University of Louisiana Athletics
LAFAYETTE – Quinton Jackson rushed for 119 yards and a touchdown and Aaron Turner added a 17-yard scoring run in the second quarter as Rice held off Louisiana, 14-12, in the season opener for both teams on Saturday before 22,148 fans in the inaugural game at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium.
Louisiana (0-1), which will host in-state foe McNeese (1-0) for Hall of Fame/Alumni Weekend, on Saturday in a 7 p.m. contest, struck first when Tony Sterner drilled a 47-yard field goal midway through the first quarter to give the Cajuns a 3-0 lead.
Rice (1-0) answered with a pair of second-quarter touchdowns. Jackson finished off a 13-play, 72-yard march with a 1-yard plunge, and Turner followed with his 17-yard burst around left end to stretch the Owls’ lead to 14-3. Sterner cut into the margin just before halftime with a career-best 51-yard boot.
Quarterback Walker Howard brought Louisiana within striking distance late in the third quarter, capping a 98-yard drive with a 25-yard touchdown run that made it 14-12. The Cajuns went for two but came up short, and neither team scored in the final 16 minutes.
Rice leaned on its ground game, piling up 206 rushing yards on 55 attempts and controlling possession for more than 36 minutes. Daelen Alexander added 74 yards for the Owls, while quarterback Chase Jenkins completed 7 of 9 passes for 45 yards.
Howard threw for 88 yards with one interception and ran for 47 yards and the Cajuns’ lone touchdown. Bill Davis led Louisiana with 58 rushing yards, including a 32-yard burst during the third-quarter scoring drive. Shelton Sampson Jr. had four catches for 59 yards.
Defensively, Jaden Dugger and Terrence Williams each posted career-highs in tackles for Louisiana with Dugger recording 10 and Williams eight. Williams and Jaelen Crider each added a sack for the Ragin’ Cajuns, who limited the Owls to 71 yards of total offense in the second half while making a goal-line stand late.
Jack Kane had an interception for Rice with Blake Boenisch recovering a fumble for the Owls, setting up Turner’s touchdown with 3:38 remaining in the half.
The Cajuns were held to 239 total yards and converted just 7 of 15 third downs.
**UL PRESS RELEASE**
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