Friday, November 8
Memphis, TN
8 PM
Rice University
3-7 , 2-4
20
at
27
Memphis
8-2 , 4-2
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Rice
6
7
0
7
20
Memphis
0
17
0
10
27
Rice Drops Tough Game at Memphis
11/9/2024 12:12:00 AM | Football
The Lead
The Rice defense Memphis to a season-low passing, but the Tigers gained 207 yards on the ground as Rice fell, 27-20, Friday night at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
The Story
The Owls got on the board first when, after Sean Fresch recorded his first interception of the year, Rice turned it into a 25-yard Tim Horn field goal. Horn added a 28-yard field goal as Rice ended the first quarter with a 6-0 lead, the fifth time in the last six games it held its opponents scoreless in the opening frame.
However, Memphis turned to the ground game in the second quarter to get the Tigers going. Memphis went 77 yards, capped by a nine-yard Seth Henigan touchdown pass to Brendan Doyle. UM added to its lead on a 10-yard rushing touchdown. Rice got the ball with 1:28 to play. Three passes to Matt Sykes covered 65 yards, the last of which was a 27-yard touchdown. But the Tigers didn't need much time to answer, going 51 yards in 36 seconds as Tristian Vandenberg connected on a 42-yard field goal as Memphis took a 17-13 lead into halftime.
After forcing a punt to start the second half, Rice looked to take advantage. The Owls drove down the field, looking to take the lead. But, on 2nd-and-1 from the two-yard line, Warner fumbled and Memphis recovered. Two possessions later, Memphis went 92 yards in 10 plays, capped off by Brandon Thomas' 14-yard touchdown run. Vandenberg then added his second 42-yard field goal. Rice, though, wouldn't go away. Warner connected with Elijah Mojarro on a five-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 27-20 with 1:55 to play.
Postgame Notes
Series vs. Memphis
• Rice and Memphis met for the fifth time overall, but the first since 2012.
• Rice moves to 2-3 against the Tigers.
• The Owls are 1-2 when played in Memphis.
Team Notes
• Memphis won the toss and deferred to the second half.
• Rice held Memphis scoreless in the first quarter. It is the third straight game and sixth time this year it held an opponent scoreless in the first quarter.
Individual Notes - Offense
• RB Dean Connors ran 14 times for 55 yards.
• He also caught six passes for 22 yards.
• Connors now has 106 receptions, passing Earl Cooper for the most by a running back in school history.
• RB Quinton Jackson ran six times for a career-high 70 yards.
• Jackson's 45-yard run in the fourth quarter was a career-long.
• TE Elijah Mojarro caught three passes for 28 yards and a touchdown.
• Mojarro caught a five-yard touchdown with 1:55 to play in the fourth quarter.
• It was his fifth receiving touchdown of the season and sixth of his career.
• WR Matt Sykes caught six passes for 76 yards and a touchdown.
• Sykes caught a 27-yard touchdown with 0:38 to play in the second quarter.
• It was his fifth receiving touchdown of the season and sixth of his career.
• TE Graham Walker's 33-yard reception in the first quarter tied a season-long.
• QB E.J. Warner was 29-of-45 for 246 yards and two touchdowns.
• The 29 completions are a season-high.
• Warner now has 13 touchdowns on the year and 54 in his career.
• Warner has 217 completions on the year, passing Taylor McHargue (2012), Tyler Stheling (2016) and Driphus Jackson (2014) for fourth-place on Rice's season list.
Individual Notes - Defense
• DT Blake Boenisch led the Owls with a career-high 10 tackles.
• CB Sean Fresch recorded his first interception of the year in the first quarter.
• It was the third interception of his career and the first since Oct. 22, 2022 at Louisiana Tech.
• S Daveon Hook tied a career-high with seven tackles.
• LB Ty Morris recorded his team-high fourth sack of the year. He now has 4.5 in his career.
Individual - Special Teams
• K Tim Horn connected on field goals of 28 and 25-yards in the first quarter.
• He's now 5-of-7 on the year and 13-of-18 in his career.
• Horn has converted at least one field goal in four straight games, the longest streak since Collin Riccitelli made one in all five games in 2020.
• Horn converted his only PAT attempt in the game.
• Horn is 7-of-7 on the year and a perfect 57-of-57 in his career, including 54-of-54 at Rice.
• P Reese Keeney recorded his first career punt in the fourth quarter, a 41-yarder.
The Rice defense Memphis to a season-low passing, but the Tigers gained 207 yards on the ground as Rice fell, 27-20, Friday night at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
The Story
The Owls got on the board first when, after Sean Fresch recorded his first interception of the year, Rice turned it into a 25-yard Tim Horn field goal. Horn added a 28-yard field goal as Rice ended the first quarter with a 6-0 lead, the fifth time in the last six games it held its opponents scoreless in the opening frame.
However, Memphis turned to the ground game in the second quarter to get the Tigers going. Memphis went 77 yards, capped by a nine-yard Seth Henigan touchdown pass to Brendan Doyle. UM added to its lead on a 10-yard rushing touchdown. Rice got the ball with 1:28 to play. Three passes to Matt Sykes covered 65 yards, the last of which was a 27-yard touchdown. But the Tigers didn't need much time to answer, going 51 yards in 36 seconds as Tristian Vandenberg connected on a 42-yard field goal as Memphis took a 17-13 lead into halftime.
After forcing a punt to start the second half, Rice looked to take advantage. The Owls drove down the field, looking to take the lead. But, on 2nd-and-1 from the two-yard line, Warner fumbled and Memphis recovered. Two possessions later, Memphis went 92 yards in 10 plays, capped off by Brandon Thomas' 14-yard touchdown run. Vandenberg then added his second 42-yard field goal. Rice, though, wouldn't go away. Warner connected with Elijah Mojarro on a five-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 27-20 with 1:55 to play.
Postgame Notes
Series vs. Memphis
• Rice and Memphis met for the fifth time overall, but the first since 2012.
• Rice moves to 2-3 against the Tigers.
• The Owls are 1-2 when played in Memphis.
Team Notes
• Memphis won the toss and deferred to the second half.
• Rice held Memphis scoreless in the first quarter. It is the third straight game and sixth time this year it held an opponent scoreless in the first quarter.
Individual Notes - Offense
• RB Dean Connors ran 14 times for 55 yards.
• He also caught six passes for 22 yards.
• Connors now has 106 receptions, passing Earl Cooper for the most by a running back in school history.
• RB Quinton Jackson ran six times for a career-high 70 yards.
• Jackson's 45-yard run in the fourth quarter was a career-long.
• TE Elijah Mojarro caught three passes for 28 yards and a touchdown.
• Mojarro caught a five-yard touchdown with 1:55 to play in the fourth quarter.
• It was his fifth receiving touchdown of the season and sixth of his career.
• WR Matt Sykes caught six passes for 76 yards and a touchdown.
• Sykes caught a 27-yard touchdown with 0:38 to play in the second quarter.
• It was his fifth receiving touchdown of the season and sixth of his career.
• TE Graham Walker's 33-yard reception in the first quarter tied a season-long.
• QB E.J. Warner was 29-of-45 for 246 yards and two touchdowns.
• The 29 completions are a season-high.
• Warner now has 13 touchdowns on the year and 54 in his career.
• Warner has 217 completions on the year, passing Taylor McHargue (2012), Tyler Stheling (2016) and Driphus Jackson (2014) for fourth-place on Rice's season list.
Individual Notes - Defense
• DT Blake Boenisch led the Owls with a career-high 10 tackles.
• CB Sean Fresch recorded his first interception of the year in the first quarter.
• It was the third interception of his career and the first since Oct. 22, 2022 at Louisiana Tech.
• S Daveon Hook tied a career-high with seven tackles.
• LB Ty Morris recorded his team-high fourth sack of the year. He now has 4.5 in his career.
Individual - Special Teams
• K Tim Horn connected on field goals of 28 and 25-yards in the first quarter.
• He's now 5-of-7 on the year and 13-of-18 in his career.
• Horn has converted at least one field goal in four straight games, the longest streak since Collin Riccitelli made one in all five games in 2020.
• Horn converted his only PAT attempt in the game.
• Horn is 7-of-7 on the year and a perfect 57-of-57 in his career, including 54-of-54 at Rice.
• P Reese Keeney recorded his first career punt in the fourth quarter, a 41-yarder.
Team Stats
RIC
MEM
Total Yards
367
366
Pass Yards
246
159
Rushing Yards
121
207
Penalty Yards
50
42
1st Downs
20
22
3rd Downs
6
7
4th Downs
1
1
TOP
30:11
29:47
1st Quarter
RIC 3, MEM 0
RIC - Horn,Tim 25 yd field goal 5 plays, 13 yards, TOP 02:14
RIC 6, MEM 0
RIC - Horn,Tim 28 yd field goal 11 plays, 76 yards, TOP 05:06
2nd Quarter
RIC 6, MEM 7
MEM - Doyle,Brendan 9 yd pass from Henigan,Seth (Vandenberg,Tristian kick) 12 plays, 77 yards, TOP 05:44
RIC 6, MEM 14
MEM - Anderson Jr.,Mario 10 yd run (Vandenberg,Tristian kick), 5 plays, 73 yards, TOP 01:39
RIC 13, MEM 14
RIC - Sykes,Matt 27 yd pass from Warner,E.J. (Horn,Tim kick) 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:50
RIC 13, MEM 17
MEM - Vandenberg,Tristian 42 yd field goal 6 plays, 51 yards, TOP 00:36
4th Quarter
RIC 13, MEM 24
MEM - Thomas,Brandon 14 yd run (Vandenberg,Tristian kick), 10 plays, 92 yards, TOP 04:14
RIC 13, MEM 27
MEM - Vandenberg,Tristian 42 yd field goal 6 plays, 17 yards, TOP 03:40
RIC 20, MEM 27
RIC - Mojarro,Elijah 5 yd pass from Warner,E.J. (Horn,Tim kick) 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:28
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
29
TD
2
YDS
246
INT
0
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
CB
/ Football
SAF
/ Football
RB
/ Football
K/P
/ Football
TE
/ Football
WR
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