HOUSTON (AP) — Driphus Jackson rushed for a 9-yard touchdown in the first quarter and later passed for another score, as Rice defeated UTSA by a score of 17-7 on Saturday.
The win was the sixth in a row for the Owls (6-3, 4-1 C-USA), placing them just behind Louisiana Tech, which is 6-0 in the Conference USA West Division standings.
Jackson completed 18-of-28 passes for 213 yards and rushed for another 48, scoring from the 9-yard line to cap a 13-play, 80-yard drive after the opening kickoff.
Jowan Davis added 121 yards on 25 carries and Jordan Taylor caught nine passes for 92 yards.
James Farrimond added a 37-yard field goal in the second quarter for a 10-0 halftime lead and, in the third quarter, Jackson connected with Mario Hull on an 8-yard fade into the end zone.
UTSA (2-7, 1-4 C-USA) lost its third consecutive outing, but it did end a string of seven scoreless quarters when Austin Robinson found Kenny Bias with 9:36 remaining in the game.
Robinson, who replaced an injured Tucker Carter in the second quarter, connected on 8-of-16 throws for 96 yards and added another 29 on eight rushes. Carter was 9-of-16 for 57 yards before departing on a targeting penalty by Rice safety Malcolm Hill with less than a minute to go before intermission.
Jens Jeters led three Roadrunners that had double-digit tackles with a career-high 11, while Robert Singletary and Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist Triston Wade added 10 apiece.
UTSA will return to action on Thursday, Nov. 13, when they host Southern Miss (3-6, 1-4 C-USA) at the Alamodome. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.