Saturday, November 12
Bowling Green, KY
1 p.m.
Rice University
5-5 , 3-3
10
at
45
WKU
7-4 , 5-2
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Rice
0
7
3
0
10
Western Ky.
7
17
7
14
45
Turnovers Doom Rice at WKU
11/12/2022 5:05:00 PM | Football
The Lead
Rice turned the ball over six times as the Owls fell to WKU, 45-10, Saturday afternoon from L.T. Smith Stadium.
The Story
WKU took the opening kick and needed just five plays before scoring on a 25-yard pass. Rice then drove down to the WKU 20-yard line, but TJ McMahon's pass was high and intercepted by Kendrick Simpkins. Rice got the ball back when Lamont Narcisse picked off his first career pass. The Owls again drove deep into WKU territory, but McMahon's pass to Kobie Campbell at the two-yard line was tipped and intercepted by Rome Weber. The Hilltoppers then went 98-yards, scoring on a 62-yard pass. The Owls took over at their 25-yard line, but on its second play, McMahon was sacked and fumbled the ball, and JaQues Evans picked it up and returned it 14 yards for the score. Shawqi Itraish took over at quarterback for the Owls and immediately drove them for their first score late in the second half, going 75 yards in 13 plays, capped off by Uriah West's one-yard run. But with just 32 seconds left in the half, WKU went 68 yards and connected on a 25-yard field goal to take 24-7 lead into halftime.
Rice got the ball to start the second half, driving down to the WKU nine-yard line. But the Owls couldn't put it in the end zone, settling for a 26-yard Christian VanSickle field goal. The Hilltoppers then scored on a one-yard run. Rice went three-and-out, but after WKU drove to the Rice 26, the Owl defense stepped up, stopping them on fourth-and-one. On Rice's third play of the drive, Itraish's pass was intercepted at the Rice 40. But the defense got the ball right back, forcing a fumble that George Nyakwol recovered at its four-yard line. But after Rice went three-and-out, Jaylen Hall returned the ensuing punt 46 yards for a touchdown. WKU added one more touchdown to close the scoring.
Postgame Notes
Team
Individual
Rice turned the ball over six times as the Owls fell to WKU, 45-10, Saturday afternoon from L.T. Smith Stadium.
The Story
WKU took the opening kick and needed just five plays before scoring on a 25-yard pass. Rice then drove down to the WKU 20-yard line, but TJ McMahon's pass was high and intercepted by Kendrick Simpkins. Rice got the ball back when Lamont Narcisse picked off his first career pass. The Owls again drove deep into WKU territory, but McMahon's pass to Kobie Campbell at the two-yard line was tipped and intercepted by Rome Weber. The Hilltoppers then went 98-yards, scoring on a 62-yard pass. The Owls took over at their 25-yard line, but on its second play, McMahon was sacked and fumbled the ball, and JaQues Evans picked it up and returned it 14 yards for the score. Shawqi Itraish took over at quarterback for the Owls and immediately drove them for their first score late in the second half, going 75 yards in 13 plays, capped off by Uriah West's one-yard run. But with just 32 seconds left in the half, WKU went 68 yards and connected on a 25-yard field goal to take 24-7 lead into halftime.
Rice got the ball to start the second half, driving down to the WKU nine-yard line. But the Owls couldn't put it in the end zone, settling for a 26-yard Christian VanSickle field goal. The Hilltoppers then scored on a one-yard run. Rice went three-and-out, but after WKU drove to the Rice 26, the Owl defense stepped up, stopping them on fourth-and-one. On Rice's third play of the drive, Itraish's pass was intercepted at the Rice 40. But the defense got the ball right back, forcing a fumble that George Nyakwol recovered at its four-yard line. But after Rice went three-and-out, Jaylen Hall returned the ensuing punt 46 yards for a touchdown. WKU added one more touchdown to close the scoring.
Postgame Notes
Team
- This was the fourth meeting between Rice and WKU.
- WKU has won each of the meetings.
- Rice won the toss and deferred to the second half.
Individual
- QB Shawqi Itraish saw most of the action, going 11-of-18 for 96 yards.
- RB Juma Otoviano ran 14 times for a season-high 96 yards.
- WR Kobie Campbell set career-highs with seven catches for 61 yards.
- WR Bradley Rozner moved into eighth-place all-time in receiving yards at Rice with 1,533, passing Doug Cunningham (1975-78).
- RB Uriah West scored on a one-yard touchdown run. It was his second touchdown run of the season and the 15th of his career.
- With three catches for 40 yards, WR Isaiah Esdale went over 1,000 career receiving yards (1,001)
- K Christian VanSickle connected on a 26-yard field goal in the third quarter to move to a perfect 10-for-10 this year.
- VanSickle is the first kicker since Haden Tobola (10) in 2018 with 10 field goals in a season.
- S Kirk Lockhart led all players with nine tackles.
- CB Lamont Narcisse recorded his first career interception in the first quarter.
- S George Nyakwol recovered his second career fumble and first since Nov. 16, 2019 at Middle Tennessee.
Team Stats
RIC
WKU
Total Yards
326
495
Pass Yards
161
377
Rushing Yards
165
118
Penalty Yards
45
20
1st Downs
25
21
3rd Downs
7
8
4th Downs
0
1
TOP
37:33
22:27
1st Quarter
RIC 0, WKU 7
WKU - Hall,Jaylen 25 yd pass from Reed,Austin (Narveson,Brayden kick) 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:02
2nd Quarter
RIC 0, WKU 14
WKU - Davis,Daewood 62 yd pass from Reed,Austin (Narveson,Brayden kick) 11 plays, 98 yards, TOP 04:33
RIC 0, WKU 21
WKU - Evans,JaQues 14 yd fumble recovery (Narveson,Brayden kick)
RIC 7, WKU 21
RIC - West,Uriah 1 yd run (VanSickle,Christian kick), 13 plays, 75 yards, TOP 06:13
RIC 7, WKU 24
WKU - Narveson,Brayden 25 yd field goal 5 plays, 68 yards, TOP 00:32
3rd Quarter
RIC 10, WKU 24
RIC - VanSickle,Christian 26 yd field goal 14 plays, 67 yards, TOP 07:21
RIC 10, WKU 31
WKU - Reed,Austin 1 yd run (Narveson,Brayden kick), 7 plays, 69 yards, TOP 02:57
4th Quarter
RIC 10, WKU 38
WKU - Hall,Jaylen 46 yd punt return (Narveson,Brayden kick)
RIC 10, WKU 45
WKU - Hall,Jaylen 2 yd pass from Reed,Austin (Narveson,Brayden kick) 5 plays, 51 yards, TOP 02:55
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
11
TD
0
YDS
96
INT
2
CMP
8
TD
0
YDS
65
INT
2
Players Mentioned
WR
/ FootballQB
/ Football
S
/ FootballQB
/ FootballCB
/ Football
SAF
/ FootballRB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
K/P
/ Football
RB
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