Saturday, November 25
Houston, Texas
Noon
Rice University
6-6 , 4-4
24
vs
21
Florida Atlantic
4-8 , 3-5
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Fla. Atlantic
7
0
7
7
21
Rice
7
3
14
0
24
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Bowl Bound!
11/25/2023 5:24:00 PM | Football
Balanced attack leads Rice into the postseason
Houston-Luke McCaffrey caught a career-high 12 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown to lead a balanced Rice attack to a 24-21 win over Florida Atlantic at Rice Stadium on Saturday, allowing the host Owls to reach bowl eligibility with their sixth win of the season.
The Details- Rice fans had barely settled into their seats before Florida Atlantic struck first, taking a 7-0 lead on a 75-yard touchdown dash by Kobe Lewis on the first play of the game. But Rice dominated the remaining 59:48 of the game, outgaining the visiting Owls 465 yards to 204, piling up a 32-14 in first downs and holding the ball for just under 40 minutes (39:40). They sought to answer Florida Atlantic's quick strike on their first possession, but were stopped on fourth down at the visitor's six-yard line. The Rice defense forced a punt after four plays and Rice needed just six plays to move 77 yards to tie the game on the first of two AJ Padgett to Boden Groen TD passes, covering the last 20 yards. After seeing a 72-yard march end with an interception on the goal line, Rice took the lead on its following possession on a 20-yard field goal by Tim Horn at the end of the first half. After being held to 47 yards over the remainder of the first half, Florida Atlantic's offense found its footing early in the third quarter, scoring on its first possession of the second half to re-take the lead. Rice answered with a pair of lengthy scoring drives, the first ending with a Padgett to McCaffrey TD pass to extend his streak to seven straight games with a TD reception, and the second another Padgett to Groen scoring connection. Florida Atlantic answered with a touchdown early in the fourth and seemed poised to mount a go-ahead drive before Coleman Coco knifed through the line to sack Tyriq Starks and knock the visitors off schedule. Rice then ate up the balance of the final quarter with a 13-play, 64-yard drive that featured the Owls averaging better than seven yards on first down. After failing on fourth down at that Florida Atlantic 22, the Rice offense left it to their teammates on defense to end the game's final threat, which they did with four incompletions, the last broken up by Gabriel Taylor.
Up Next: Rice will await the outcome of the remaining games on Saturday and then learn the location of its 14th bowl in school history a week from Sunday.
Team
Individual
The Details- Rice fans had barely settled into their seats before Florida Atlantic struck first, taking a 7-0 lead on a 75-yard touchdown dash by Kobe Lewis on the first play of the game. But Rice dominated the remaining 59:48 of the game, outgaining the visiting Owls 465 yards to 204, piling up a 32-14 in first downs and holding the ball for just under 40 minutes (39:40). They sought to answer Florida Atlantic's quick strike on their first possession, but were stopped on fourth down at the visitor's six-yard line. The Rice defense forced a punt after four plays and Rice needed just six plays to move 77 yards to tie the game on the first of two AJ Padgett to Boden Groen TD passes, covering the last 20 yards. After seeing a 72-yard march end with an interception on the goal line, Rice took the lead on its following possession on a 20-yard field goal by Tim Horn at the end of the first half. After being held to 47 yards over the remainder of the first half, Florida Atlantic's offense found its footing early in the third quarter, scoring on its first possession of the second half to re-take the lead. Rice answered with a pair of lengthy scoring drives, the first ending with a Padgett to McCaffrey TD pass to extend his streak to seven straight games with a TD reception, and the second another Padgett to Groen scoring connection. Florida Atlantic answered with a touchdown early in the fourth and seemed poised to mount a go-ahead drive before Coleman Coco knifed through the line to sack Tyriq Starks and knock the visitors off schedule. Rice then ate up the balance of the final quarter with a 13-play, 64-yard drive that featured the Owls averaging better than seven yards on first down. After failing on fourth down at that Florida Atlantic 22, the Rice offense left it to their teammates on defense to end the game's final threat, which they did with four incompletions, the last broken up by Gabriel Taylor.
Up Next: Rice will await the outcome of the remaining games on Saturday and then learn the location of its 14th bowl in school history a week from Sunday.
Team
- Rice improves to 6-6 on the year and 4-4 in the AAC.
- Rice's 32 first downs were the most since recording 35 vs. Louisiana Tech on Nov. 16, 2013.
- Rice's 363 points this season are the sixth-most in school history.
- The Owls' 3,170 passing yards this season are the fourth-most in school history.
Individual
- Clay Servin played in his 55th career game, tying the Rice career record with Gabe Baker (2010-14) and Shea Baker (2017-22).
- QB AJ Padgett was 24-of-37 for 255 yards and three touchdowns.
- Padgett's 24 completions were a career-high and his three touchdowns tied his career-high.
- WR Luke McCaffrey caught a career-high 12 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown.
- It was his third 100-yard receiving game of the year and sixth of his career.
- It was also his third career game with at least 10 receptions.
- McCaffrey has now caught a touchdown in seven straight games.
- It was McCaffrey's 12th touchdown reception this year and 18th in his career.
- His 18 career touchdowns tie David Houser (1974, 1976-78) for the third-most in school history.
- McCaffrey's 68 completions this year are the seventh-most in a season in school history.
- He also had 963 receiving yards this season, moving into fifth-place in school history for receiving yards in a season.
- McCaffrey now has 1,686 receiving yards, passing Bradley Rozner (2019-22) for eighth-place in school history.
- McCaffrey also has 126 receptions, passing Vance MacDonald (2009-12) and Doug Cunningham (1975-78) for the eighth-most in school history.
- RB Dean Connors led the Owls with 14 carries for 75 yards.
- RB Juma Otoviano had season-highs of 15 carries for 71 yards.
- Connors and Otoviano are the first Owls to both go over 70 yards rushing since Aston Walter and Charlie Booker against Louisiana Tech on Sept. 28, 2019.
- TE Boden Groen set career-highs with six receptions for 67 yards and two touchdowns.
- It was his first career two-touchdown game and he has three on the year.
- Groen has 37 receptions on the year, the most by a tight end since Vance MacDonald had 44 in 2011.
- DE Coleman Coco recorded a sack in the fourth quarter, his fourth of the year and 13th of his career.
- K Tim Horn connected on a 20-yard field goal in the second quarter.
Team Stats
FAU
RIC
Total Yards
279
465
Pass Yards
128
254
Rushing Yards
151
211
Penalty Yards
45
20
1st Downs
14
32
3rd Downs
3
6
4th Downs
0
0
TOP
20:20
39:40
1st Quarter
FAU 7, RIC 0
FAU - Lewis,Kobe 75 yd run (Davis,Carter kick), 1 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:12
FAU 7, RIC 7
RIC - Groen,Boden 20 yd pass from Padgett,AJ (Horn,Tim kick) 6 plays, 77 yards, TOP 03:24
2nd Quarter
FAU 7, RIC 10
RIC - Horn,Tim 20 yd field goal 11 plays, 63 yards, TOP 03:36
3rd Quarter
FAU 14, RIC 10
FAU - Johnson,Tony 36 yd pass from Richardson,Daniel (Davis,Carter kick) 4 plays, 61 yards, TOP 01:28
FAU 14, RIC 17
RIC - McCaffrey,Luke 7 yd pass from Padgett,AJ (Horn,Tim kick) 11 plays, 83 yards, TOP 05:09
FAU 14, RIC 24
RIC - Groen,Boden 11 yd pass from Padgett,AJ (Horn,Tim kick) 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:29
4th Quarter
FAU 21, RIC 24
FAU - Johnson Jr.,Michael 6 yd run (Davis,Carter kick), 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:35
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
Players Mentioned
OL
/ Football
DE
/ Football
RB
/ Football
TE
/ Football
WR
/ Football
RB
/ FootballQB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
OL
/ Football
SAF
/ FootballWBB: Rice vs. Marshall Postgame Presser
Wednesday, March 09
VB: Rice-Texas Postgame Presser
Saturday, December 04
VB: Rice-San Diego Postgame Presser
Thursday, December 02