Houston, TX (Sports Network) - The Rice Owls piled up 301 yards rushing as they
defeated the Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners, 34-14, at Rice Stadium.
Charles Ross rushed the ball 16 times for 117 yards and Taylor McHargue added
68 yards and two scores for Rice (2-5), which snapped a four-game losing
streak. Brandon Hamilton (53 yards) and Turner Petersen (53 yards, TD) also had
effective games on the ground. McHargue completed just 12-of-21 passes for 144
yards with an interception.
For UTSA (5-1), Eric Soza was ineffective under center, completing 10-of-23
passes for 113 yards, although he did throw a touchdown pass to David Glasco II
(two reception, 41 yards). The loss snapped an impressive five-game winning
streak to start the season for the Roadrunners.
Rice got off to a 6-0 lead in first quarter behind a pair of field goals from
Chris Boswell, one from 26 yards and the other a 37-yarder.
The Owls scored its first touchdown early in the second quarter on a trick
play, with running back Luke Turner tossing a 38-yard touchdown pass to Donte
Moore.
UTSA finally tallied points with under three minutes left in the first half on
a 20-yard field goal from Kristian Stern. The score would remain 13-3 in favor
of Rice headed into halftime.
Rice opened the second half with the ball and mounted a 12-play, 75-yard drive,
which was capped off with a one-yard touchdown run from Petersen to extend its
lead to 20-3. Less than two minutes later, the Owls added a 44-yard rushing
score from McHargue to go up 24 points.
The Roadrunners scored their only touchdown midway through the third quarter
when Soza connected with Glasco II on a 36-yard passing score. Glasco then
ran in a successful two-point conversion attempt to make it 27-11. UTSA added a
35-yard field goal from Stern later in the quarter.
McHargue added one more rushing score (three yards) in the fourth quarter and
the Owls held on for the win.
Rice held a commanding advantage in the time of possession battle, holding the
ball for over 36 minutes. It also had more than twice as many first downs as
UTSA (27 to 13).
GAME NOTES:
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