LAFAYETTE, La. — Quinton Jackson ran for 119 yards and a touchdown, and Rice gave new head coach Scott Abell a victorious debut by grinding out a 14-12 win over Louisiana on Saturday night at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium.
The Owls (1-0) relied on a relentless rushing attack, piling up 206 yards on the ground and holding the ball for more than 36 minutes. Jackson’s 1-yard scoring plunge early in the second quarter gave Rice its first lead, and Aaron Turner broke loose for a 17-yard touchdown run later in the period to push the margin to 14-3. That was all the offense the Owls needed.
Louisiana (0-1) fought back, pulling within two late in the third quarter on quarterback Walker Howard’s 25-yard touchdown run. But his two-point conversion pass fell incomplete, leaving Rice clinging to a 14-12 edge. From there, the Owls’ defense delivered. Louisiana took over on the Rice 5 in the final two minutes, but the Cajuns were stuffed on fourth down with 57 seconds left. Rice then ran out the clock to secure the win…