Aug. 30, 2008
Final Stats | Notes
HOUSTON (AP) - Chase Clement threw six touchdown passes - three to Jarett Dillard - to lead Rice to a 56-27 victory over SMU on Friday night.
Clement was 24-of-37 for 258 yards, helping the Owls overcome an early 13-point deficit. Clement added 87 yards rushing on 13 carries as the Owls (1-0, 1-0 Conference USA) won their first season-opening conference game since 2001.
Dillard caught seven passes for 89 yards, including scores of 21, 9 and 8 yards. James Casey, Patrick Randolph and Corbin Smiter all caught a touchdown pass from Clement.
The Owls defense also got in on the act, as Andrew Sendejo returned an interception of Bo Levi Mitchell 55 yards for a touchdown. Rice forced two fumbles and had three interceptions.
Mitchell, a true freshman, was 25-of-43 for 244 yards and three touchdowns. He helped the Mustangs (0-1, 0-1) to a 13-0 lead in the first 13 minutes, hitting Aldrick Robinson and Bradley Haynes with 26- and 19-yard touchdown passes.
But the Owls scored 14 points in the last 52 seconds of the first quarter to take a 14-13 lead. Clement hit Casey with 52 seconds left and added a 35-yard score when he connected with Randolph as time expired in the first quarter.
Mitchell hit Emmanuel Sanders with a 22-yard touchdown on the third play of the second half to make it 28-20, but that was as close as the Mustangs would get. The Owls added three scores in the next 97 seconds to take a 49-20 lead.
