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Sunday, October 19, 1997

Rice 35, New Mexico 23

By PETE HERRERA / AP Sports Writer

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) -- Rice's defense helped set up three quick touchdowns and the Owls' option offense headed by quarterback Chad Nelson put away previously unbeaten New Mexico with a methodical, rally-killing, fourth-quarter drive for a 35-23 victory Saturday night.

Rice (5-2, 3-1 WAC) ended New Mexico's six-game winning streak, longest run ever by the Lobos to open a season, by building a 28-7 lead, then holding off a second-half comeback.

New Mexico (6-1, 4-1), playing before a record crowd of 37,156, struck back with three TD passes from Graham Leigh to Pascal Volz. The two hooked up for scoring plays of 30, 6 and 15 yards, the last getting New Mexico within 28-23 with 14:13 left in the game.

Rice, second in the nation in rushing with an average of 376 yards a game, then launched its only scoring drive of the second half. The Owls, eating up yardage and the clock behind Nelson, halfback Michael Perry and fullback Benji Wood, went 80 yards in 14 plays, with Perry covering the final 4 yards with 7:47 left.

New Mexico tried to come back again, reaching the Rice 8 with less than five minutes left. On third-and-goal, Leigh tried to go to Volz again, but defensive back LaDouphyous McCalla outwrestled Volz for the ball in the end zone.

McCalla also came up with a tipped pass in the first quarter to set up the Owls' third score of the period, a 1-yard run by Wood. Earlier in the period, Rice's Kevin Brabham intercepted Leigh's pass and Perry cashed in that Lobos mistake by scoring from the 10.

Rice never trailed after going 78 yards in five plays with the opening kickoff, capped by Rodd Newhouse's 34-yard run.

New Mexico also self-destructed offensively late in the first half, when it could have cut deeper into Rice's lead. The Lobos had second-and-goal at the Rice 1 in the final minute of the first half, but Leigh was sacked twice and Colby Cason's 27-yard field goal attempt sailed wide.

Rice threw only one pass and all of its 384 yards came on the ground. Perry finished with 133 yards on 24 carries and Nelson had 109 on 17 carries. Leigh was 21-for-36 passing for a career-high 317 yards.