BOCA RATON, Fla. - A new starting quarterback provided a spark. But it wasn't enough for Rice to end its losing streak.
Rice dropped its seventh straight game Saturday, falling 51-49 to Florida Atlantic in a shootout between Owls squads at Flagler Credit Union Stadium.
Rice (1-7, 0-4 American) saw its defeat sealed with 45 seconds left, when Tommy Bauchiero's 55-yard field goal attempt fell short, allowing FAU (5-2, 2-1) to escape with the win.
Gael Ochoa drew his first start at QB for Rice, and ran for 259 yards on 12 carries, scoring four touchdowns as his team rolled up 608 total yards.
Ochoa ran for 55- and 52-yard touchdowns as Rice took an early 14-0 lead before giving up the next 23 points. Rice trailed 23-21 at halftime, with the difference being a safety on a blocked put by Derrick Rogers Jr.
Rice stayed within striking distance in the second half, but Easton Messer's fifth TD of the game - an 82-yard punt return - gave FAU a nine-point lead with 3:37 left in the fourth quarter.
Rice drew within two points after Ochoa's 71-yard TD pass to Braylen Walker with 2:51 remaining. Rice then got a stop and drove to Florida Atlantic's 37, but Ochoa's third-down pass to Max Mosey fell incomplete, forcing the long field-goal try by Bauchiero.
Rice is off next week before returning to action Nov. 7 at North Texas.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC 51, RICE 49
| Rice | 14 | 7 | 21 | 7 | - | 49 |
| FAU | 7 | 16 | 21 | 7 | - | 51 |
First Quarter
RICE_Ochoa 55 run (Bauchiero kick), 13:33.
RICE_Ochoa 52 run (Bauchiero kick), 6:54.
FAU_Hoch 30 pass from Veltkamp (C.Rogers kick), :42.
Second Quarter
FAU_safety, 13:24.
FAU_Messer 2 run (C.Rogers kick), 9:19.
FAU_Messer 1 pass from Veltkamp (C.Rogers kick), 5:19.
RICE_Ochoa 74 run (Bauchiero kick), 4:27.
Third Quarter
FAU_Messer 5 run (C.Rogers kick), 12:35.
RICE_Mosey 41 run (Bauchiero kick), 11:49.
FAU_Messer 68 pass from Veltkamp (C.Rogers kick), 11:05.
RICE_Hardeman 1 run (Bauchiero kick), 6:40.
FAU_Veltkamp 1 run (C.Rogers kick), 1:59.
RICE_Ochoa 69 run (Bauchiero kick), 1:12.
Fourth Quarter
FAU_Messer 82 punt return (C.Rogers kick), 3:37.
RICE_Walker 71 pass from Ochoa (Bauchiero kick), 2:51.
A_14,212.
___
| RICE | FAU | |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 18 | 29 |
| Total Net Yards | 608 | 461 |
| Rushes-yards | 51-499 | 44-122 |
| Passing | 109 | 339 |
| Punt Returns | 0-0 | 1-82 |
| Kickoff Returns | 1-12 | 4-79 |
| Interceptions Ret. | 1-12 | 0-0 |
| Comp-Att-Int | 4-7-0 | 29-37-1 |
| Sacked-Yards Lost | 1-8 | 2-16 |
| Punts | 3-58.667 | 5-38.6 |
| Fumbles-Lost | 1-1 | 1-0 |
| Penalties-Yards | 6-50 | 6-45 |
| Time of Possession | 29:03 | 30:57 |
___
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING_Rice, Ochoa 12-259, Byars 16-93, Mosey 7-84, Crayton 3-39, Hardeman 10-19, Clark 1-5, Lane 2-0. FAU, Farrow 17-86, Messer 3-18, Shields-Dutton 3-14, Ervin 6-7, Veltkamp 11-5, Magwood 1-1, (Team) 2-(minus 3), Henry 1-(minus 6).
PASSING_Rice, Ochoa 2-5-0-80, Crayton 2-2-0-29. FAU, Veltkamp 29-37-1-339.
RECEIVING_Rice, Clark 2-34, Walker 1-71, Mosey 1-4. FAU, Messer 12-162, Valsin 7-78, Farrow 4-28, Hoch 2-38, Pollock 2-14, Ervin 1-10, Holloway 1-9.
MISSED FIELD GOALS_Rice, Bauchiero 55.
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