Rice University
0-1 , 0-0
USC
1-0 , 0-0
Rice Falls in Season-Opener at No. 14 USC
9/3/2022 8:29:00 PM | Football
No. 14 USC returned three interceptions for touchdowns as Rice dropped its season-opener, 66-14, Saturday afternoon from the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
The Story
USC took the opening drive for a touchdown. But the Owls responded as Wiley Green completed 7-of-9 passes, going 74 yards in 16 plays, capped off by an Ari Broussard one-yard score to tie the game at seven after the first quarter. The Trojans began the second quarter with a pair of touchdown drives. Rice then drove 66 yards to the USC 12. But on 4th-and-2, Green's pass bounced off the hands of Luke McCaffrey and was intercepted by Calen Bullock, who returned it 93 yards for a touchdown. Rice, aided by a 15-yard targeting penalty, then drove 75 yards in 10 plays, scoring on Broussard's second touchdown of the day, this time from two yards out. But the Trojans drove 67 yards in 1:33, kicking a field goal as time expired as Rice trailed, 31-14 at the half.
Rice got the ball to start the second half. But on the third play of the drive, TJ McMahon's pass went through the hands of Bradley Rozner and was intercepted by Shane Lee, who returned it 40 yards for a touchdown. USC then picked off passes on Rice's next two drives, returning one for a touchdown, as they put the game away.
Postgame Notes
Team
- Rice is 57-52-2 all-time in season openers.
- Rice opened the season on the road for the second straight year and the 38th time overall. The Owls are 6-32 all-time when opening on the road.
- This was the fourth meeting between the schools and the first since 1971. USC holds a 3-0-1 record.
- This was also the first meeting at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum since 1948.
- It was the 16th time Rice opened the season against a ranked opponent and the first since 2017. The Owls are 2-13-1 when opening against a ranked opponent.
- It was 94 degrees at kickoff, making it the warmest opener since 2011 at Texas (100 degrees).
- USC won the toss and elected to receive.
- Rice's 16-play touchdown drive was its longest since a 16-play drive at Charlotte last year.
- It was the first time Rice scored a touchdown on its season-opening drive since 2018 against Prairie View A&M.
Individual
- LB Andrew Awe and OL Ethan Onianwa made their first career starts.
- WR Luke McCaffery made his first career start at wide receiver.
- S Litchfield Ajavon, LB Andrew Awe, RB Dean Connors, LB Chris Conti, WR Isaiah Esdale, TE Boden Groen, TE Jaggar Hebeisen, K Tim Horn, P Conor Hunt, OL John Long, WR Rawson MacNeill, WR Peyton Stevenson, LS Thomas Tholen II, WR Tyson Thompson, DL Quent Titre, TE Connor Welsh, S Marcus Williams and LS Jacob Wilson all made their Rice debuts.
- RB Cameron Montgomery ran six times for a career-high 99 yards.
- RB Ari Broussard scored two rushing touchdowns.
- It was Broussard's second career multi-touchdown game. He also had two touchdowns at Charlotte last year.
- Broussard has five rushing touchdowns in his career.
- McCaffrey led the Owls with five catches for 51 yards.
- DL Ikenna Enechukwu recorded his first sack of the season to give him 6.5 in his career.
- S Kirk Lockhart led the Owls with a team-high six tackles.
- S Marcus Williams recorded five tackles, including his first career tackle for loss.
Team Stats
RIC 0, USC 7
USC - Addison,Jordan 5 yd pass from Williams,Caleb (Lynch,Denis kick) 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:42
RIC 7, USC 7
RIC - Broussard,Ari 1 yd run (VanSickle,Christian kick), 16 plays, 74 yards, TOP 08:02
RIC 7, USC 14
USC - Jones,Austin 4 yd run (Lynch,Denis kick), 9 plays, 84 yards, TOP 03:51
RIC 7, USC 21
USC - Brown,Raleek 14 yd run (Lynch,Denis kick), 4 plays, 70 yards, TOP 01:47
RIC 7, USC 28
USC - Bullock,Calen 93 yd interception (Lynch,Denis kick)
RIC 14, USC 28
RIC - Broussard,Ari 2 yd run (VanSickle,Christian kick), 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 06:30
RIC 14, USC 31
USC - Lynch,Denis 25 yd field goal 11 plays, 67 yards, TOP 01:35
RIC 14, USC 38
USC - Lee,Shane 40 yd interception (Lynch,Denis kick)
RIC 14, USC 45
USC - Goforth,Ralen 31 yd interception (Lynch,Denis kick)
RIC 14, USC 52
USC - Addison,Jordan 3 yd pass from Williams,Caleb (Lynch,Denis kick) 4 plays, 34 yards, TOP 02:07
RIC 14, USC 59
USC - Jones,Austin 28 yd run (Lynch,Denis kick), 8 plays, 85 yards, TOP 04:59
RIC 14, USC 66
USC - Barlow,Darwin 2 yd run (Lynch,Denis kick), 5 plays, 71 yards, TOP 03:04
