Saturday, September 2
Austin, TX
2:30 P.M. CT
Rice University
0-1 , 0-0
10
at
37
Texas
1-0 , 0-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Rice
3
0
0
7
10
Texas
7
9
21
0
37
Photo by: Brendan Maloney
Offensive Woes Doom Rice at No. 11 Texas
9/2/2023 6:00:00 PM | Football
The Lead
Rice was held to just 176 yards of offense as it fell to No. 11 Texas, 37-10, Saturday afternoon in both team's 2023 opener.
The Story
After forcing a turnover on downs to begin the game, Rice got on the board first when Tim Horn connected on his first career field goal, a 43-yarder that gave the Owls a 3-0 lead. However, on the next possession, UT drove 75-yards, scoring on a 37-yard pass to take the lead. After Texas added a field goal, Rice drove to the UT 46-yard line. But on third down, JT Daniels was intercepted. Another field goal made it a 10-point game. On the ensuing drive, Daniels was picked off again. But the Rice defense stepped up again, stopping the Longhorns on fourth-and-one. The Owls moved the ball to the 39 before having to punt, and Conor Hunt unleashed a 58-yarder that was downed to the three. But UT kicked its third field goal of the half as it took a 16-3 lead into halftime.
After Rice opened the second half with a three-and-out, UT drove 62 yards, capping it off with a nine-yard touchdown pass. Rice then went for it on fourth-and-one from their own 45, but Daelen Alexander was stopped for no gain. Texas immediately took advantage, scoring on a 44-yard pass on its first play from scrimmage. UT added another touchdown late in the third quarter. Rice finally found the end zone in the fourth quarter when the Owls drove 62 yards in 13 plays, finished off by Daniels finding Luke McCaffrey for a 15-yard touchdown.
Postgame Notes
Team
Individual
Rice was held to just 176 yards of offense as it fell to No. 11 Texas, 37-10, Saturday afternoon in both team's 2023 opener.
The Story
After forcing a turnover on downs to begin the game, Rice got on the board first when Tim Horn connected on his first career field goal, a 43-yarder that gave the Owls a 3-0 lead. However, on the next possession, UT drove 75-yards, scoring on a 37-yard pass to take the lead. After Texas added a field goal, Rice drove to the UT 46-yard line. But on third down, JT Daniels was intercepted. Another field goal made it a 10-point game. On the ensuing drive, Daniels was picked off again. But the Rice defense stepped up again, stopping the Longhorns on fourth-and-one. The Owls moved the ball to the 39 before having to punt, and Conor Hunt unleashed a 58-yarder that was downed to the three. But UT kicked its third field goal of the half as it took a 16-3 lead into halftime.
After Rice opened the second half with a three-and-out, UT drove 62 yards, capping it off with a nine-yard touchdown pass. Rice then went for it on fourth-and-one from their own 45, but Daelen Alexander was stopped for no gain. Texas immediately took advantage, scoring on a 44-yard pass on its first play from scrimmage. UT added another touchdown late in the third quarter. Rice finally found the end zone in the fourth quarter when the Owls drove 62 yards in 13 plays, finished off by Daniels finding Luke McCaffrey for a 15-yard touchdown.
Postgame Notes
Team
- It was the 97th meeting between Rice and Texas.
- Rice is 21-75-1 in the series and 8-44 in games played in Austin.
- This is the second straight year that Rice has opened the season with a ranked opponent and the 17th time overall. The Owls are 2-14-1 all-time in ranked openers.
- Rice faced a ranked Texas team for the 38th time, holding an 8-29-1 record.
- Rice won the toss and deferred to the second half.
- Rice's eight tackles for loss were the most since recording nine at Florida Atlantic on Oct. 15, 2022.
Individual
- RB Dean Connors, WR Rawson McNeill, WR Landon Ransom-Goelz, and S Marcus Williams made their first career starts.
- RB Daelen Alexander and LB Shepherd Bowling made their collegiate debut.
- OL Brant Banks, DE Coleman Coco, and QB JT Daniels made their first starts at Rice.
- Daniels was 14-of-26 for 146 yards and a touchdown.
- Daniels also went over 7,000 passing yards in his career.
- Daniels connected on a 15-yard touchdown with WR Luke McCaffrey in the fourth quarter.
- It was McCaffrey's seventh career touchdown reception.
- K Tim Horn connected on a 43-yard field goal in the first quarter, the first of his career.
- It gave Rice its first lead in the series since 2011.
- WR Jovoni Johnson-McCray caught his first career reception in the third quarter, a 14-yarder for a first down.
- CB Sean Fresch set a career-high with eight tackles.
- S Plae Wyatt set a career-high with eight tackles.
- CB Tre'shon Devones had six tackles to set a career-high.
- S Marcus Williams had a career-high six tackles.
- DT De'Braylon Carroll recorded a sack in the second quarter, giving him 4.5 sacks in his career.
- DE Josh Pearcy added a sack in the second quarter. He now has 13.0 sacks in his career.
- S Chike Anigbogu recorded his first career tackle for loss.
- CB Lamont Narcisse recorded his first career tackle for loss in the second quarter.
Team Stats
RIC
TEX
Total Yards
176
458
Pass Yards
149
300
Rushing Yards
27
158
Penalty Yards
25
40
1st Downs
8
24
3rd Downs
4
6
4th Downs
1
1
TOP
28:24
31:36
1st Quarter
RIC 3, TEX 0
RIC - Horn,Tim 43 yd field goal 6 plays, 8 yards, TOP 02:53
RIC 3, TEX 7
TEX - Brooks,Jonathon 37 yd pass from Ewers,Quinn (Auburn,Bert kick) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:40
2nd Quarter
RIC 3, TEX 10
TEX - Auburn,Bert 27 yd field goal 9 plays, 50 yards, TOP 03:41
RIC 3, TEX 13
TEX - Auburn,Bert 46 yd field goal 7 plays, 36 yards, TOP 02:02
RIC 3, TEX 16
TEX - Auburn,Bert 49 yd field goal 16 plays, 66 yards, TOP 04:25
3rd Quarter
RIC 3, TEX 23
TEX - Mitchell,Adonai 9 yd pass from Ewers,Quinn (Auburn,Bert kick) 8 plays, 62 yards, TOP 03:40
RIC 3, TEX 30
TEX - Sanders,Ja'Tavion 44 yd pass from Ewers,Quinn (Auburn,Bert kick) 1 plays, 44 yards, TOP 00:08
RIC 3, TEX 37
TEX - Ewers,Quinn 1 yd run (Auburn,Bert kick), 9 plays, 54 yards, TOP 03:35
4th Quarter
RIC 10, TEX 37
RIC - McCaffrey,Luke 15 yd pass from Daniels,JT (Horn,Tim kick) 13 plays, 62 yards, TOP 09:24
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
14
TD
1
YDS
149
INT
2
Players Mentioned
RB
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S
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OL
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OLB
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DL
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DE
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RB
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CB
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CB
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P
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WR
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CB
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OLB
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WR
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SAF
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SAF
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