Saturday, September 14
Houston, TX
7 PM
Rice University
1-2 , 0-0
7
at
33
Houston
1-2 , 0-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Rice
0
0
0
7
7
Houston
14
6
6
7
33
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Rice Drops Bayou Bucket to Houston
9/14/2024 10:27:00 PM | Football
The Lead
Rice was outgained, 379-to-159, as Houston won the 43rd edition of the Bayou Bucket, 33-7, from TDECU Stadium.
The Story
After both teams were forced to punt, UH wasted no time getting on the board. On their second play, Stacy Sneed ran right, taking it 65 yards for a touchdown. After Rice went three-and-out, Mekhi Mews took the ensuing kickoff 75 for a score. In the second quarter, Rice forced a UH punt. However, Sean Fresch muffed the punt and Houston recovered. One play later Donovan Smith connected on a 44-yard touchdown catch with Stephon Johnson to take a 20-0 lead into halftime.
On its first possession of the second half, the Cougars drove 77 yards in 14 plays to the Rice four-yard line. But on fourth and one, Izeya Floyd stopped Re'Shaun Sanford II for a three-yard loss. However, on Rice's second play, E.J Warner was intercepted Jalen Garner, and one play later, Smith ran in from one-yard out. Smith also added a 37-yard score in the fourth quarter. The Owls finally got on the board late in the fourth quarter, as they drove 70 yards in 12 plays, culminating in a Dean Connors four-yard touchdown run.
Postgame Notes
Team
• Rice and Houston met for the fourth straight year and the 46th time overall and the 43rd time for the Bayou Bucket.
• Rice moves to 12-34 against the Cougars.
• This was the 18th meeting as non-conference opponents. Rice is 6-12 is such games.
• Rice won the toss and deferred to the second half.
• With three sacks, Rice has 14 on the year, the most through the first three games since recording 15 in 2004.
• TE Elijah Mojarro and LB Ty Morris made their first career starts.
• WR Tyson Thompson made his first career start at Rice and his first since 2021 while at Houston Baptist.
Individual
• RB Dean Connors ran 11 times for 32 yards and a touchdown.
• He also caught five passes for 17 yards.
• Connors became the eighth player in school history with 1,000 career rushing yards and 500 receiving yards.
• Connors scored on a four-yard touchdown run with 1:08 remaining in the fourth quarter.
• He now has five rushing touchdowns this season and 12 in his career.
• Connors is the first Owl with rushing touchdowns in a season's first three games since Ari Broussard had one in the first six games of 2022.
• CB Sean Fresch tied his career-high with nine tackles to lead the team.
• S Daveon Hook set a career-high with six tackles.
• LB Josh Pearcy recorded a sack in the first quarter.
• Pearcy now has 14.5 sacks in his career, passing Matt Sign (1989-92) and Courtney Gordon (2003-06) for sixth on the school all-time list.
Rice was outgained, 379-to-159, as Houston won the 43rd edition of the Bayou Bucket, 33-7, from TDECU Stadium.
The Story
After both teams were forced to punt, UH wasted no time getting on the board. On their second play, Stacy Sneed ran right, taking it 65 yards for a touchdown. After Rice went three-and-out, Mekhi Mews took the ensuing kickoff 75 for a score. In the second quarter, Rice forced a UH punt. However, Sean Fresch muffed the punt and Houston recovered. One play later Donovan Smith connected on a 44-yard touchdown catch with Stephon Johnson to take a 20-0 lead into halftime.
On its first possession of the second half, the Cougars drove 77 yards in 14 plays to the Rice four-yard line. But on fourth and one, Izeya Floyd stopped Re'Shaun Sanford II for a three-yard loss. However, on Rice's second play, E.J Warner was intercepted Jalen Garner, and one play later, Smith ran in from one-yard out. Smith also added a 37-yard score in the fourth quarter. The Owls finally got on the board late in the fourth quarter, as they drove 70 yards in 12 plays, culminating in a Dean Connors four-yard touchdown run.
Postgame Notes
Team
• Rice and Houston met for the fourth straight year and the 46th time overall and the 43rd time for the Bayou Bucket.
• Rice moves to 12-34 against the Cougars.
• This was the 18th meeting as non-conference opponents. Rice is 6-12 is such games.
• Rice won the toss and deferred to the second half.
• With three sacks, Rice has 14 on the year, the most through the first three games since recording 15 in 2004.
• TE Elijah Mojarro and LB Ty Morris made their first career starts.
• WR Tyson Thompson made his first career start at Rice and his first since 2021 while at Houston Baptist.
Individual
• RB Dean Connors ran 11 times for 32 yards and a touchdown.
• He also caught five passes for 17 yards.
• Connors became the eighth player in school history with 1,000 career rushing yards and 500 receiving yards.
• Connors scored on a four-yard touchdown run with 1:08 remaining in the fourth quarter.
• He now has five rushing touchdowns this season and 12 in his career.
• Connors is the first Owl with rushing touchdowns in a season's first three games since Ari Broussard had one in the first six games of 2022.
• CB Sean Fresch tied his career-high with nine tackles to lead the team.
• S Daveon Hook set a career-high with six tackles.
• LB Josh Pearcy recorded a sack in the first quarter.
• Pearcy now has 14.5 sacks in his career, passing Matt Sign (1989-92) and Courtney Gordon (2003-06) for sixth on the school all-time list.
Team Stats
RIC
HOU
Total Yards
159
379
Pass Yards
84
142
Rushing Yards
75
237
Penalty Yards
30
64
1st Downs
9
16
3rd Downs
2
6
4th Downs
1
1
TOP
28:03
31:57
1st Quarter
RIC 0, HOU 7
HOU - Sneed,Stacy 65 yd run (Kim,Joseph kick), 2 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:34
RIC 0, HOU 14
HOU - Mews,Mekhi 75 yd punt return (Kim,Joseph kick)
2nd Quarter
RIC 0, HOU 20
HOU - Johnson,Stephon 44 yd pass from Smith,Donovan () 1 plays, 44 yards, TOP 00:11
3rd Quarter
RIC 0, HOU 26
HOU - Smith,Donovan 1 yd run (), 1 plays, 1 yards, TOP 00:05
4th Quarter
RIC 0, HOU 33
HOU - Smith,Donovan 37 yd run (Kim,Joseph kick), 7 plays, 56 yards, TOP 03:21
RIC 7, HOU 33
RIC - Connors,Dean 4 yd run (Gota,Enock kick), 12 plays, 70 yards, TOP 05:56
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
12
TD
0
YDS
50
INT
1
CMP
4
TD
0
YDS
34
INT
0
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
CB
/ Football
SAF
/ Football
TE
/ Football
OLB
/ Football
WR
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