Nov. 25, 2006
Final Stats | Notes
HOUSTON (AP) - Jarett Dillard scored three touchdowns and Rice secured its first bowl appearance since 1961 with a 31-27 win over SMU on Saturday. SMU (6-6, 4-4 Conference USA) is still eligible to receive a bowl bid, but was unable to lock up its first since the 1984 Aloha Bowl.
SMU led 27-24 when Dillard caught the game-winning touchdown pass on a 25-yard strike from quarterback Joel Armstrong with 4:05 remaining. The Owls secured the win about three minutes later when SMU's Justin Willis was intercepted by Bencil Smith at the Rice 4-yard line.
After Rice opened a 17-0 lead on 38-yard Clark Fangmeier field goal, the Mustangs quickly erased that deficit in the second quarter.
After Willis threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Columbus Givens, Cedrick Dorsey scored on a 5-yard run and defensive tackle Brandon Bonds recovered a fumble in the end zone for a 21-17 SMU lead with 6:34 left before halftime.
Rice tied the game at 24-24 on a 20-yard Armstrong-to-Dillard touchdown pass in the third quarter.
DeMyron Martin's 101 yards rushing led SMU and marked his first 100-yard game of the season and the fifth of his career. Justin Rogers led the defensive effort with 10 tackles.
