
Photo by: Eric Espada/Rice Athletics
Rice Falls to Florida Atlantic
10/15/2022 8:22:00 PM | Football
The Lead
Florida Atlantic scored 17 unanswered points as Rice fell, 17-14, Saturday night at FAU Stadium.
The Story
The teams traded punts to open the game. On Rice's next possession, TJ McMahon hit Bradley Rozner for a career-long 78-yard touchdown and his second touchdown of at least 75 yards this year. After another Florida Atlantic punt, Rice drove 89 yards, capped off by Ari Broussard's three-yard touchdown run, his sixth straight game with a touchdown. FAU opened the second quarter pulling within seven on a five-yard touchdown run. But the offenses sputtered the rest of the half and Rice went into the break holding a 14-7 lead.
Florida Atlantic took the opening kickoff in the second half and drove down for a field goal. After a Rice punt, FAU drove to the eight-yard line. But on third-and-goal, Kirk Lockhart forced a fumble on the one-yard line and the ball went out of the end zone for a touchback, giving Rice the ball. Rice again punted, and this time FAU drove 63 yards, capped off by an 18-yard touchdown reception to take the lead. Rice had a chance to regain the advantage, driving down to the seven-yard line. But on second down, McMahon was intercepted in the end zone. Rice forced another punt, and started at the FAU 47 after a 31-yard return by Sean Fresch. But on second down, McMahon was intercepted. Rice had one final shot after forcing another FAU punt, but it could not gain a first down, and Florida Atlantic held on.
Postgame Notes
Team
Individual
Florida Atlantic scored 17 unanswered points as Rice fell, 17-14, Saturday night at FAU Stadium.
The Story
The teams traded punts to open the game. On Rice's next possession, TJ McMahon hit Bradley Rozner for a career-long 78-yard touchdown and his second touchdown of at least 75 yards this year. After another Florida Atlantic punt, Rice drove 89 yards, capped off by Ari Broussard's three-yard touchdown run, his sixth straight game with a touchdown. FAU opened the second quarter pulling within seven on a five-yard touchdown run. But the offenses sputtered the rest of the half and Rice went into the break holding a 14-7 lead.
Florida Atlantic took the opening kickoff in the second half and drove down for a field goal. After a Rice punt, FAU drove to the eight-yard line. But on third-and-goal, Kirk Lockhart forced a fumble on the one-yard line and the ball went out of the end zone for a touchback, giving Rice the ball. Rice again punted, and this time FAU drove 63 yards, capped off by an 18-yard touchdown reception to take the lead. Rice had a chance to regain the advantage, driving down to the seven-yard line. But on second down, McMahon was intercepted in the end zone. Rice forced another punt, and started at the FAU 47 after a 31-yard return by Sean Fresch. But on second down, McMahon was intercepted. Rice had one final shot after forcing another FAU punt, but it could not gain a first down, and Florida Atlantic held on.
Postgame Notes
Team
- This was the fourth meeting between Rice and Florida Atlantic, but the first since 2016.
- Rice fell to 2-2 in the series and 1-1 in Boca Raton.
- Rice moves to 7-11 all-time in Conference USA road openers.
- Rice has won back-to-back conference openers for the first time since 2007 and 2008.
- Florida Atlantic won the toss and deferred to the second half.
- Rice's 90-yard touchdown drive in the first quarter was its longest of the season.
Individual
- TE Nate Kamper made his first career appearance for the Owls.
- QB TJ McMahon was 10-of-27 for 197 yards and a touchdown.
- McMahon has 10 touchdowns this year and 12 in his career.
- The 10 touchdown passes are the most since Tyler Stehling had 12 in 2016.
- WR Bradley Rozner caught four passes for 135 yards and a touchdown.
- His 78-yard touchdown reception was the longest since Jordan Taylor's 88-yard reception against North Texas on Oct. 25, 2014.
- It is his third 100-yard game this year and the seventh of his career.
- The seven career 100-yard games are the most since Jordan Taylor had eight.
- He's also the first player since Taylor in 2013 with two 70-yard touchdown receptions in a season.
- RB Ari Broussard rushed 10 times for 41 yards and a touchdown.
- Broussard now has nine rushing touchdowns on the year and 12 in his career.
- With touchdowns in six straight games, Broussard has the second longest streak by a running back in the country behind Michigan's Blake Corum (7).
- LB Myron Morrison led the Owls with a career-high 15 tackles. It is his first career double-digit tackle game.
- It is the most by the team this year and the most since Emmanuel Ellerbee had 17 against Southern Miss on Nov. 11, 2017.
- S George Nyakwol recorded his first sack of the season and the third of his career.
Team Stats
RIC
FAU
Total Yards
261
311
Pass Yards
197
126
Rushing Yards
64
185
Penalty Yards
55
65
1st Downs
15
21
3rd Downs
1
6
4th Downs
0
1
TOP
23:19
36:41
1st Quarter

RIC 7, FAU 0
RIC - Rozner,Bradley 78 yd pass from McMahon,TJ (VanSickle,Christian kick) 4 plays, 90 yards, TOP 02:19

RIC 14, FAU 0
RIC - Broussard,Ari 3 yd run (VanSickle,Christian kick), 9 plays, 89 yards, TOP 04:56
2nd Quarter

RIC 14, FAU 7
FAU - McCammon,Larry 5 yd run (Suarez,Morgan kick), 10 plays, 78 yards, TOP 04:20
3rd Quarter

RIC 14, FAU 10
FAU - Suarez,Morgan 34 yd field goal 13 plays, 59 yards, TOP 06:33
4th Quarter

RIC 14, FAU 17
FAU - Edrine,Jahmal 18 yd pass from Perry,N'Kosi (Suarez,Morgan kick) 7 plays, 63 yards, TOP 03:18
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
Players Mentioned
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