Rice totaled just 197 yards and Texas State used a pair of interception returns for touchdowns to win the Servpro First Responder Bowl, 45-21, on Tuesday evening in Dallas.
The Story
The Bobcats opened the game with a touchdown on the first possession. Redshirt junior wide receiver Luke McCaffrey answered with a touchdown reception from redshirt freshman quarterback AJ Padgett to tie the score at 7-7. After a pair of Texas State touchdowns, the Owls again responded as junior running back Dean Connors posted rushing touchdowns of three and 28 yards to again pull Rice even. Texas State kicked a last-second field goal to enter halftime with a 24-21 lead.
In the third quarter, a pair of Rice turnovers allowed the Bobcats to extend their lead to 38-21 entering the final stanza. A total of six turnovers in the second half prevented the Owls from mounting a comeback as the Bobcats tacked on another seven points to secure the 45-21 victory.
Team
- Rice fell to 6-7 on the year.
- This was the fifth meeting between Rice and Texas State.
- Texas State leads the series, 3-2.
- This was Rice's 14th bowl game. The Owls fall to 7-7 all-time in bowl games.
- Rice won the toss and deferred to the second half.
- Rice's 21 first half points are the most in a bowl game since scoring 24 against Western Michigan in the 2008 Texas Bowl.
- Rice held the Bobcats to 160 yards below their season average.
- The Owls' 29 touchdown passes this year are tied for the second-most in a season. They also had 29 in 2006 and 2007.
- Rice's 51 total touchdowns are tied with the 2007 team for the third-most in a season.
- Rice's 384 total points this year are fourth-most in a season.