Rice Delivers Upset, Defeating Louisiana 14–12 in Thrilling Season Opener

In a dramatic debut under first-year head coach Scott Abell, the Rice Owls emerged victorious, overcoming the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns 14–12 in Lafayette. The win not only marked Abell’s first as head coach but also served as a powerful opening statement for a program eager to turn the page on a decade of struggles.

Ground Game Carries the Day

Rice leaned heavily on its revamped rushing attack—Amassing 206 yards on the ground, the Owls throttled out a methodical victory. Running back Quinton Jackson exploded for a career-best 119 yards and one touchdown, while Daelen Alexander chipped in a strong 74 rushing yards.

The Owls took a 14–3 lead into halftime, with a methodical 13-play, 72-yard drive ending in Jackson’s 1-yard touchdown, followed by a 17-yard jet-sweep touchdown by Aaron Turner, marking the first of his career.

Louisiana Mounts a Rally

The Ragin’ Cajuns, playing the opener in the newly renovated Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium, responded in the second half. Quarterback Walker Howard broke free for a 25-yard rushing touchdown, trimming the deficit to 14–12 late in the third. However, a failed two-point conversion kept the score precariously close.

Defense Stands Tall in the Final Quarter

Louisiana pressed hard for the lead, but Rice’s defense emerged as the cornerstone of the victory. Safety Daveon Hook stopped a 4th-and-2 keeper, and Michael Daley sealed the game with a pass breakup on fourth-and-10. Louisiana’s final efforts fell short, allowing Rice to escape with the road win.

The Owls’ ground dominance was clear: Rice outrushed Louisiana 209 yards to 151, controlled the clock with 36:24 time of possession, and avoided any turnovers—while the Ragin’ Cajuns committed two.

Season Outlook

Rice (1–0, 0–0 AAC) jumps out of the gate with early momentum under new leadership. The Owls will look to build on this successful road win heading into their next clash against Houston in the Bayou Bucket rivalry.

Louisiana (0–1) must rebound quickly, shifting focus to a matchup against McNeese State. The Ragin’ Cajuns’ offense, especially with their promising new quarterback, still holds potential—but must capitalize in key situations moving forward.

Check out the photos taken by Seth Ramsey!