most since recording 11 against FIU on Sept. 23, 2017.
- Montgomery ran 10 times for a career-high 95 yards and two touchdowns.
- WR Cedric Patterson III caught five passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns, his first career multi-touchdown game.
- CB Sean Fresch's 48-yard punt return late in the fourth quarter was the longest by an Owl since LaDouphyous McCalla returned one 52 yards vs. Colorado State on 10/31/98 or three years and 10 days before Fresch was born.
- DE Ikenna Enechukwu recorded a career-high nine tackles.
- He recorded his fifth sack of the year. He now has 6.5 in his career.
- DT Elijah Garcia recorded seven tackles to complete his senior season with a team-leading 67, which are the most tackles by a Rice interior defender since Dwain Turner had 90 in 1986,
- DT Izeya Floyd recorded a career-high eight tackles.
- S Naeem Smith recorded his fourth interception of the year and seventh of his career.
- The four interceptions are the most in a season since Prudy Calderon had four in 2018.
- LB Terreance Ellis recorded his first career interception.
- LB Josh Pearcy recorded his third sack of the year and fourth of his career.
- DE Trey Schuman recorded his third sack of the year and fifth of his career.
Team Stats
LAT 3, RIC 0
LAT - Barnes,Jacob 20 yd field goal 16 plays, 76 yards, TOP 07:11
LAT 10, RIC 0
LAT - Harris,Tre 44 yd pass from Head,JD (Barnes,Jacob kick) 6 plays, 90 yards, TOP 02:30
LAT 10, RIC 7
RIC - Montgomery,Cameron 70 yd run (VanSickle,Christian kick), 2 plays, 71 yards, TOP 00:48
LAT 10, RIC 14
RIC - Patterson III,Cedric 22 yd pass from McCaffrey,Luke (VanSickle,Christian kick) 8 plays, 63 yards, TOP 04:02
LAT 17, RIC 14
LAT - Harris,Smoke 5 yd pass from Head,JD (Barnes,Jacob kick) 5 plays, 19 yards, TOP 02:25
LAT 17, RIC 21
RIC - Montgomery,Cameron 7 yd run (VanSickle,Christian kick), 6 plays, 71 yards, TOP 02:54
LAT 24, RIC 21
LAT - Head,JD 22 yd run (Barnes,Jacob kick), 6 plays, 66 yards, TOP 02:42
LAT 31, RIC 21
LAT - Hebert,Griffin 6 yd pass from Head,JD (Barnes,Jacob kick) 7 plays, 67 yards, TOP 02:05
LAT 31, RIC 28
RIC - Pitre III,August 31 yd pass from McMahon,TJ (VanSickle,Christian kick) 5 plays, 92 yards, TOP 02:26
LAT 31, RIC 35
RIC - Patterson III,Cedric 3 yd pass from McMahon,TJ (VanSickle,Christian kick) 3 plays, 18 yards, TOP 00:18
