Led by Ross, Owls rush for 409 yards
LAS CRUCES, N.M. — Formation or ball carrier didn’t seem to matter for the Rice offense Saturday night. The Owls ran through the flimsy New Mexico State defense and stormed to a 45-19 victory at Aggie Memorial Stadium.
Rice running back Charles Ross had a field day against winless New Mexico State, rushing for a career-high 167 yards on 26 carries. He left little doubt about his health — Ross had missed two games and most of another with a knee injury early this season.
Owls coach David Bailiff and some of the players were particularly gratified by the win because it means Rice went unbeaten through a three-game road trip.
“It takes … a lot of intestinal fortitude to pull that off,” said Bailiff, whose program had won nine of its last 11 games since stumbling to a 2-6 start last year.
Quarterback Taylor McHargue called his Owls a “mature” team that “still hasn’t played its best football.”
The Owls (5-2) get another chance next weekend with a return to Conference USA play, and that game against UTEP could have a similar look. Coming into this week, the Miners ranked 117th nationally against the run.
New Mexico State did nothing to improve its standing as the nation’s worst rushing defense. The Aggies, who spent the offseason searching for a conference home and a new coach, have scuffled against their independent schedule.
Rice took advantage, running for a seasonhigh 409 yards to easily surpass the 306 it gained against Texas A&M in the season opener. Rice totaled 515 yards of offense Saturday.
McHargue ran for 90 yards and three touchdowns — and threw for another — and set up a 50-yard field goal by Chris Boswell with a 38-yard scramble. Even when plays broke down, they often worked for Rice.
Ross had 18 carries for 127 yards and a 9-yard TD run in leading the Owls to a 28-12 halftime lead.
The Owls’ defense contained New Mexico State most of the night, but did have lapses that led to Aggies scores. New Mexico State had two 36-yard runs by Brandon Betancourt on separate drives that resulted in field goals.
Austin Franklin scored on an 85-yard pass play in the first half — Bailiff called it a blown defensive call on his part.
In the second half, a 40-yard pass from backup quarterback Andrew McDonald to Adam Shapiro set up a McDonald scoring run after Rice had knocked Aggies starting quarterback King Davis III out of the game.
Rice made two interceptions, the last from walk-on sophomore defensive back Austin Laudenslager on the first snap he played this season, McHargue said.
New Mexico State (0-7) has clinched its 11th straight losing season.