McMahon rallies Rice to 35-31 victory over Louisiana Tech
Gabe Taylor snags the game-sealing interception for Rice on the 14-year anniversary of his brother, Sean's, death. (0:33)
HOUSTON -- — TJ McMahon threw two late touchdown passes — including a 3-yarder to Cedric Patterson III with 61 seconds remaining — and Rice rallied for a 35-31 victory over Louisiana Tech on Saturday.
Rice (4-8, 3-5 Conference USA) led 14-10 at halftime, but JD Head connected with Smoke Harris for a 5-yard score to give Louisiana Tech (3-9, 2-6) a 17-14 lead midway through the third quarter. The Owls regained the lead on Cameron Montgomery's 7-yard TD run on the ensuing possession, but Head scored on a 22-yard run and the Bulldogs took a 24-21 lead into the final quarter.
Head hit Griffin Hebert for a 6-yard score and Louisiana Tech led 31-21 with 13:10 left to play. McMahon pulled the Owls within three points on a 31-yard scoring strike to August Pitre III with 4:12 remaining. Rice forced a punt with 1:19 to go and Sean Fresch returned it 48 yards to the Louisiana Tech 18-yard line. Three plays later McMahon hit Patterson for the go-ahead score. Head drove the Bulldogs to a first down at the Rice 33, but Gabe Taylor came up with an interception with 12 seconds left to preserve the win.
McMahon completed 12 of 20 passes for 191 yards with one interception for the Owls. Montgomery ran for 95 yards and two TDs — including a 70-yarder that put Rice up 10-0 in the first quarter — on 10 carries.
Head connected on 19 of 35 passes for 270 yards with two TDs and two picks.
----
More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP--Top25.
Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25
College Football News
Florida Gators land commitment from Arizona State receiver Ricky Pearsall
Ricky Pearsall, who led Arizona State with 48 receptions last season for 580 yards and 4 TDs, has committed to play for Florida after entering the transfer portal.
Hall of Fame college football coach Steve Spurrier defends Alabama's Nick Saban in spat with Texas A&M's Jimbo Fisher
Hall of Fame coach Steve Spurrier came to the defense of Alabama's Nick Saban, asking if there was something in the Crimson Tide coach's pointed comments about Texas A&M that wasn't true. Said Spurrier: "I don't think Saban told any lies in there."
College football spring transfer tracker: Top players in the portal, big moves and analysis
Who are the best college football players who have entered -- and exited -- the transfer portal during the second wave?
Power 5 conference revenues varied greatly for 2020-21 season amid COVID-19 pandemic
Power 5 conference revenues varied greatly during the 2020-21 season, largely because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mountain West Conference to eliminate football divisions in 2023
The Mountain West has followed the Pac-12 with its move to scrap divisions after the NCAA Division I Council relaxed restrictions on college football conference championship games.
Calvin Magee, Jacksonville State assistant head football coach, dies at age 59
Calvin Magee, Jacksonville State assistant head football coach, died after suffering a heart attack last weekend, the school announced Friday. He was 59.
2021 Conference USA Standings
TEAM | CONF | OVR |
---|---|---|
Western Kentucky | 7-1 | 9-5 |
Marshall | 5-3 | 7-6 |
Old Dominion | 5-3 | 6-7 |
Middle Tennessee | 4-4 | 7-6 |
Florida Atlantic | 3-5 | 5-7 |
Charlotte | 3-5 | 5-7 |
Florida International | 0-8 | 1-11 |
TEAM | CONF | OVR |
UTSA | 7-1 | 12-2 |
UAB | 6-2 | 9-4 |
North Texas | 5-3 | 6-7 |
UTEP | 4-4 | 7-6 |
Rice | 3-5 | 4-8 |
Southern Miss | 2-6 | 3-9 |
Louisiana Tech | 2-6 | 3-9 |