Saturday, November 23
Birmingham, AL
1 PM
Rice University
3-8 , 2-5
14
at
40
UAB
3-8 , 2-5
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Rice
14
0
0
0
14
UAB
14
13
0
13
40
Photo by: Jalen McDade
Rice Falls to UAB
11/23/2024 5:14:00 PM | Football
The Lead
UAB took advantage of four Rice turnovers as the Owls fell, 40-14, Saturday afternoon from Protective Stadium.
The Story
Rice wasted no time getting on the board. After forcing a UAB punt, the Owls needed just two plays to get inside the red zone before Dean Connors scored on a five-yard run. However, Solomon Beebe took the ensuing kickoff 90-yards, and Jalen Kitna hit Malachi Holt-Bennett for a five-yard touchdown. One possession later, Lee Beebe, Jr., scored on a 48-yard touchdown do give UAB its first lead. Rice was forced to punt, but on UAB's next possession, Gabriel Taylor sacked Kitna, forcing a fumble, and Charlie Looes recovered at the five-yard line. E.J. Warner then hit Colin Giffen for the five-yard touchdown, the first of Giffen's career.
The Owls couldn't get anything for most of the second quarter as UAB kicked two field goals. But Rice had a chance to take the lead heading into halftime, driving to the UAB three-yard line. However, with six seconds left. Warner's pass was intercepted by Adrian Maddox and returned 98 yards for a touchdown, sending the Owls into the break trailing 27-14.
After both teams punted to begin the second half, Rice drove to the UAB six-yard line. But on fourth-and-goal, Warner's pass attempt to Connors was incomplete, and the Blazers took over. They then drove 94 yards in 7:28, scoring on a Beebe, Jr. seven-yard run. The Blazers added a 45-yard touchdown to cap off the scoring.
Postgame Notes
Series vs. UAB
• Rice and UAB met for the 12th time overall.
• Rice moves to 6-6 against the Blazers.
• The Owls are 2-5 when played in Birmingham.
Team Notes
• Rice won the toss and deferred to the second half.
• Rice's 82-yd touchdown drive in the first quarter was its longest scoring drive of the season.
Individual Notes - Offense
• RB Dean Connors ran 16 times for 62 yards and a touchdown.
• Connors scored on a five-yard run with 10:28 to play in the first quarter.
• It was his ninth rushing touchdown of the year and the 16th of his career.
• His nine rushing touchdown are the most since Ari Broussard had nine in 2022.
• He also caught three passes for 43 yards.
• Connors now has 58 receptions this year, tying Luke McCaffrey (2022) and Matt Sykes (2024) for 10th-place on Rice's all-time list.
• FB Colin Giffen caught a five-yard touchdown pass with 3:05 to play in the first quarter.
• It was his first career touchdown.
• RB Quinton Jackson had 156 all-purpose yards. He now has 1,352 all-purpose yards in his career.
• Jackson had six kick returns for 126 yards.
• Jackson now has 921 kick return yards, passing Carl Swierc (1971-73) and Gene Fleming (1962-64) for ninth-place in school history.
• WR Matt Sykes caught three passes for 19 yards.
• He now has 58 receptions this year, tying Luke McCaffrey (2022) and Dean Connors (2024) for 10th-place on Rice's all-time list.
• WR Braylen Walker's 50-yard reception in the first quarter was a career-long.
• It was also Rice's second-longest pass play this year.
• QB E.J. Warner was 28-of-49 for 222 yards and a touchdown.
• Warner now has 14 touchdowns on the year and 55 in his career.
• Warner has 397 attempts on the year, passing Randy Hertel (1977) for fourth-place on Rice's season list.
• He also has 2,280 passing yards this year, passing Taylor McHargue (2012) and TJ McMahon (2022) for eighth-place on Rice's season list.
Individual Notes - Defense
• DE Josh Pearcy played in his 57th career game, setting a new Rice record.
• S Gabriel Taylor recorded a career-high two sacks.
• He has three sacks this season and four in his career.
• Taylor is the third player to have two sacks this year.
Individual - Special Teams
• P Alex Bacchetta's 59-yard punt in the first quarter was a career-long.
• It was also Bacchetta's 10th 50-yard punt of the season.
• The 10, 50-yard punts are the most in a season since Chris Barnes had 10 in 2019.
• K Tim Horn converted both of his PAT attempts in the game.
• Horn is 12-of-12 on the year and a perfect 62-of-62 in his career, including 59-of-59 at Rice.
• He now passes Wes Hansen (1976-79) for ninth-place on Rice's all-time PAT list.
UAB took advantage of four Rice turnovers as the Owls fell, 40-14, Saturday afternoon from Protective Stadium.
The Story
Rice wasted no time getting on the board. After forcing a UAB punt, the Owls needed just two plays to get inside the red zone before Dean Connors scored on a five-yard run. However, Solomon Beebe took the ensuing kickoff 90-yards, and Jalen Kitna hit Malachi Holt-Bennett for a five-yard touchdown. One possession later, Lee Beebe, Jr., scored on a 48-yard touchdown do give UAB its first lead. Rice was forced to punt, but on UAB's next possession, Gabriel Taylor sacked Kitna, forcing a fumble, and Charlie Looes recovered at the five-yard line. E.J. Warner then hit Colin Giffen for the five-yard touchdown, the first of Giffen's career.
The Owls couldn't get anything for most of the second quarter as UAB kicked two field goals. But Rice had a chance to take the lead heading into halftime, driving to the UAB three-yard line. However, with six seconds left. Warner's pass was intercepted by Adrian Maddox and returned 98 yards for a touchdown, sending the Owls into the break trailing 27-14.
After both teams punted to begin the second half, Rice drove to the UAB six-yard line. But on fourth-and-goal, Warner's pass attempt to Connors was incomplete, and the Blazers took over. They then drove 94 yards in 7:28, scoring on a Beebe, Jr. seven-yard run. The Blazers added a 45-yard touchdown to cap off the scoring.
Postgame Notes
Series vs. UAB
• Rice and UAB met for the 12th time overall.
• Rice moves to 6-6 against the Blazers.
• The Owls are 2-5 when played in Birmingham.
Team Notes
• Rice won the toss and deferred to the second half.
• Rice's 82-yd touchdown drive in the first quarter was its longest scoring drive of the season.
Individual Notes - Offense
• RB Dean Connors ran 16 times for 62 yards and a touchdown.
• Connors scored on a five-yard run with 10:28 to play in the first quarter.
• It was his ninth rushing touchdown of the year and the 16th of his career.
• His nine rushing touchdown are the most since Ari Broussard had nine in 2022.
• He also caught three passes for 43 yards.
• Connors now has 58 receptions this year, tying Luke McCaffrey (2022) and Matt Sykes (2024) for 10th-place on Rice's all-time list.
• FB Colin Giffen caught a five-yard touchdown pass with 3:05 to play in the first quarter.
• It was his first career touchdown.
• RB Quinton Jackson had 156 all-purpose yards. He now has 1,352 all-purpose yards in his career.
• Jackson had six kick returns for 126 yards.
• Jackson now has 921 kick return yards, passing Carl Swierc (1971-73) and Gene Fleming (1962-64) for ninth-place in school history.
• WR Matt Sykes caught three passes for 19 yards.
• He now has 58 receptions this year, tying Luke McCaffrey (2022) and Dean Connors (2024) for 10th-place on Rice's all-time list.
• WR Braylen Walker's 50-yard reception in the first quarter was a career-long.
• It was also Rice's second-longest pass play this year.
• QB E.J. Warner was 28-of-49 for 222 yards and a touchdown.
• Warner now has 14 touchdowns on the year and 55 in his career.
• Warner has 397 attempts on the year, passing Randy Hertel (1977) for fourth-place on Rice's season list.
• He also has 2,280 passing yards this year, passing Taylor McHargue (2012) and TJ McMahon (2022) for eighth-place on Rice's season list.
Individual Notes - Defense
• DE Josh Pearcy played in his 57th career game, setting a new Rice record.
• S Gabriel Taylor recorded a career-high two sacks.
• He has three sacks this season and four in his career.
• Taylor is the third player to have two sacks this year.
Individual - Special Teams
• P Alex Bacchetta's 59-yard punt in the first quarter was a career-long.
• It was also Bacchetta's 10th 50-yard punt of the season.
• The 10, 50-yard punts are the most in a season since Chris Barnes had 10 in 2019.
• K Tim Horn converted both of his PAT attempts in the game.
• Horn is 12-of-12 on the year and a perfect 62-of-62 in his career, including 59-of-59 at Rice.
• He now passes Wes Hansen (1976-79) for ninth-place on Rice's all-time PAT list.
Team Stats
RIC
UAB
Total Yards
337
364
Pass Yards
222
174
Rushing Yards
115
190
Penalty Yards
62
110
1st Downs
18
21
3rd Downs
6
4
4th Downs
1
0
TOP
30:44
29:16
1st Quarter
RIC 7, UAB 0
RIC - Connors,Dean 5 yd run (Horn,Tim kick), 4 plays, 82 yards, TOP 01:51
RIC 7, UAB 7
UAB - Holt-Bennett,Malachi 5 yd pass from Kitna,Jalen (Delange,Jonah kick) 1 plays, 5 yards, TOP 00:05
RIC 7, UAB 14
UAB - Beebe Jr.,Lee 48 yd run (Delange,Jonah kick), 7 plays, 80 yards, TOP 03:03
RIC 14, UAB 14
RIC - Giffen,Colin 5 yd pass from Warner,E.J. (Horn,Tim kick) 1 plays, 5 yards, TOP 00:03
2nd Quarter
RIC 14, UAB 17
UAB - Delange,Jonah 32 yd field goal 10 plays, 61 yards, TOP 05:15
RIC 14, UAB 20
UAB - Delange,Jonah 43 yd field goal 4 plays, -2 yards, TOP 00:41
RIC 14, UAB 27
UAB - Maddox,Adrian 99 yd interception (Delange,Jonah kick)
4th Quarter
RIC 14, UAB 33
UAB - Beebe Jr.,Lee 7 yd run (), 13 plays, 94 yards, TOP 07:28
RIC 14, UAB 40
UAB - Milliner,Corri 45 yd pass from Kitna,Jalen (Delange,Jonah kick) 1 plays, 45 yards, TOP 00:08
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
28
TD
1
YDS
222
INT
3
Players Mentioned
P
/ Football
RB
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RB
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FB
/ Football
RB
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DL
/ Football
WR
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OLB
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WR
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SAF
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WR
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