Saturday, October 15
Boca Raton, FL
5 p.m.
Rice University
14
at
17
FAU
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.
Players Mentioned
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DB
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