Rice Defeats South Florida in Thrilling Regular-Season Finale
HOUSTON – In a nail-biting conclusion to the regular season, the Rice Owls secured a 35-28 victory over the South Florida Bulls on Saturday. E.J. Warner was the standout performer for Rice, throwing for three touchdown passes and finishing with an impressive 430 yards on 27 of 42 passing attempts.
The Early Advantage
The Owls showcased their offensive strength in the first half, racking up 367 yards of total offense compared to the Bulls’ performance. Warner threw for 294 yards and two of his touchdown passes before halftime. The Owls dominated the first two quarters, building a commanding 27-7 lead at halftime.
South Florida fought back but found it challenging to keep pace with the Owls’ explosive offense. Trailing 35-14 with just five minutes remaining in the game, Bulls quarterback Bryce Archie exited the game after a late hit. Backup Israel Carter stepped in and made an immediate impact, connecting on two touchdown passes in the final three minutes, narrowing the gap to just seven points.
A Tense Finish
With the clock winding down, Rice recovered an onside kick, managing to kill precious time with six consecutive runs by Christian Francisco. However, the drive ended with the Owls turning the ball over on downs at the USF 28-yard line. In a last-ditch effort, the Bulls attempted a final play that included numerous laterals, but a penalty negated the effort, sealing Rice’s victory.
Key Player Performances
Rice’s receiving corps was notably effective, with Matt Sykes leading the team with 118 yards receiving and Dean Connors contributing 91 yards along with one touchdown. Other key contributions came from Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman and Drayden Dickmann, who each caught touchdown passes.
For South Florida, Archie completed 19 of 35 passes for 227 yards, tossing one touchdown and an interception. Notable receivers included Sean Atkins and Keshaun Singleton, who surpassed 2,000 career receiving yards and registered 110 and 107 yards receiving, respectively, with Singleton contributing a touchdown.
Game Highlights and Stats
The game began with both teams trading touchdowns, leading to a 7-7 tie. A pivotal moment came when Rice’s Quinton Jackson rushed for a 12-yard touchdown following a 45-yard kickoff return by Francisco. The first quarter concluded with a field goal by Tim Horn, extending Rice’s lead to 17-7.
Rice’s offensive dominance continued with Connors’ touchdown reception, and another field goal just before halftime pushed the Owls’ lead to 27-7.
Looking Ahead
With this victory, Rice concludes its regular season with a record of 4-6, and a 3-5 in the American Athletic Conference. South Florida, despite their valiant effort and late-game rally, ends their regular season at 6-6 and 4-4 in conference play. The outcome provides the Owls a momentum boost while raising questions for the Bulls as they move forward.
