Rice Falls to Charlotte in Second Straight OT Game

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Football

vs Prairie View A&M

Sep 13

6 PM

Rice Stadium

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at Charlotte

Sep 18

6:30 PM

Charlotte, NC

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at Navy

Sep 27

2:30 PM

Annapolis, Md.

Football

vs Florida Atlantic

Oct 4

TBA

Rice Stadium

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at UTSA

Oct 11

TBA

San Antonio, TX

Football

vs UCONN

Oct 25

TBA

Rice Stadium

Football

vs Memphis

Oct 31

6 PM

Rice Stadium

The Lead

Ari Broussard ran for a career-high 186 yards and two touchdowns, but the Owls could not hold on to a 10-point, fourth quarter lead as Rice fell to Charlotte in overtime, 31-24, Saturday afternoon at Jerry Richardson Stadium.

The Story

On Rice's first possession, the Owls drove 50 yards down to the Charlotte 17, but Christian VanSickle missed a 35-yard field goal. The 49ers capitalized, scoring on a 53-yard touchdown pass. Charlotte then blocked Charlie Mendes punt, taking over at the Rice 20. But the Owl defense stepped up, forcing a 42-yard field goal attempt that Desmyn Baker blocked to keep it a one-score game. Rice took advantage, driving 76 yards, capping it off with an Ari Broussard 22-yard touchdown run to tie the game. After Charlotte drove 76 yards for a touchdown to, retake the lead, the Owls twice had fourth-and-three, inside the Charlotte 30-yard line. But Rice was unable to convert either chance and went into halftime trailing 14-7.

After Rice went three-and-out on the first series of the second half, Charlotte drove down to the 11-yard line. But Antonio Montero forced a fumble that went straight to Desmyn Baker. Rice was able to drive to the Charlotte seven-yard line before settling for a VanSickle 25-yard field goal. The Owls forced a three-and-out before driving 63 yards, capped off by a Jordan Myers one-yard rushing touchdown. After forcing another punt, Rice held the ball for 9:36, using 16 plays to go 84 yards, ending with Broussard's second touchdown of the game, this time from two yards out as Rice took a 24-14 lead with just 6:45 to play. On its next possession, Charlotte used 12 plays but the Owls forced a 32-yard field goal. Rice was forced to punt, and the 49ers needed just five plays to go 80 yards and tie the game at 24, sending it to overtime.

Charlotte got the ball first in overtime and immediately scored on its first play, connecting on a 25-yard touchdown pass. After a one-yard run on Rice's first play, the 49ers got pressure on Jake Constantine, who attempted a pass to avoid the sack. But Luke Martin made a diving interception to seal the victory for Charlotte.

Team

Rice fell to 3-6 on the season and 2-3 in Conference USA.
This was just the third meeting between Rice and Charlotte.
Rice dropped to 2-1 all-time against the 49ers and 1-1 in Charlotte.
Rice played its second straight overtime game, the second time it has played two straight overtime games.
The Owls are now 6-9 all-time in overtime games.
13 of the 15 overtime games have come in conference.
The Owls have lost their last five overtimes games.

Individual

QB Jake Constantine was 19-of-35 for 253 yards.
With his performance, he went over 1,000 passing yards on the season.
RB Ari Broussard set career-highs with 20 rushes for 186 yards and two touchdowns.
His 186 rushing yards are the most since Juma Otoviano's 224 against Old Dominion on Nov. 24, 2018.
Broussard's 22-yard touchdown run in the second quarter was his first career touchdown.
It was also his first career 100-yard rushing game and Rice's second of the season.
Broussard's 40-yard run in the third quarter was the longest run of his career.
RB Jordan Myers scored on a one-yard touchdown in the third quarter, his eighth rushing touchdown of the year and 10^th of his career.
Seven of Myers' eight rushing touchdowns have been from one-yard.
His eight rushing touchdowns are the most since Austin Walter had eight in 2019.
WR Jake Bailey caught seven passes, tying a career-high with 143 yards.
It is his second 100-yard receiving game of the season and second straight.
Bailey is the first player with back-to-back 100-yard receiving games since Austin Trammell against Southern Miss and North Texas last year.
It is also the second time this year Rice has had a 100-yard rusher and receiver in the same game.
Bailey's 40-yard reception was a career-long.
K Christian VanSickle connected on a 25-yard field goal in the third quarter.
S Kirk Lockhart recorded a team-high nine tackles.
DE Trey Schuman recorded his second sack of the year and fourth of his career.
With six tackles, LB Antonio Montero has moved past 200 in his career.
Montero's sack in the first quarter gives him 2.5 sacks this year and 3.5 in his career.
Montero also forced his first career fumble in the third quarter.
LB Desmyn Baker blocked a field goal attempt in the first quarter. It was Rice's second blocked field goal this year. Sean Fresch also had one against Southern Miss.
Baker also recovered his first career fumble in the third quarter.

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