Rice Hands Football First Home Loss

Saturday, October 11

West Point, N.Y.

12:00 PM

Army West Point

2-4

Rice

3-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Rice

Army

Rice Hands Football First Home Loss

October 11, 2014 | Football

Box Score

Oct. 11, 2014

Final Stats | Final Stats (PDF) | Photo Gallery 
Postgame Notes | Postgame Quotes

Watch Highlights: Army vs. Rice

WEST POINT, N.Y. - Rice scored on its opening possession and never trailed as its offense racked up 391 yards of total offense in a 41-21 victory over Army on Saturday afternoon at Michie Stadium. Driphus Jackson led a balanced offensive attack, passing for 209 yards and three touchdowns.

Jowan Davis ran for 77 yards on 24 carries to lead the Owls' in rushing and Darik Dillard totaled 73 yards on nine attempts with a touchdown. Jackson added 29 yards on seven rushes.

Army tallied 252 yards on the ground, as quarterback Angel Santiago eclipsed the 100-yard mark with 106 and fullback Larry Dixon adding 86. Both Santiago and Dixon each scored a touchdown for Army.

Through the air, Santiago threw for 37 yards on 5-of-11 with a touchdown pass to Xavier Moss and A.J. Schurr had one completion for 54 yards to Edgar Poe in the fourth quarter.

The Owls improved to 3-3 on the year with their third consecutive victory and handed Army its first loss at home this season. Army now stands at 2-4 through six contests.

Rice marched down the field on its opening possession and secured an early 7-0 lead on Brandon Hamilton's two-yard run on third and goal. The big play on the drive was Dillard's 36-yard gain down the left sideline.

After each team punted, Army began its next drive with excellent field position at the Rice 41. On the first play of the drive, Santiago ran right and kept the ball before bouncing back inside for a 20-yard pickup. Two plays later, Santiago rolled right and connected with Tony Giovanelli for an 18-yard completion to set up Army with a first-and-goal from the three. On second and goal, Santiago handed off to Dixon, who plunged ahead for Army's second touchdown and tied the game on Daniel Grochowski's extra point.

The Owls quickly responded by reaching the endzone on their ensuing possession. The nine-play, 67-yard scoring drive started with a four-yard loss, but Jackson kept the drive alive with a 10-yard scamper and a completion to Cole Hunt that gave the Owls a first down near midfield as the first quarter came to a close. After two plays, Dillard ran for seven yards and a first down on third and two. Jackson then hit Jordan Taylor for 21 yards to set up a 15-yard Dillard rushing touchdown.

Leading 14-7, Rice forced Army to punt and then converted a 23-yard field goal after the Army defense stacked up Dillard on third and one from the six. James Farrimord's kick pushed the Rice lead to 17-7 with 7:17 to play in the second quarter.

The Rice defense forced Army into a three-and out, and took advantage of tremendous field position. On the first play from its own 49-yard line, Jackson pumped and tossed down the left sideline for Mario Hull, who made the catch for a gain of 32. Two plays later, Jackson went to his safety valve, Luke Turner, and the Owls picked set up a first and goal situation from the Army nine-yard line. Facing third-and-goal from the five, Jackson lofted a pass up to Hull in the corner of the endzone and Hull went up to make the grab for the touchdown.

Rice led 24-7 following the successful extra point.

With a little more than two minutes to play, Army put together a nice scoring drive to end the half. Facing a long second down after Santiago was sacked, the Army QB handed off to Dixon, who rumbled for 43 yards and put the Black Knights inside enemy territory. Three plays later from the Rice 34, Santiago pitched to Terry Baggett and he stayed inside the right sideline on an 11-yard run. Santiago dropped back to pass on the next play and escaped pressure for a nine-yard pickup as Army called timeout with 29 seconds left and the ball at the Rice 14. A roughing the passer penalty set up first and goal and on third down from the seven, Santiago tossed his first touchdown pass of the season, hitting Xavier Moss for the score and Army went into the locker room trailing 24-14.

Army had the momentum and the football to start the second half, but after the Black Knights picked up a first down Santiago fumbled the exchange on the snap and Rice took possession on the Army 41. On the first play, Jackson picked out Jordan Taylor streaking down the seam and he took it the distance to extend the Rice lead to 31-14.

Santiago, on a run of 24 yards, and a pitch to Baggett each picked up first downs on Army's next drive. From the Rice 40, Dixon went up the middle for seven and two plays later, Santiago earned another first down when he advanced to the 24. The Army QB kept the ball on the next play, ran left, and raced to paydirt to pull the Black Knights within 10.

Great field position for Rice had the Owls start the drive at their 38 and two successful passing plays put Rice inside the Army 30 yard line. Jackson kept the ball on second down and ran 26 yards and inside the Army 10. Facing third and goal, Jackson dropped back to pass, looked left and found Dillard, who made his way into the endzone. The successful extra point helped Rice reclaim the 17-point cushion.

The Owls added a Farrimond field goal in the fourth quarter to run the final score to 41-21.