Thursday, September 18
Charlotte, NC
6:30 PM
Rice University
3-1 , 1-0
28
at
17
Charlotte
1-3 , 0-1
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Rice
7
7
7
7
28
Charlotte
3
6
0
8
17
Photo by: David Beach
Rice Defeats Charlotte to Open American Action
9/18/2025 10:49:00 PM | Football
The Lead
Rice rushed for 255 yards, and Daelen Alexander scored two touchdowns, as the Owls knocked off Charlotte in both teams American Conference opener 28-17.
The Story
Charlotte took the opening drive and drove into Rice territory before settling for a 29-yard field goal. The Owls came right back on their first possession. After gaining 63 yards on the ground, Chase Jenkins connected with Drayden Dickmann on a nine-yard touchdown. Boyd connected on two more field goals, from 40 and 25 yards away, to give the 49ers a 9-7 lead late in the second quarter. But, Rice went 75 yards in 1:05, capped off by Jenkins' 34-yard rushing touchdowwls n. Charlotte had one more chance to score, but Boyd's 42-yard field goal attempt went wide left, and Rice headed into halftime with 14-9 lead.
On the opening drive to start the second half, Rice used a mix of run and passing to move down the field. Jenkins found Tyson Thompson for 37 yards, and two plays later, Daelen Alexander scored from 13 yards out to make it a two-possession game. The teams traded possessions the rest of the quarter until the final play, when Ty Morris sacked quarterback Grayson Loftis, forcing a fumble, and Tony Anyanwu recovered it at the Rice 43. The Owls then started the fourth quarter going 57 yards capped by Alexander's second touchdown of the game, this time from one-yard. Charlotte answered with a scoring drive of it own when Loftis hit Javon Nicholas for a 31-yard touchdown, then converted the two-point conversion to make it a two-score game. But Rice closed it out, moving to 3-1 for the first time since 2001.
Postgame Notes
Series vs. Charlotte
• This was the seventh meeting between Rice and Charlotte, and the fifth straight season that they have met.
• Rice holds a 4-3 advantage in the series.
• When played in Charlotte, Rice is 3-1.
Team Notes
• Rice opened American Conference play on the road for the third straight season.
• Rice won the toss and deferred to the second half.
• Rice moved to 3-1 for the first time since 2001.
• Scott Abell is the first, first-year head coach to start 3-1 since Bo Hagan in 1967.
• Rice is now 1-2 in American Conference openers.
• The Owls won their conference opener for the first time since 2022.
• Rice's nine tackles for loss are a season-high. It is the most tackles for loss since they also had nine against Houston on Sept. 14, 2024.
• Rice has scored in nine straight quarters.
Individual Notes - Offense
#20 RB Daelen Alexander
• Alexander had 10 carries for 73 yards and two touchdowns.
• He scored on a 13-yard touchdown run with 4:56 left in the second quarter and on a one-yard run with 10:31 of the fourth quarter.
• It was his first two rushing touchdowns of the season, and he now has seven in his career.
• They were his first touchdowns since scoring two against Texas Southern on Sept. 16, 2023.
• It is his third career multi-rushing touchdown game.
#6 SLOT Drayden Dickmann
• Dickmann had four receptions for 39 yards and a touchdown.
• He caught a nine-yard touchdown with 4:25 left in the first quarter.
• It was his first touchdown reception of the season and the second of his career.
#10 RB Quentin Jackson
• Jackson had 12 carries for 80 yards.
• Jackson scored on a one-yard touchdown run with 4:56 left in the second quarter.
• It was his second rushing touchdown of the season and the third of his career.
#4 QB Chase Jenkins
• Jenkins was 8-of-11 for 87 yards and a touchdown.
• It was his second passing touchdown of the season.
• He also ran 10 times for 71 yards and a touchdown.
• He scored on a career-long 34-yard run with 1:18 to play in the second quarter.
• It is Jenkins' second game this season with a passing and rushing touchdown in the same game.
#11 SLOT Tyson Thompson
• Thompson's 37-yard reception in the third quarter was the longest of his Rice career.
Individual Notes - Defense
#26 DL Tony Anyanwu
• Anyanwu tied a career-high with 2.0 sacks.
#0 LB Andrew Awe
• Awe led the team with a game-high 11 tackles.
• It was his first career double-digit tackle game.
#1 DE Michael Daley
• Daley recorded a career-high 2.5 sacks.
• He now has 7.5 sacks in his career.
#3 LB Ty Morris
• Morris recorded eight tackles.
• He notched a sack to end the third quarter.
• He now has 6.5 sacks in his career.
Individual - Special Teams
#91 P Alex Bacchetta
• Bacchetta punted six times for a 45.3-yard average.
• Bachetta's had two 50-yard punts.
• He has four 50-yard punts this year and 14 in his career.
#28 K Enock Gota
• Gota connected on four PATs.
• He is 10-for-10 this year and 24-of-25 in his career.
Rice rushed for 255 yards, and Daelen Alexander scored two touchdowns, as the Owls knocked off Charlotte in both teams American Conference opener 28-17.
The Story
Charlotte took the opening drive and drove into Rice territory before settling for a 29-yard field goal. The Owls came right back on their first possession. After gaining 63 yards on the ground, Chase Jenkins connected with Drayden Dickmann on a nine-yard touchdown. Boyd connected on two more field goals, from 40 and 25 yards away, to give the 49ers a 9-7 lead late in the second quarter. But, Rice went 75 yards in 1:05, capped off by Jenkins' 34-yard rushing touchdowwls n. Charlotte had one more chance to score, but Boyd's 42-yard field goal attempt went wide left, and Rice headed into halftime with 14-9 lead.
On the opening drive to start the second half, Rice used a mix of run and passing to move down the field. Jenkins found Tyson Thompson for 37 yards, and two plays later, Daelen Alexander scored from 13 yards out to make it a two-possession game. The teams traded possessions the rest of the quarter until the final play, when Ty Morris sacked quarterback Grayson Loftis, forcing a fumble, and Tony Anyanwu recovered it at the Rice 43. The Owls then started the fourth quarter going 57 yards capped by Alexander's second touchdown of the game, this time from one-yard. Charlotte answered with a scoring drive of it own when Loftis hit Javon Nicholas for a 31-yard touchdown, then converted the two-point conversion to make it a two-score game. But Rice closed it out, moving to 3-1 for the first time since 2001.
Postgame Notes
Series vs. Charlotte
• This was the seventh meeting between Rice and Charlotte, and the fifth straight season that they have met.
• Rice holds a 4-3 advantage in the series.
• When played in Charlotte, Rice is 3-1.
Team Notes
• Rice opened American Conference play on the road for the third straight season.
• Rice won the toss and deferred to the second half.
• Rice moved to 3-1 for the first time since 2001.
• Scott Abell is the first, first-year head coach to start 3-1 since Bo Hagan in 1967.
• Rice is now 1-2 in American Conference openers.
• The Owls won their conference opener for the first time since 2022.
• Rice's nine tackles for loss are a season-high. It is the most tackles for loss since they also had nine against Houston on Sept. 14, 2024.
• Rice has scored in nine straight quarters.
Individual Notes - Offense
#20 RB Daelen Alexander
• Alexander had 10 carries for 73 yards and two touchdowns.
• He scored on a 13-yard touchdown run with 4:56 left in the second quarter and on a one-yard run with 10:31 of the fourth quarter.
• It was his first two rushing touchdowns of the season, and he now has seven in his career.
• They were his first touchdowns since scoring two against Texas Southern on Sept. 16, 2023.
• It is his third career multi-rushing touchdown game.
#6 SLOT Drayden Dickmann
• Dickmann had four receptions for 39 yards and a touchdown.
• He caught a nine-yard touchdown with 4:25 left in the first quarter.
• It was his first touchdown reception of the season and the second of his career.
#10 RB Quentin Jackson
• Jackson had 12 carries for 80 yards.
• Jackson scored on a one-yard touchdown run with 4:56 left in the second quarter.
• It was his second rushing touchdown of the season and the third of his career.
#4 QB Chase Jenkins
• Jenkins was 8-of-11 for 87 yards and a touchdown.
• It was his second passing touchdown of the season.
• He also ran 10 times for 71 yards and a touchdown.
• He scored on a career-long 34-yard run with 1:18 to play in the second quarter.
• It is Jenkins' second game this season with a passing and rushing touchdown in the same game.
#11 SLOT Tyson Thompson
• Thompson's 37-yard reception in the third quarter was the longest of his Rice career.
Individual Notes - Defense
#26 DL Tony Anyanwu
• Anyanwu tied a career-high with 2.0 sacks.
#0 LB Andrew Awe
• Awe led the team with a game-high 11 tackles.
• It was his first career double-digit tackle game.
#1 DE Michael Daley
• Daley recorded a career-high 2.5 sacks.
• He now has 7.5 sacks in his career.
#3 LB Ty Morris
• Morris recorded eight tackles.
• He notched a sack to end the third quarter.
• He now has 6.5 sacks in his career.
Individual - Special Teams
#91 P Alex Bacchetta
• Bacchetta punted six times for a 45.3-yard average.
• Bachetta's had two 50-yard punts.
• He has four 50-yard punts this year and 14 in his career.
#28 K Enock Gota
• Gota connected on four PATs.
• He is 10-for-10 this year and 24-of-25 in his career.
Team Stats
RIC
CLT
Total Yards
353
334
Pass Yards
98
259
Rushing Yards
255
75
Penalty Yards
82
43
1st Downs
17
22
3rd Downs
5
8
4th Downs
0
1
TOP
30:12
29:48
1st Quarter
RIC 0, CLT 3
CLT - Boyd,Liam 29 yd field goal 12 plays, 63 yards, TOP 06:09
RIC 7, CLT 3
RIC - Dickmann,Drayden 9 yd pass from Jenkins,Chase (Gota,Enock kick) 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:26
2nd Quarter
RIC 7, CLT 6
CLT - Boyd,Liam 25 yd field goal 12 plays, 64 yards, TOP 04:58
RIC 7, CLT 9
CLT - Boyd,Liam 40 yd field goal 8 plays, 45 yards, TOP 03:34
RIC 14, CLT 9
RIC - Jenkins,Chase 34 yd run (Gota,Enock kick), 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:05
3rd Quarter
RIC 21, CLT 9
RIC - Alexander,Daelen 13 yd run (Gota,Enock kick), 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:27
4th Quarter
RIC 28, CLT 9
RIC - Alexander,Daelen 1 yd run (Gota,Enock kick), 9 plays, 57 yards, TOP 04:29
RIC 28, CLT 17
CLT - Nicholas,Javen 31 yd pass from Loftis,Grayson (Nicholas,Javen pass) 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:04
Game Leaders
CMP
8
TD
1
YDS
87
INT
0
CMP
1
TD
0
YDS
11
INT
0
Players Mentioned
RB
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DL
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LB
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P
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DE
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SLOT
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K
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SLOT
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