Rice University
1-1 , 0-0
McNeese State
0-2 , 0-0
Rice Races Past McNeese
9/10/2022 11:17:00 PM | Football
McMahon throws for four TDs in starting debut.
The Details: After being stymied on their opening possession of the game, the Owls scored on their next four series and added an interception return for a score to take a 31-0 lead at the half. The halftime advantage was the largest for Rice since the Owls raced to a 34-3 lead over UTEP after 30 minutes of play on 11/19/16. Christian VanSickle opened the scoring with a 28-yard field goal set up by a fumble recovery by Myron Morrison. A short McNeese punt set the Owls up on a short field and McMahon swiftly navigated the 35 yards to the end zone, connecting with Bradley Rozner for the final 13 yards. The two would connect again on the Owls first series of the second half, a 75-yard scoring strike that was the longest for either player and also the longest touchdown reception by an Owl since Driphus Jackson and Jordan Taylor teamed up on an 88-yard score vs. North Texas in 2014. McMahon scrambled for a nine-yard score to finish a drive set up by Treshawn Chamberlain's fourth career interception. Gabriel Taylor then matched Chamberlain with his fourth career pick, but did him one better, covering 91 yards to score. It was his first career pick six and the longest interception return by an Owl since Preston Anderson set the school record with a 99-yard return at Georgia Tech in 1972. McMahon added scoring strikes to Jack Bradley and Juma Otoviano in the second half and divided his 20 receptions between 12 different receivers.
The Notes:
Team
- Rice is now 40-32-1 all-time in home openers and won its home opener for the first time since 2018.
- Rice's 52 points are the most since scoring 65 against Prairie View A&M on Oct. 22, 2016.
- The 42-point margin is Rice's largest since defeating North Texas, 77-20, on Sept. 27, 2008.
- Rice's 31 first-half points are the most since scoring 34 against UTEP on Nov. 19, 2016.
- The 31-point halftime lead is also the largest since that game.
- Rice pitched a shutout in the first half for the first time since Dec. 5, 2020 at Marshall.
- The Owls forced five turnovers for the first time since Dec. 5, 2020 at Marshall.
Individual
- McMahon was 20-of-29 and set career-highs with 274 yards and four touchdowns.
- He also had a nine-yard rushing touchdown, the first of his career.
- McMahon is the first Rice quarterback with four touchdowns since Mike Collins at Southern Miss on Oct. 31, 2020.
- RB Ari Broussard ran 17 times for 71 yards and a touchdown.
- WR Bradley Rozner's caught three passes for 101 yards and two touchdowns.
- It is his fifth career 100-yard game.
- It is his second career game with at least two touchdown catches and he has seven in his career.
- TE Jack Bradley caught his third career touchdown, a 17-yarder in the third quarter.
- RB Juma Otoviano caught his first career touchdown, a 15-yarder in the fourth quarter.
- DL Blake Boenisch recorded a career-high five tackles
- DE Ikenna Enechukwu recorded a career-high 1.5 sacks. He now has 14.0 sacks in his career.
- DL Demone Green recorded his first career sack in the fourth quarter.
- DL Chibby Nwajuaku recovered his first career fumble in the fourth quarter.
Team Stats
MCN 0, RIC 3
RIC - VanSickle,Christian 28 yd field goal 4 plays, -1 yards, TOP 00:57
MCN 0, RIC 10
RIC - Rozner,Bradley 13 yd pass from McMahon,TJ (VanSickle,Christian kick) 4 plays, 35 yards, TOP 01:35
MCN 0, RIC 17
RIC - McMahon,TJ 9 yd run (VanSickle,Christian kick), 11 plays, 70 yards, TOP 07:07
MCN 0, RIC 24
RIC - Taylor,Gabriel 91 yd interception (VanSickle,Christian kick)
MCN 0, RIC 31
RIC - Broussard,Ari 2 yd run (VanSickle,Christian kick), 5 plays, 20 yards, TOP 02:05
MCN 7, RIC 31
MCN - McMahon,Deonta 62 yd run (Smith,Garrison kick), 2 plays, 77 yards, TOP 00:23
MCN 7, RIC 38
RIC - Rozner,Bradley 75 yd pass from McMahon,TJ (VanSickle,Christian kick) 1 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:11
MCN 7, RIC 45
RIC - Bradley,Jack 17 yd pass from McMahon,TJ (VanSickle,Christian kick) 6 plays, 80 yards, TOP 02:57
MCN 10, RIC 45
MCN - Smith,Garrison 23 yd field goal 7 plays, 60 yards, TOP 01:41
MCN 10, RIC 52
RIC - Otoviano,Juma 15 yd pass from McMahon,TJ (VanSickle,Christian kick) 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:56
