Mean Green's Bowl Hopes Dashed in 20-14 Loss at Rice

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11:00 AM CT

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HOUSTON – A 20-0 halftime lead was all Rice needed to dash North Texas' chances of going to their fourth bowl game in as many years. Despite two second half touchdowns and a fumbled kickoff, which gave the Mean Green the ball inside Rice's 30-yard line with seven minutes left on the clock, Seth Littrell's team left Rice Stadium on the short end of a 20-14 score.

"I'm disappointed for this senior group," Littrell said. "They've accomplished a lot and have done a lot of great things. There are guys in that locker room who are hurting, they've done a lot for this program."

After a three-and-out to start the game by the Mean Green (4-7, 3-4 in Conference USA), the Owls (2-9, 2-5 in Conference USA) got on the board first with a 48-yard field goal, followed by a one-yard touchdown run coming after a Mason Fine interception to increase the deficit to 10-0. The Owls would add another rushing touchdown and field goal before halftime to take a 20-0 lead into the locker room.

North Texas would come out in the second half and force Rice's first three-and-out of the game. A five-yard pass from Mason Fine to Jason Pirtle would give the Mean Green only their third first down of the game with just over 12 minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Mean Green would punt the ball away but force Rice to punt it right back giving the Mean Green the ball at their own 31 yard line with eight minutes left in the third quarter.

A 37-yard rush from Deandre Torrey on the ensuing drive would set up the Mean Green inside Rice's 30 for the first time all afternoon, and a ten-yard rush from Fine would put points on the board for the first time for North Texas.

A one-yard rush by Tre Siggers would cut the deficit to just six with 7:03 left in the game and a forced fumble on the ensuing kickoff would give life and momentum right back to the Mean Green sideline, but a broken up pass in the end zone on fourth-and-12 would end North Texas' comeback hopes.

North Texas will finish out its season and the careers of 18 seniors when they host UAB next Saturday, Nov. 30, at Apogee Stadium with kickoff slated for 3 p.m.

Senior QB Mason Fine (Peggs, Oklahoma) had his streak of passes without an interception snapped in the first quarter on his second pass of the game. He went 112 passes without an interception, dating back to the game against Middle Tennessee on 10/19.
- Fine had a 10-yard rushing touchdown midway through the third quarter, his second rushing score on the season.
  - It's Fine's seventh career rushing touchdown and 98^th career touchdown responsible for (91 passing, 7 rushing).
North Texas forced a turnover in the first quarter when redshirt freshman nickel Jaxon Gibbs (The Colony, Texas) forced a fumble that was recovered by sophomore linebacker KD Davis (Ennis, Texas).
RB DeAndre Torrey (Gautier, Mississippi) had a 37-yard run midway through the third quarter, his longest run since the season-opener against Abilene Christian, when he had a 54-yard scamper.
Junior linebacker Tyreke Davis led the way for the defense with 12 tackles (six solo) and a quarterback hurry.
- It marks the second time this season Davis has had 10 or more tackles.
RB Tre Siggers (Duncanville, Texas) had a one-yard rushing touchdown with 7:32 left in the game.

Head Coach Seth Littrell's Postgame Comments

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Mason Fine

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KD Davis

Tyreke Davis

Mason Fine

Jaxon Gibbs

Jason Pirtle

Tre Siggers

DeAndre Torrey

Players Mentioned

KD Davis

Tyreke Davis

Mason Fine

Jaxon Gibbs

Jason Pirtle

Tre Siggers

DeAndre Torrey

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