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
2024 American Athletic Conference Standings
Team | CONF | OVR |
---|---|---|
Army | 6-0 | 8-0 |
Tulane | 5-0 | 7-2 |
Navy | 4-1 | 6-2 |
Memphis | 3-2 | 7-2 |
North Texas | 2-2 | 5-3 |
East Carolina | 2-2 | 4-4 |
South Florida | 2-2 | 4-4 |
Charlotte | 2-3 | 3-6 |
Rice | 2-3 | 3-6 |
UTSA | 2-3 | 4-5 |
Temple | 1-3 | 2-6 |
UAB | 1-4 | 2-6 |
Tulsa | 1-4 | 3-6 |
Florida Atlantic | 0-4 | 2-6 |
2024 Conference USA Standings
Team | CONF | OVR |
---|---|---|
Western Kentucky | 4-0 | 6-2 |
Jacksonville State | 4-0 | 5-3 |
Sam Houston | 4-1 | 7-2 |
Liberty | 3-2 | 5-2 |
Florida International | 2-3 | 3-6 |
Louisiana Tech | 2-3 | 3-5 |
Middle Tennessee | 2-3 | 3-6 |
Kennesaw State | 1-3 | 1-7 |
New Mexico State | 1-4 | 2-6 |
UTEP | 1-5 | 1-8 |