Rice claims bowl eligibility, beating Florida Atlantic behind Padgett's 3 TDs
AJ Padgett airs it out for 11-yard touchdown pass
AJ Padgett airs it out for 11-yard touchdown pass
HOUSTON -- — AJ Padgett threw for 255 yards and three touchdowns and Rice became bowl eligible by holding off Florida Atlantic for a 24-21 victory on Saturday.
Padgett led an 11-play, 83-yard drive that took just more than five minutes and ended when he threw a 7-yard score to Luke McCaffrey to give Rice (6-6, 4-4 American Athletic Conference) a 17-14 lead. After holding FAU to a punt after five plays, Padgett led a nine-play, 75-yard drive that ended with his 11-yard scoring pass to Boden Groen to make it 24-14 as the third quarter expired.
Florida Atlantic (4-8, 3-5) got back in it, responding with a six-play, 75-yard drive that ended when Michael Johnson Jr. ran it in from the 6. Xavier Terrell set up the drive, running 35 yards to Rice's 40-yard line on the first play of the drive.
After Rice punted, the defense limited Florida Atlantic to a six-play, nine-yard drive. From there, Rice established a 13-play, 64-yard drive that lasted 6:20. Though the drive ended on downs, Florida Atlantic took over at its own 21 with just 1:37 remaining. FAU turned it over on downs when its four plays produce zero yardage.
Rice wideout McCaffrey caught 12 passes for 141 yards.
Kobe Lewis, 75-yard scoring run was the first play from scrimmage and gave FAU a 7-0 lead. Lewis finished with 82 yards on seven carries.
------
Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season. Sign up here ------
AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
Game Information
2024 American Athletic Conference Standings
Team | CONF | OVR |
---|---|---|
Army | 7-0 | 9-0 |
Tulane | 7-0 | 9-2 |
Navy | 5-2 | 7-3 |
Memphis | 5-2 | 9-2 |
East Carolina | 4-2 | 6-4 |
South Florida | 3-3 | 5-5 |
UTSA | 3-3 | 5-5 |
Charlotte | 2-4 | 3-7 |
North Texas | 2-4 | 5-5 |
Rice | 2-4 | 3-7 |
Temple | 2-4 | 3-7 |
UAB | 1-5 | 2-8 |
Tulsa | 1-5 | 3-7 |
Florida Atlantic | 0-6 | 2-8 |