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University of Houston Athletics
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Associated Press Writer
HOUSTON (AP) -- Ahmad Charles returned a fumble 66 yards for a touchdown, one of four Houston scored after turnovers Saturday night in a 28-3 season-opening victory over Rice in the resumption of their intracity rivalry.
Houston recovered five of the Owls' eight fumbles, snared a late interception and didn't allow Rice onside its 30.
Already ahead 21-3 midway into the fourth quarter, Houston put Rice away when Owls quarterback Jeremy Bates dropped the ball on a fourth-and-1 play. Charles picked it up and chugged for the Cougars' fourth unanswered touchdown.
Houston's Jason McKinley completed 10-of-13 for 107 yards. Iglesias caught seven for 82.
The game marked the schools' first battle for the Bayou Bucket trophy since Dec. 2, 1995, when Houston won the last football game in Southwest Conference history. Houston holds a 20-6 series edge.
Leroy Bradley led Rice with 11 carries for 92 carries but lost a fumble early in the second quarter at the Houston 38. The Cougars drove right back and scored on a 16-yard run by Mike Green to take a 7-3 lead.
Bates replaced starter Chad Richardson on the next series and, on his second play, Mike James deflected a pitch attempt 6 yards into the end zone, where he fell on it for a touchdown.
Houston went up 21-3 on an 8-yard pass to Iglesias, which came just 5 seconds after Wayne Rogers recovered Richardson's fumble.
Rice's only effective drive was its first, which ended when Scott Grimes kicked a career-long 52-yard field goal.
The game also marked the debut of newly renovated and expanded Robertson Stadium, which lost power while the Houston band played during halftime and delayed the game about 20 minutes.