Saturday, September 24
Houston, Texas
5 p.m.
University of Houston
2-2 , 0-0
34
vs
27
Rice
2-2 , 0-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Rice
0
14
10
3
27
Houston
7
3
14
10
34
Photo by: Stephen Pinchback
Cougars Capture Seventh Straight Bayou Bucket
9/24/2022 8:30:00 PM | Football
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Late-game takeaways propel Houston to 34-27 win over Rice
HOUSTON -- University of Houston Football used another late rally to defeat Rice 34-27 for its seventh consecutive victory in the Bayou Bucket Classic on Saturday night at TDECU Stadium. The seven straight wins are the longest for either team in the history of the rivalry.
The Cougars (2-2) forced a pair of fourth quarter takeaways to win a back-and-forth affair against Rice (2-2).
On its second possession, Houston capped off an eight-play, 67-yard drive with a screen pass from quarterback Clayton Tune to receiver Matthew Golden, who went 19 yards for the score. With two scores, Tune has been responsible for 83 career touchdowns, surpassing Andre Ware for fifth in program history.
On Houston's ensuing possession, a pass intended for receiver KeSean Carter was batted up into the air and intercepted by Rice defensive back Myron Morrison. Four plays later, Rice running back Ari Broussard tied the game with a two-yard rushing score.
After a 34-yard rush from Rice receiver Kobie Campbell set them up inside the red zone, Broussard once again found the end zone from two yards out to take the 14-7 lead.
Houston responded with a lengthy 10-play, 52-yard drive that resulted in a Bubba Baxa 37-yard field goal that cut the lead to four with 58 seconds remaining in the first half.
On the opening drive of the second half, Tune needed just four plays to find receiver Nathaniel Dell for a 40-yard touchdown to retake the lead. Dell finished with 134 receiving yards, upping his career total to 2,137 career yards while passing James Cleveland (2,014) to move into 14th in school history.
The score again titled in Rice's favor as quarterback TJ McMahon hit receiver Luke McCaffrey deep downfield for a 52-yard touchdown.
Facing a 2nd and 29, Houston running back Ta'Zhawn Henry scampered for a 28-yard run before being pushed out-of-bounds at the Rice 4-yard line. The following play Henry punched it in for his 20th career rushing touchdown. With 112 rushing yards, the back exceeded 100 yards for the third time in his career and for the first time since Nov. 6, 2021, at USF (130 yards).
Down three, Rice manufactured a 10-play, 51-yard drive to set up a 42-yard field goal from Christian VanSickle, tying the game at 24 apiece.
Houston opted to go for it on 4th-and-1 from its own 47-yard line and was unable to convert. Rice capitalized on the starting field position with a 43-yard field goal from VanSickle to take a three-point lead.
The Cougars offense orchestrated a 12-play, 60-yard drive that chewed up over six minutes of clock before Bubba Baxa drilled a 32-yard field goal to tie the game at 27.
Facing third down and 17 yards to go, deep in their own territory McMahon was strip sacked by Houston defensive linemen D'Anthony Jones and the fumble was recovered by fellow defensive linemen Nelson Ceaser who returned it 11 yards for the go-ahead score. Jones' two forced fumbles were the most for a Cougar since Donavan Mutin did so against East Carolina on Oct. 23, 2021.
On the ensuing possession, Rice was able to move the ball to the Houston 35-yard line before a ball ricocheted off the hands of Rice receiver Isaiah Esdale and into the waiting arms of Houston defensive back Thabo Mwanki.
The victory was not sealed until the final play of the game as McMahon found receiver Bradley Rozner 51 yards downfield to give them one final opportunity from the Houston nine. However, Rice was unable to score.
UP NEXT
Houston opens American Athletic Conference play against Tulane at TDECU Stadium Friday at 6 p.m. on ESPN. The matchup will serve as Hispanic Heritage Night and will also be the program's annual "Blackout" matchup with fans encouraged to wear black. To purchase tickets, click here.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference. Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023.
Click here to rise and be counted.
JOIN The 46ers and The HUDDLE Fans are invited to join the 46ers and the Huddle to directly support Houston Football. Members provide financial support directly to Houston Football for needs beyond operating budget. For more information about the 46ers and the Huddle, call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4684) or click here.
STAY CONNECTED
Follow Houston Football on Twitter and Instagram at @UHCougarFB, and "Like" Houston Cougar Football on Facebook.
The Cougars (2-2) forced a pair of fourth quarter takeaways to win a back-and-forth affair against Rice (2-2).
On its second possession, Houston capped off an eight-play, 67-yard drive with a screen pass from quarterback Clayton Tune to receiver Matthew Golden, who went 19 yards for the score. With two scores, Tune has been responsible for 83 career touchdowns, surpassing Andre Ware for fifth in program history.
On Houston's ensuing possession, a pass intended for receiver KeSean Carter was batted up into the air and intercepted by Rice defensive back Myron Morrison. Four plays later, Rice running back Ari Broussard tied the game with a two-yard rushing score.
After a 34-yard rush from Rice receiver Kobie Campbell set them up inside the red zone, Broussard once again found the end zone from two yards out to take the 14-7 lead.
Houston responded with a lengthy 10-play, 52-yard drive that resulted in a Bubba Baxa 37-yard field goal that cut the lead to four with 58 seconds remaining in the first half.
On the opening drive of the second half, Tune needed just four plays to find receiver Nathaniel Dell for a 40-yard touchdown to retake the lead. Dell finished with 134 receiving yards, upping his career total to 2,137 career yards while passing James Cleveland (2,014) to move into 14th in school history.
The score again titled in Rice's favor as quarterback TJ McMahon hit receiver Luke McCaffrey deep downfield for a 52-yard touchdown.
Facing a 2nd and 29, Houston running back Ta'Zhawn Henry scampered for a 28-yard run before being pushed out-of-bounds at the Rice 4-yard line. The following play Henry punched it in for his 20th career rushing touchdown. With 112 rushing yards, the back exceeded 100 yards for the third time in his career and for the first time since Nov. 6, 2021, at USF (130 yards).
Down three, Rice manufactured a 10-play, 51-yard drive to set up a 42-yard field goal from Christian VanSickle, tying the game at 24 apiece.
Houston opted to go for it on 4th-and-1 from its own 47-yard line and was unable to convert. Rice capitalized on the starting field position with a 43-yard field goal from VanSickle to take a three-point lead.
The Cougars offense orchestrated a 12-play, 60-yard drive that chewed up over six minutes of clock before Bubba Baxa drilled a 32-yard field goal to tie the game at 27.
Facing third down and 17 yards to go, deep in their own territory McMahon was strip sacked by Houston defensive linemen D'Anthony Jones and the fumble was recovered by fellow defensive linemen Nelson Ceaser who returned it 11 yards for the go-ahead score. Jones' two forced fumbles were the most for a Cougar since Donavan Mutin did so against East Carolina on Oct. 23, 2021.
On the ensuing possession, Rice was able to move the ball to the Houston 35-yard line before a ball ricocheted off the hands of Rice receiver Isaiah Esdale and into the waiting arms of Houston defensive back Thabo Mwanki.
The victory was not sealed until the final play of the game as McMahon found receiver Bradley Rozner 51 yards downfield to give them one final opportunity from the Houston nine. However, Rice was unable to score.
UP NEXT
Houston opens American Athletic Conference play against Tulane at TDECU Stadium Friday at 6 p.m. on ESPN. The matchup will serve as Hispanic Heritage Night and will also be the program's annual "Blackout" matchup with fans encouraged to wear black. To purchase tickets, click here.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference. Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023.
Click here to rise and be counted.
JOIN The 46ers and The HUDDLE Fans are invited to join the 46ers and the Huddle to directly support Houston Football. Members provide financial support directly to Houston Football for needs beyond operating budget. For more information about the 46ers and the Huddle, call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4684) or click here.
STAY CONNECTED
Follow Houston Football on Twitter and Instagram at @UHCougarFB, and "Like" Houston Cougar Football on Facebook.
Team Stats
RIC
HOU
Total Yards
424
427
Pass Yards
334
249
Rushing Yards
90
178
Penalty Yards
30
110
1st Downs
22
19
3rd Downs
4
6
4th Downs
1
0
TOP
29:55
30:05
1st Quarter
RIC 0, HOU 7
HOU - Golden,Matthew 19 yd pass from Tune,Clayton (Baxa,Bubba kick) 8 plays, 67 yards, TOP 05:15
2nd Quarter
RIC 7, HOU 7
RIC - Broussard,Ari 2 yd run (VanSickle,Christian kick), 4 plays, 47 yards, TOP 01:03
RIC 14, HOU 7
RIC - Broussard,Ari 2 yd run (VanSickle,Christian kick), 5 plays, 63 yards, TOP 02:54
RIC 14, HOU 10
HOU - Baxa,Bubba 37 yd field goal 10 plays, 52 yards, TOP 04:08
3rd Quarter
RIC 14, HOU 17
HOU - Dell,Nathaniel 40 yd pass from Tune,Clayton (Baxa,Bubba kick) 4 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:46
RIC 21, HOU 17
RIC - McCaffrey,Luke 52 yd pass from McMahon,TJ (VanSickle,Christian kick) 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:06
RIC 21, HOU 24
HOU - Henry,Ta'Zhawn 4 yd run (Baxa,Bubba kick), 6 plays, 80 yards, TOP 02:41
RIC 24, HOU 24
RIC - VanSickle,Christian 42 yd field goal 10 plays, 51 yards, TOP 03:41
4th Quarter
RIC 27, HOU 24
RIC - VanSickle,Christian 43 yd field goal 7 plays, 22 yards, TOP 03:13
RIC 27, HOU 27
HOU - Baxa,Bubba 32 yd field goal 12 plays, 60 yards, TOP 06:26
RIC 27, HOU 34
HOU - Ceaser,Nelson 11 yd fumble recovery (Baxa,Bubba kick)
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
19
TD
2
YDS
249
INT
1
Players Mentioned
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WR
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DL
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WR
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WR
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RB
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/ FootballQB
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