Photo Above: Senior running back Otis Wright shown during his team-high 17-yard second-quarter run today vs. Rice (photo by R. Greene)

Houston, TX – Rice option quarterback Driphus Jackson rushed for 93 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns, while completing 10-of-19 passing for 123 yards as the Owls, who compete in the Football Bowl Championship Subdivision (FBS), ran past Wagner 56-16 in the 2015 season opener for both teams.
 
A member of Conference USA, Rice was coming off a 2014 season that saw the Owls produce an 8-5 record, capped by a 30-6 victory over Fresno State in the Hawaii Bowl.

"Rice has a great team and I think they did an excellent job," said Jason Houghtaling, following his first game as Seahawk head coach. "We turned the ball over three times which was big and you can't do that vs. a talented team like this. We have a bye week now which is good for us. We'll take a long look at the film, see exactly what was going on and we've got to get better. It was a tough day but, overall, coming down here and competing against a team like this, in a setting like this, was a positive for our program."
 
Rice opened the scoring at the 11:15 mark of the first half when running back Darik Dillard ran 11 yards for an Owl touchdown. Later in the opening quarter, Luke Turner ran it in from three yards out to make it a 14-0 game.
 
Wagner countered with a crisp offensive drive, as senior quarterback Chris Andrews (Queens, NY/St. Joseph's/Valley Forge Military Academy) directed a 10-play, 71-yard march that was capped by a 27-yard field goal by senior kicker Bryan Maley (Eagle River, Akaska/Chugiak) which drew the Seahawks to within 14-3.
 
After Dillard put the finishing touches on a 93-yard drive with a 16-yard TD burst to make it 21-3, Jackson shook loose for a 43-yard scramble that extended the lead to 28-3 lead with 3:05 to go in the half. The Owls then took advantage of a Seahawk turnover to cap the first half scoring on a 35-yard pass play from Jackson to wide receiver Samuel Stewart, as Rice took a 35-3 lead into the locker room at halftime.
 
In the third quarter, Seahawk freshman defensive back Sterling Lowry (Syracuse, NY/Milford Academy) recovered a fumble at the Rice 37-yard line. On 3^rd-and-7 from the Owl 34, Andrews found junior wide receiver Andre Yevchinecz (Binghamton, NY/Binghamton) on a pretty 34-yard scoring strike. The extra-point try was blocked, leaving the score at 35-9.
 
Senior running back Otis Wright (Fort Lauderdale, FL/Dillard) showed good burst in rushing for a team-high 51 yards on 12 carries, with a long run of 17 yards, while junior running back Matthias McKinnon (Albany, NY/Jireh Prep – NC) finished with 29 yards on eight carries with a long run of 16 yards.
 
Andrews went 5-of-13 passing for 72 yards for Wagner before giving way to sophomore Alex Thomson (Keyport, NJ/Keyport). The 6-5, 220-pound Jersey Shore product went 5-of-9 through the air for 127 yards, highlighted by a 50-yard fourth-quarter touchdown connection with junior wide receiver Lloyd Smith (Willingboro, NJ/Valley Forge Military Academy), a career-long grab for Smith. Smith wound up as the team leader in receiving yards as his two receptions went for 98 yards. Another highlight for Thomson was a 48-yard third-quarter screen pass to Smith who finished the day with two receptions for 98 yards. Yevchinecz was Wagner's leading receiver on the afternoon, recording career highs with four receptions for 52 yards, highlighted by his 34-yard, third-quarter reception.

Fifth-year senior inside linebacker Jarrid Williams (Poughkeepsie, NY/Poughkeepsie) recorded a team-high seven tackles for the Seahawks while Rice was led defensively by J.P. Thompson who was credited with six stops. Wagner punter Bryan Rafano (South River, NJ/St. Joseph's-Metuchen) had a busy afternoon. Seeing the first action of his career, the junior did a commendable job, showing good hang time while finishing with a 38.4-yard average on seven punts.
 
Due to lightning in the area, the start of today's contest at steamy Rice Stadium was delayed for one hour.

Following a bye week, the Seahawks are next in action on Saturday, September 19 when they host local rival Monmouth in a 6:00 p.m. kickoff at Hameline Field on Hall of Fame Day.

NOTES: The Seahawks were without the services of a pair of Preseason All-NEC performers in fifth-year senior defensive lineman Al Page (Bronx, NY/Christopher Columbus/Rutgers), who is also a Third-Team STATS Preseason All-American, and senior offensive lineman Matt Diaz (Edison, NJ/Edison/Milford Academy), each of whom did not make the trip due to injuries sustained in preseason camp. 

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