Saturday, November 29
Tampa, FL
6 PM
Rice University
5-7 , 2-6
3
at
52
South Florida
9-3 , 6-2
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Rice
0
3
0
0
3
South Fla.
14
14
10
14
52
Photo by: Mike Carlson | Rice Athletics
Rice Drops Season Finale at South Florida
11/29/2025 9:23:00 PM | Football
The Lead
South Florida scored on its first four possessions as Rice fell short of bowl contention, falling in its season finale, 52-3, Saturday night from Raymond James Stadium.
The Story
After Rice went three-and-out on its opening possession, South Florida drove 68 yards in 12 plays, finishing the drive when Byrum Brown hit Keshaun Singleton for a five-yard touchdown. The duo connected again on a 47-yard touchdown one possession later as the Bulls took a 14-0 lead after one. Rice then drove 30 yards in eight plays, but was forced to punt. Brown then found Mudia Reuben for a 60-yard touchdown. The Owls went three-and-out, before USF added another score on a Nykahi Davenport two-yard run. Rice got on the board just before halftime when Enock Gota connected on a 44-yard field goal as time expired.
South Florida started the second half the way they started the first, going 75 yards for a touchdown, aided by a 15-yard pickup on a fake punt on fourth-and-four from its own 31. Rice then drove to the USF 13 behind a 55-yard reception from Drew Devillier to Aaron Turner. But on fourth-and-three, Turner was stopped behind the line of scrimmage, turning the ball over on downs. After a field goal, the Bulls connected on a field goal, they added a pair of touchdowns to close the scoring.
Postgame Notes
Series vs. South Florida
• This was just the third meeting between Rice and South Florida.
• The teams have met in each of the last three years.
• South Florida leads the overall series, 2-1.
• USF has won both meeting in Tampa.
Team Notes
• Rice won the toss and received.
• Andrew Awe and Jo Chavez are the second duo this year to reach double-digit tackles in the same game, joining Ty Morris and Jack Kane against Houston on Sept. 6.
• Rice faced nine teams this year that qualified for postseason play, it's most since also having nine in 2019.
• The Owls finished the year committing just eight turnovers, setting a school record for fewest in a season.
Individual Notes - Offense
#5 QB Drew Devillier
• Devillier was three-of-nine for 65 yards.
• His 55-yard completion in the third quarter was the longest of his career.
• Devillier's 10-yard run in the third quarter tied the longest of his career.
#4 QB Chase Jenkins
• Jenkins became the first Rice quarterback to start every game since Driphus Jackson in 2014.
• Jenkins was six-of-nine for 39 yards.
• He finished the year completing 69.2% of his passing, setting a new school record for completion percentage in a season.
• Jenkins became the fifth player in school history to reach 1,000 passing yards and 500 rushing yards in a season, joining Bert Emanuel (1992), Kyle Herm (2001), Chase Clement (2007, 2008), and Taylor McHargue (2012).
#1 WR Aaron Turner
• Turner had seven receptions for a career-high 99 yards.
• Turner's 55-yard reception in the third quarter was a season-long.
Individual Notes - Defense
#26 DL Tony Anyanwu
• Anyanwu set a season-high with nine tackles.
#0 LB Andrew Awe
• Awe recorded a career-high 14 tackles.
• It was his fourth double-digit tackle game of the season.
• Awe finished the season with XXX tackles, becoming the first Owl to reach 100 in a season since Blaze Alldredge (102) in 2019.
• It's also the most tackles since Emmanuel Ellerbee had 120 in 2017.
#6 VIPER Jo Chavez
• Chavez set a season-high with 13 tackles.
• It is his first career double-digit tackle game.
#31 WR Jordan Clark
• Clark recorded a special teams tackle in the second quarter, the first tackle of his career.
#16 LB Chibby Nwajuaku
• Nwajuaku recorded a tackle for loss, the most in a game in his career.
#9 VIPER Peyton Stevenson
• Stevenson had a career-high nine tackles.
Individual - Special Teams
#91 P Alex Bacchetta
• Bacchetta six five times for a 43.3-yard average.
• Bacchetta had a 51-yard punt in the fourth quarter.
• He has 14, 50-yard punts this year and 24 in his career.
#28 K Enock Gota
• Gota connected on a 44-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter.
• He is now 9-of-12 this year and 14-of-20 in his career.
South Florida scored on its first four possessions as Rice fell short of bowl contention, falling in its season finale, 52-3, Saturday night from Raymond James Stadium.
The Story
After Rice went three-and-out on its opening possession, South Florida drove 68 yards in 12 plays, finishing the drive when Byrum Brown hit Keshaun Singleton for a five-yard touchdown. The duo connected again on a 47-yard touchdown one possession later as the Bulls took a 14-0 lead after one. Rice then drove 30 yards in eight plays, but was forced to punt. Brown then found Mudia Reuben for a 60-yard touchdown. The Owls went three-and-out, before USF added another score on a Nykahi Davenport two-yard run. Rice got on the board just before halftime when Enock Gota connected on a 44-yard field goal as time expired.
South Florida started the second half the way they started the first, going 75 yards for a touchdown, aided by a 15-yard pickup on a fake punt on fourth-and-four from its own 31. Rice then drove to the USF 13 behind a 55-yard reception from Drew Devillier to Aaron Turner. But on fourth-and-three, Turner was stopped behind the line of scrimmage, turning the ball over on downs. After a field goal, the Bulls connected on a field goal, they added a pair of touchdowns to close the scoring.
Postgame Notes
Series vs. South Florida
• This was just the third meeting between Rice and South Florida.
• The teams have met in each of the last three years.
• South Florida leads the overall series, 2-1.
• USF has won both meeting in Tampa.
Team Notes
• Rice won the toss and received.
• Andrew Awe and Jo Chavez are the second duo this year to reach double-digit tackles in the same game, joining Ty Morris and Jack Kane against Houston on Sept. 6.
• Rice faced nine teams this year that qualified for postseason play, it's most since also having nine in 2019.
• The Owls finished the year committing just eight turnovers, setting a school record for fewest in a season.
Individual Notes - Offense
#5 QB Drew Devillier
• Devillier was three-of-nine for 65 yards.
• His 55-yard completion in the third quarter was the longest of his career.
• Devillier's 10-yard run in the third quarter tied the longest of his career.
#4 QB Chase Jenkins
• Jenkins became the first Rice quarterback to start every game since Driphus Jackson in 2014.
• Jenkins was six-of-nine for 39 yards.
• He finished the year completing 69.2% of his passing, setting a new school record for completion percentage in a season.
• Jenkins became the fifth player in school history to reach 1,000 passing yards and 500 rushing yards in a season, joining Bert Emanuel (1992), Kyle Herm (2001), Chase Clement (2007, 2008), and Taylor McHargue (2012).
#1 WR Aaron Turner
• Turner had seven receptions for a career-high 99 yards.
• Turner's 55-yard reception in the third quarter was a season-long.
Individual Notes - Defense
#26 DL Tony Anyanwu
• Anyanwu set a season-high with nine tackles.
#0 LB Andrew Awe
• Awe recorded a career-high 14 tackles.
• It was his fourth double-digit tackle game of the season.
• Awe finished the season with XXX tackles, becoming the first Owl to reach 100 in a season since Blaze Alldredge (102) in 2019.
• It's also the most tackles since Emmanuel Ellerbee had 120 in 2017.
#6 VIPER Jo Chavez
• Chavez set a season-high with 13 tackles.
• It is his first career double-digit tackle game.
#31 WR Jordan Clark
• Clark recorded a special teams tackle in the second quarter, the first tackle of his career.
#16 LB Chibby Nwajuaku
• Nwajuaku recorded a tackle for loss, the most in a game in his career.
#9 VIPER Peyton Stevenson
• Stevenson had a career-high nine tackles.
Individual - Special Teams
#91 P Alex Bacchetta
• Bacchetta six five times for a 43.3-yard average.
• Bacchetta had a 51-yard punt in the fourth quarter.
• He has 14, 50-yard punts this year and 24 in his career.
#28 K Enock Gota
• Gota connected on a 44-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter.
• He is now 9-of-12 this year and 14-of-20 in his career.
Team Stats
Ric
USF
Total Yards
257
553
Pass Yards
104
281
Rushing Yards
153
272
Penalty Yards
83
30
1st Downs
13
30
3rd Downs
4
7
4th Downs
1
3
TOP
31:22
28:38
1st Quarter
Ric 0, USF 7
USF - Singleton,Keshaun 5 yd pass from Brown,Byrum (Gramatica,Nico kick) 12 plays, 68 yards, TOP 03:24
Ric 0, USF 14
USF - Singleton,Keshaun 47 yd pass from Brown,Byrum (Gramatica,Nico kick) 4 plays, 77 yards, TOP 01:11
2nd Quarter
Ric 0, USF 21
USF - Reuben,Mudia 60 yd pass from Brown,Byrum (Gramatica,Nico kick) 6 plays, 80 yards, TOP 01:27
Ric 0, USF 28
USF - Davenport,Nykahi 2 yd run (Gramatica,Nico kick), 7 plays, 67 yards, TOP 02:24
Ric 3, USF 28
Ric - Gota,Enock 44 yd field goal 12 plays, 54 yards, TOP 03:34
3rd Quarter
Ric 3, USF 35
USF - Koger,Jeremiah 7 yd pass from Brown,Byrum (Gramatica,Nico kick) 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:47
Ric 3, USF 38
USF - Gramatica,Nico 23 yd field goal 14 plays, 80 yards, TOP 05:16
4th Quarter
Ric 3, USF 45
USF - Brown,Byrum 5 yd run (Gramatica,Nico kick), 4 plays, 50 yards, TOP 01:05
Ric 3, USF 52
USF - Helms,Christian 3 yd pass from Moore,Gaston (Zouagui,Adam kick) 9 plays, 61 yards, TOP 03:35
Game Leaders
CMP
3
TD
0
YDS
65
INT
0
CMP
6
TD
0
YDS
39
INT
0
Players Mentioned
DL
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LB
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P
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WR
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K
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SAF
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SLOT
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