Otoviano’s 224-yard day ends Owls’ skid
Freshman RB erupts as team closes year with biggest victory
RICE: Owls rout Old Dominion to end 11-game skid.
It was Rice’s first win over a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent in more than 20 games and its first over a Conference USA opponent in 2018.
The Owls have freshman running back Juma Otoviano mostly to thank for it.
Otoviano ran for a career-high 224 yards and two touchdowns, and Rice defeated Old Dominion 27-13 in its season finale Saturday at Rice Stadium to snap an 11-game losing streak.
Otoviano finished with the most rushing yards by an Owls back since Charles Ross rushed for 215 against Louisiana Tech in 2013. The defense forced three takeaways while the offense didn’t turn the ball over once, giving Rice (2-11, 1-7 C-USA) its most complete victory of the season.
“I think a win means a lot of things,” first-year coach Mike Bloomgren said. “(The seniors) kind of passed the torch because you had seniors and then you had a bunch of young guys making a ton of plays on the field today, and that’s a lot of fun.”
The Owls fell behind 3-0 early to the Monarchs (4-8, 2-6). But Rice was quick to respond.
On the ensuing drive, quarterback Wiley Green delivered a pass to Jordan Myers, who darted up the field for a career-long 60-yard reception. Seven plays later, fullback Giovanni Gentosi powered his way to pay dirt from 6 yards out, giving the Owls a 6-3 lead following a failed two-point converscanned sion.
The Monarchs tied the score on a 26-yard field goal in the second quarter but a Rice team that was determined to end its season on a high note came up with a big play to take control.
On Old Dominion’s next drive, quarterback Blake LaRussa fumbled the ball at his own 15-yard line and Owls defensive tackle Zach Abercrumbia dove on it.
A play later, from the 10, Green moved up in the pocket and his options before spinning away from ODU sack leader Oshane Ximines, then dodging another defender on the way to the end zone to give Rice its 13-6 halftime lead.
Riding five carries by running back Matt Geiger, Old Dominion worked down the field early in the second half before LaRussa lobbed a tall pass toward the corner of the end zone. Travis Fulgham, who finished the game with six catches for 88 yards, elevated above corner TyRae Thornton for the tying score.
But again, Rice was prepared to respond as the third quarter wound down. Otoviano scored his second career touchdown after exploding through ODU’s defense for an 80-yard score.
“Credit to my offensive linemen and everyone who was blocking for me,” Otoviano said. “I just wanted to do whatever I could to send the seniors off the right way.”
Afterwards, Rice was in search of the dagger.
The Owls got it in the fourth when LaRussa’s pass was tipped, falling into the hands of safety George Nyakwol for his second pick of the season.
Rice couldn’t convert the takeaway into points. But on its following drive, Otoviano broke loose once more, outpacing the ODU defense 62 yards to the house.
Owls players erupted along the sidelines after big gains and defenders flew around creating takeaways.
“It’s like the video game Mortal Kombat when his head’s spinning and it’s like, ‘Finish him,’” Bloomgren said. “Today we finished ‘em.”