Rice Falls in Conference Opener at Army West Point

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at Navy

Sep 27

2:30 PM

Annapolis, Md.

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vs Florida Atlantic

Oct 4

6 PM

Rice Stadium

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at UTSA

Oct 11

TBA

San Antonio, TX

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vs UCONN

Oct 25

TBA

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vs Memphis

Oct 31

6 PM

Rice Stadium

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vs UAB

Nov 8

TBA

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vs North Texas

Nov 22

TBA

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The Lead

Army West Point scored on its first four possessions, as Rice fell in its conference opener, 37-14, Saturday afternoon from Michie Stadium.

The Story
Army West Point took the opening kickoff and drove 70 yards in five plays, culminating in a 41-yard touchdown pass from Bryson Daily to Noah Short. After Rice was forced to punt on its opening possession, the Black Knights spent 10:52, going 90 yards in 17 plays before Daily scored on a seven-yard run. The Owls then drove to the Army 19 before being forced to attempt a 37-yard field goal. However, Enock Gota's attempt was blocked, keeping Rice off the scoreboard. Army increased their lead to 21-0 on Daily's second rushing touchdown, this time from two yards out. On Rice's ensuing possession, Warner's first pass attempt went off Matt Sykes' hands and was intercepted by Max DiDomenico at midfield. The Black Knights took advantage of the short field, as Daily connected with Casey Reynolds for 17-yards as Rice went into halftime with a 28-0 deficit.

After gaining four yards on its first possession of the second half, Rice was forced to punt. But punter Alex Bacchetta mishandled the snap, and the went out the back of the end zone for an Army safety. On Army's next possession, Rice forced it into a 4^th-and-9. The Black Knights attempted a fake punt, as punter James Wagenseller completed a pass to Hayden Reed. But Chike Anigbogu snuffed it out, making the taking well short of the line to gain, and Rice took over at the Army 38. Seven plays later, E.J. Warner hit Matt Sykes over the middle for 16 yards and a touchdown, getting the Owls on the board. But Army answered with a one-yard rushing touchdown by Daily, his third of the game and fifth total touchdown of the day. Christian Francisco added a five-yard touchdown reception, the first of his career.

Postgame Notes
Series vs. Army West Point
• Rice and Army West Point met for the first time since 2019 and the 10th time overall .
• Rice moves to 4-5-1 against the Black Knights.
• This was the first-ever meeting as conference opponents.

Team Notes
• Rice won the toss and deferred to the second half.
• Rice is 12-16-1 all-time against the service academies.
• OL Luke Miller saw his first career action.

Individual Notes - Offense
#0 RB Dean Connors
• Connors ran nine times for 51 yards.
• He also caught eight passes for 31 yards.
• With eight receptions, Connors passed Lorenzo Cyphers (1985-88) for the fifth-most receptions by a running back in school history with 77.
• Connors' 81 all-purpose yards put him over 1,800 for his career.

#26 RB Christian Francisco
• Francisco caught three passes for 24 yards and a touchdown.
• He caught a 5-yard touchdown with 4:34 to play in the fourth quarter.
• It was his first career touchdown reception.

#14 TE Boden Groen
• Groen's 21-yd reception in the second quarter was a season-long.

#10 RB Quinton Jackson
• Jackson completed his first career pass, a 21-yard completion to Boden Groen.

#8 WR Matt Sykes
• Sykes tied a career-high with six receptions for a career-high 82 yards and a touchdown.
• He caught a 16-yard touchdown with 5:55 to play in the third quarter.
• It was his second touchdown reception of the year and the third of his career.

#13 QB E.J. Warner
• Warner was 28-of-43 for a season-high 235 yards and two touchdowns.
• He now has five passing touchdowns this year and 46 in his career.

Individual Notes - Defense
#27 LB Andrew Awe
• Awe set a season-high with five tackles.

#50 DT Izeya Floyd
• Floyd set a season-high with six tackles.

#29 S Daveon Hook
• Hook set a career-high with seven tackles.

#94 DL Charlie Looes
• Looes set a season-high with nine tackles.
• It is the second-most tackls in his career.

#3 LB Ty Morris
• Morris set a career-high with seven tackles.

#33 LB Myron Morrison
• With three tackles, Morrison went over 200 for his career.

#56 LB Blaise Tita
• Tita set a career-high with nine tackles.

Individual - Special Teams
#28 K Enock Gota
• Gota connected all three PAT's. He has connected on 14-of-14 in his career.

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