Quick hits
Wait finally over: The Owls ended a 173- game streak without a punt return for touchdown in the first quarter when Sam McGuffie blocked a punt and returned it 12 yards. The Owls’ last punt return for a touchdown was Nov. 8, 1997, against TCU. McHargue climbing the charts: With 147 yards, Rice quarterback Taylor McHargue now has 2,898 for his career, 10th on the school’s all- time passing list. First time for everything: Rice free safety JuliusWhite recorded his first career interception in the first quarter. Road of misfortune: Rice has lost 14 consecutive Conference USA road games. The Owls’ last conference win on the road was Nov. 1, 2008, at UTEP. touchdown since 1997.
Tulsa ( 7- 1, 5- 0 C- USA) played without starting quarterback Cody Green ( shoulder) and all- purpose threat TreyWatts ( ankle). Douglas ran for a season- high 169 yards, while backup quarterback Kalen Henderson threw for 201 yards and a 28- yard touchdown to Keyarris Garrett that was set up by aMcHargue interception late in the third quarter.
Close but no cigar
With one final chance deep in their territory, Rice had three incomplete passes byMcHargue. On fourth down, Jordan Taylor made a catch for the first down but had the ball stripped by Lowell Rose and recovered by DexterMcCoil to seal the game.
“When you lose the game in the last two minutes you really can’t put words to it,” safety Paul Porras said.
Oh so close.
East Carolina 42, UAB 35— Shane Carden threw for 386 yards, and the Pirates pulled out a win in a see- sawcontest in Birmingham, Ala. The lead changed hands four times after the Pirates drewfirst blood, with Carden tossing the winning score to Justin Hardy early in the fourth quarter.
UCF 35, Memphis 17— Latavius Murray rushed for 192 yards and two touchdowns, and Blake Bortles threwfor two more scores as the Knights pulled away from the mistake- prone Tigers in Memphis, Tenn.
Marshall 59, Southern Miss 24— RakeemCato threwfor 340 yards and three touchdowns, and Kevin Grooms added a pair of scores on the ground as the Thundering Herd eased past the winless Golden Eagles.
UTEP 24, Tulane 20— Michael Edwards caught a pair of second- quarter touchdown passes from Nick Lamaison, the Miners snapped a four- game losing streak by defeating the GreenWave in El Paso.