Saturday, September 24
Houston, TX
5 PM
Rice University
2-2 , 0-0
27
at
34
Houston
2-2 , 0-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Rice
0
14
10
3
27
Houston
7
3
14
10
34
Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
Rice Drops Heartbreaker to Houston
9/24/2022 9:02:00 PM | Football
The Lead
TJ McMahon's red zone pass attempt to Luke McCaffrey in the end zone with one second left was broken up as Houston scored 10 unanswered points in the final six minutes to defeat Rice, 34-27, Saturday night at TDECU Stadium.
The Story
After a slow start to the game that saw both teams traded punts, Houston got on the board first, driving 67 yards on eight plays, ending the first quarter with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Clayton Tune to Matthew Golden. Rice was forced to punt on its next possession. But the Owls got it right back as Myron Morrison's first career interception gave them the ball at the Houston 47-yard line. Four plays later, Ari Broussard scored from two yards out, tying the game at seven. The Rice defense then stepped up, forcing the Cougars to lose 13 yards in three plays. Rice wasted no time taking advantage, needing just five plays to go 63 yards, capped by Broussard's second two-yard touchdown of the game. On the ensuing possession, UH drove down to the Rice 20-yard line. But the Owls defense forced a field goal and Rice went into halftime with a 14-10 lead.
The teams went back-and-forth in the second half. Houston got the ball to start the half and needed just four plays to go 75 yards. But the Owls came right back. McMahon completed passes to three different receivers, capped by Luke McCaffrey's 52-yard touchdown reception. UH responded with an 80-yard drive to go back up, 24-21. Rice then drove 51 yards in 10 plays, but Christian VanSickle was forced to kick a 42-yard field goal to tie the game. The Owls then got a big stop, as Houston had fourth-and-one from its own 47, but Aidan Siano met Ta'Zhawn Henry as he tried to go over the pile, stopping him before he could get the first down. VanSickle's second field goal, this time from a career-long 43-yards, gave the Owls a 27-24 lead. Houston took over with 11:44 to play and bled five minutes off the clock before kicking a field goal to tie the game. The Owls had five minutes to work with, but after Cameron Montgomery gained five yards on first down, McMahon was sacked twice, the second of which forced a fumble that was picked up by Nelson Ceasar and returned 11 yards for a touchdown, giving Houston the lead. Rice had a chance to tie, driving down to the Houston 35. But on first down, his pass attempt went of the hands of Isaiah Esdale and was intercepted.
But the Owls weren't done. After forcing a three-and-out, they took over from their own six with 26 seconds remaining. McMahon hit Rozner for 19 yards and Esdale for 15. After an incomplete pass, McMahon threw a Hail Mary that was pulled down by Rozner at the Houston nine-yard line. Time went off the clock, but after the officials huddled, they put one second back on, giving the Owls one last chance. But McMahon's last ditch attempt to McCaffrey fell incomplete, ending the comeback attempt.
Postgame Notes
Team
Individual
TJ McMahon's red zone pass attempt to Luke McCaffrey in the end zone with one second left was broken up as Houston scored 10 unanswered points in the final six minutes to defeat Rice, 34-27, Saturday night at TDECU Stadium.
The Story
After a slow start to the game that saw both teams traded punts, Houston got on the board first, driving 67 yards on eight plays, ending the first quarter with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Clayton Tune to Matthew Golden. Rice was forced to punt on its next possession. But the Owls got it right back as Myron Morrison's first career interception gave them the ball at the Houston 47-yard line. Four plays later, Ari Broussard scored from two yards out, tying the game at seven. The Rice defense then stepped up, forcing the Cougars to lose 13 yards in three plays. Rice wasted no time taking advantage, needing just five plays to go 63 yards, capped by Broussard's second two-yard touchdown of the game. On the ensuing possession, UH drove down to the Rice 20-yard line. But the Owls defense forced a field goal and Rice went into halftime with a 14-10 lead.
The teams went back-and-forth in the second half. Houston got the ball to start the half and needed just four plays to go 75 yards. But the Owls came right back. McMahon completed passes to three different receivers, capped by Luke McCaffrey's 52-yard touchdown reception. UH responded with an 80-yard drive to go back up, 24-21. Rice then drove 51 yards in 10 plays, but Christian VanSickle was forced to kick a 42-yard field goal to tie the game. The Owls then got a big stop, as Houston had fourth-and-one from its own 47, but Aidan Siano met Ta'Zhawn Henry as he tried to go over the pile, stopping him before he could get the first down. VanSickle's second field goal, this time from a career-long 43-yards, gave the Owls a 27-24 lead. Houston took over with 11:44 to play and bled five minutes off the clock before kicking a field goal to tie the game. The Owls had five minutes to work with, but after Cameron Montgomery gained five yards on first down, McMahon was sacked twice, the second of which forced a fumble that was picked up by Nelson Ceasar and returned 11 yards for a touchdown, giving Houston the lead. Rice had a chance to tie, driving down to the Houston 35. But on first down, his pass attempt went of the hands of Isaiah Esdale and was intercepted.
But the Owls weren't done. After forcing a three-and-out, they took over from their own six with 26 seconds remaining. McMahon hit Rozner for 19 yards and Esdale for 15. After an incomplete pass, McMahon threw a Hail Mary that was pulled down by Rozner at the Houston nine-yard line. Time went off the clock, but after the officials huddled, they put one second back on, giving the Owls one last chance. But McMahon's last ditch attempt to McCaffrey fell incomplete, ending the comeback attempt.
Postgame Notes
Team
- It was the 44th meeting between Rice and Houston.
- Rice is 11-33 in the series and 5-11 as non-conference opponents.
- Houston won the toss and deferred to the second half.
- Rice gained 424 yards, the third straight game it went over 400 yards of offense.
Individual
- OL Trey Phillippi made his first career start.
- QB TJ McMahon was 25-of-39 for 334 yards and a touchdown.
- He has eight touchdowns this year and 10 in his career.
- It was his second straight 300-yard passing game, becoming the first player since Driphus Jackson in 2014 with consecutive 300-yard games.
- Dating back to last week, McMahon completed 14 straight passes. He finished last week with seven straight completions and opened tonight with seven straight.
- RB Ari Broussard rushed for two touchdowns.
- Broussard now has six rushing touchdowns on the year and nine in his career.
- With touchdowns in four straight games, Broussard is the first Owl to do so since Sam McGuffie in the last four games of 2010.
- WR Luke McCaffrey caught seven passes for 121 yards and a touchdown.
- It was his third touchdown of the season.
- The 52-yard catch was also his longest play from scrimmage in his career.
- McCaffrey has consecutive 100-yard receiving games, the first Owl to do so since Austin Trammell in 2020.
- WR Bradley Rozner caught five passes for 123 yards.
- It is the first time with two 100-yard receivers since Austin Trammell and Austin Walter against UTEP in 2018.
- TE Boden Groen made his first career catch in the first quarter, a two-yarder. He becomes the 13th player this season with a catch.
- WR Kobie Campbell's 34-yard run in the second quarter was his first career carry.
- LB Chris Conti led the team with a career-high 11 tackles.
- DE Josh Pearcy recorded a sack in the second quarter. He has 1.5 this year and 5.5 sacks in his career.
- LB Myron Morrison recorded his first career interception in the second quarter.
- K Christian VanSickle connected on field goals of 42 and 43 yards.
- It was his second career game with two field goals.
- The 43-yarder was also a career-long.
- P Conor Hunt's 55-yard punt was a season-long.
Team Stats
RIC
HOU
Total Yards
424
427
Pass Yards
334
249
Rushing Yards
90
178
Penalty Yards
30
110
1st Downs
22
19
3rd Downs
4
6
4th Downs
1
0
TOP
29:55
30:05
1st Quarter
RIC 0, HOU 7
HOU - Golden,Matthew 19 yd pass from Tune,Clayton (Baxa,Bubba kick) 8 plays, 67 yards, TOP 05:15
2nd Quarter
RIC 7, HOU 7
RIC - Broussard,Ari 2 yd run (VanSickle,Christian kick), 4 plays, 47 yards, TOP 01:03
RIC 14, HOU 7
RIC - Broussard,Ari 2 yd run (VanSickle,Christian kick), 5 plays, 63 yards, TOP 02:54
RIC 14, HOU 10
HOU - Baxa,Bubba 37 yd field goal 10 plays, 52 yards, TOP 04:08
3rd Quarter
RIC 14, HOU 17
HOU - Dell,Nathaniel 40 yd pass from Tune,Clayton (Baxa,Bubba kick) 4 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:46
RIC 21, HOU 17
RIC - McCaffrey,Luke 52 yd pass from McMahon,TJ (VanSickle,Christian kick) 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:06
RIC 21, HOU 24
HOU - Henry,Ta'Zhawn 4 yd run (Baxa,Bubba kick), 6 plays, 80 yards, TOP 02:41
RIC 24, HOU 24
RIC - VanSickle,Christian 42 yd field goal 10 plays, 51 yards, TOP 03:41
4th Quarter
RIC 27, HOU 24
RIC - VanSickle,Christian 43 yd field goal 7 plays, 22 yards, TOP 03:13
RIC 27, HOU 27
HOU - Baxa,Bubba 32 yd field goal 12 plays, 60 yards, TOP 06:26
RIC 27, HOU 34
HOU - Ceaser,Nelson 11 yd fumble recovery (Baxa,Bubba kick)
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
25
TD
1
YDS
334
INT
1
Players Mentioned
RB
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WR
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LB
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TE
/ Football
P
/ FootballQB
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WR
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LB
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OLB/DE
/ Football
OT
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WR
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LB
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K/P
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