Louisiana Tech pulls away for 28-13 win over Rice
LA Tech's Dancy fights for 11-yard TD
Jaqwis Dancy muscles his ways through the Rice defense to score a touchdown.
RUSTON, La. -- J'Mar Smith passed for 314 yards and a touchdown and Jaqwis Dancy ran for 80 yards and three TDs to help Louisiana Tech pull away in the second half for a 28-13 victory over Rice on Saturday night.
Adrian Hardy finished with 10 catches for 160 yards for the Bulldogs (7-3, 5-1 Conference USA), while Alfred Smith hauled in three passes for 56 yards and a TD.
Rice took a 3-0 lead on Haden Tobola's 42-yard field goal 4 seconds into the second quarter. The Bulldogs answered with Dancy's 11-yard TD run with 3:02 left in the second quarter to take a 7-3 lead at halftime.
The Owls moved back in front 10-7 when Shawn Stankavage hooked up with Austin Walter for a 69-yard score just 1:28 into the third quarter. But Louisiana Tech regained the lead on the ensuing possession when Dancy plowed into the end zone from a yard out. Dancy added an 18-yard TD run with 1:13 left in the quarter for a 21-10 advantage. Tobola's second field goal -- a 29-yarder -- cut the Owls' deficit to 21-13, but J'Mar Smith put the game out of reach with a 10-yard TD toss to Alfred Smith with less than 6 minutes to play.
Louisiana Tech handed Rice its 10th straight loss after the Owls (1-10, 0-7) opened the season with a 31-28 win over FCS-member Prairie View A&M. Rice has also dropped 13 straight C-USA games. The Owls last conference win was a 31-14 victory over UTEP in the conference opener last season.
Game Information
2023 American Athletic Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| SMU | 8-0 | 11-3 |
| Tulane | 8-0 | 11-3 |
| UTSA | 7-1 | 9-4 |
| Memphis | 6-2 | 10-3 |
| South Florida | 4-4 | 7-6 |
| Rice | 4-4 | 6-7 |
| Navy | 4-4 | 5-7 |
| North Texas | 3-5 | 5-7 |
| UAB | 3-5 | 4-8 |
| Florida Atlantic | 3-5 | 4-8 |
| Charlotte | 2-6 | 3-9 |
| Tulsa | 2-6 | 4-8 |
| Temple | 1-7 | 3-9 |
| East Carolina | 1-7 | 2-10 |
2023 Conference USA Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 8-0 | 13-1 |
| New Mexico State | 7-1 | 10-5 |
| Jacksonville State | 6-2 | 9-4 |
| Western Kentucky | 5-3 | 8-5 |
| Middle Tennessee | 3-5 | 4-8 |
| Louisiana Tech | 2-6 | 3-9 |
| Sam Houston | 2-6 | 3-9 |
| UTEP | 2-6 | 3-9 |
| Florida International | 1-7 | 4-8 |
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