Rice University
2-1 , 0-0
Texas Southern
0-3 , 0-1
Owls Roll Past TSU to Complete City Sweep
9/16/2023 11:23:00 PM | Football
Daniels ties his career high with four TD passes
The Details: For the third consecutive game, Rice's defense forced a turnover on its opening possession of the game and the offense turned it into immediate points. This time it came on the game's first play as AJ Bennett mishandled a backward pass from Jace Wilson and Tre'Shon Devones recovered at the TSU 16. Four plays later, Daelen Alexander scored the first of two touchdowns to put Rice in the lead. Daniels quickly expanded the lead to 28-0 with scoring strikes of 35 yards to Braylen Walker, 70 yards to Kobie Campbell, and one yard to Jack Bradley. Rice scored on its first four drives for the second consecutive game, but unlike the previous week when Houston responded with 35 unanswered points, TSU could muster only a lone touchdown while Rice added two more scores to take a 42-7 lead into the locker room on a three-yard run by Dean Connors and a 36-yard scoring connection from Daniels to Luke McCaffrey. Daniels' four TD passes matched his career high and he joined Chase Clement as the only Rice quarterbacks to throw four TD passes in the first half.
Up Next: Rice will make its AAC debut next Saturday when the Owls travel to Tampa to face USF. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. (central) with national coverage on ESPN U
Notes:
- Rice has started 2-1 for the second straight year and is 5-1 at home in September since 2021.
- The 59 points scored tied for the sixth-most in school history and were the most since Rice defeated Prairie View 65-44 in 2016.
- Rice has scored 52 points in the first half in three games this season. The Owls scored 65 in the first quarter in 13 games in 2022.
- The Owls' 42 first-half points are the most since scoring 56 against North Texas on Sept. 27, 2008.
- The seven points allowed were the fewest in a game since shutting out Marshall on Dec. 5, 2020.
- Their four rushing touchdowns were the most since having six against Texas Southern on Sept. 25, 2021.
- The Owls used a total of 73 players, with 10 credited with at least one rush, nine catching at least one pass and 19 being credited with at least one tackle.
Individual
- QB JT Daniels went over 7,500 career passing yards and 50 career touchdowns.
- Daniels' 70-yard touchdown pass to Kobie Campbell in the first quarter was the longest pass completion of his career.
- The 70-yard score was Campbell's first career touchdown.
- RB Daelen Alexander scored two touchdowns, both from one-yard out. He now has five touchdowns on the year.
- RB Dean Connors ran for a career-high 66 yards on eight attempts and scored a touchdown, the first rushing touchdown of his career.
- Christian Francisco scored the Owls' final touchdown on his first career carry, a four-yard burst in the fourth quarter.
Team Stats
TSU 0, RIC 7
RIC - Alexander,Daelen 1 yd run (Horn,Tim kick), 4 plays, 16 yards, TOP 01:47
TSU 0, RIC 14
RIC - Walker,Braylen 35 yd pass from Daniels,JT (Horn,Tim kick) 3 plays, 32 yards, TOP 00:51
TSU 0, RIC 21
RIC - Campbell,Kobie 70 yd pass from Daniels,JT (Horn,Tim kick) 1 plays, 70 yards, TOP 00:12
TSU 0, RIC 28
RIC - Bradley,Jack 1 yd pass from Daniels,JT (Horn,Tim kick) 5 plays, 59 yards, TOP 02:08
TSU 0, RIC 35
RIC - Connors,Dean 3 yd run (Horn,Tim kick), 5 plays, 33 yards, TOP 02:58
TSU 7, RIC 35
TSU - Johnson,Jyrin 15 yd pass from Wilson,Jace (Falkenburg,Curtis kick) 5 plays, 76 yards, TOP 01:48
TSU 7, RIC 42
RIC - McCaffrey,Luke 36 yd pass from Daniels,JT (Horn,Tim kick) 7 plays, 72 yards, TOP 03:05
TSU 7, RIC 45
RIC - Horn,Tim 48 yd field goal 9 plays, 47 yards, TOP 03:50
TSU 7, RIC 52
RIC - Alexander,Daelen 1 yd run (Horn,Tim kick), 6 plays, 73 yards, TOP 03:38
TSU 7, RIC 59
RIC - Francisco,Christian 4 yd run (Gota,Enock kick), 2 plays, 13 yards, TOP 00:45
