Scores

Final

Houston 35

(1-3, 1-0 C-USA)

Rice 14

(1-4, 0-2 C-USA)

3:30 PM ET, September 29, 2012

Reliant Stadium, HOUSTON, TX

1 2 3 4 T
HOU 7 7 14 735
RICE 0 0 7 714

Top Performers

Passing: D. Piland (HOU) - 361 YDS, 2 TD, 1 INT

Rushing: C. Sims (HOU) - 24 CAR, 158 YDS, 3 TD

Receiving: S. McGuffie (RICE) - 6 REC, 119 YDS, 2 TD

Houston 35, Rice 14

Associated Press

HOUSTON -- Charles Sims ran for three touchdowns as Houston defeated Rice 35-14 for its first win of the season Saturday afternoon in Reliant Stadium.

Sims scored on a 3-yard run and a 47-yard run that put the Cougars up 28-0 in the third quarter. He would later make a 16-yard run for his third touchdown. David Piland was 26 of 43 for 361 yards and two touchdowns, including a 31-yard pass to Daniel Spencer and a 25-yard pass to Larry McDuffey.

Rice scored in the third quarter when Sam McGuffie caught a 24-yard pass from Driphus Jackson. The two connected again for a touchdown on an 88-yard pass.

Houston (1-3, 1-0) opened its final season of Conference USA play before moving to the Big East.

Rice (1-4, 0-2) had hoped to rebound from an overtime loss to Marshall.

The win keeps the Bayou Bucket in Houston.

SPONSORED HEADLINES

Photo Wire

HOUSTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 29: Quarterback Driphus Jackson #6 of the Rice Owls is tackled by Kelvin King #59 and...

(Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Team Stat Comparison

 
HOU
RICE
1st Downs3017
Total Yards608343
Passing361274
Rushing24769
Penalties8-696-55
3rd Down Conversions10-155-16
4th Down Conversions0-00-1
Turnovers31
Possession29:1330:47

Passing Leaders

HoustonC/ATTYDSAVGTDINT
Piland26/433618.421
RiceC/ATTYDSAVGTDINT
Jackson17/352727.820

Rushing Leaders

HoustonCARYDSAVGTDLG
Sims241586.6347
Welford9364.007
RiceCARYDSAVGTDLG
Ross13524.009
Eddington7355.0015

Receiving Leaders

HoustonRECYDSAVGTDLG
McDuffey810012.5135
Spencer59919.8139
RiceRECYDSAVGTDLG
McGuffie611919.8288
Moore34414.7024

Scoring Summary

FIRST QUARTERHOURICE
TD09:01Larry McDuffey 25 Yd Pass From David Piland (Matt Hogan Kick) 70
SECOND QUARTERHOURICE
TD02:47Daniel Spencer 31 Yd Pass From David Piland (Matt Hogan Kick) 140
THIRD QUARTERHOURICE
TD10:27Charles Sims 3 Yd Run (Matt Hogan Kick) 210
TD07:39Charles Sims 47 Yd Run (Matt Hogan Kick) 280
TD04:30Sam McGuffie 24 Yd Pass From Driphus Jackson (Chris Boswell Kick) 287
FOURTH QUARTERHOURICE
TD11:15Charles Sims 16 Yd Run (Matt Hogan Kick) 357
TD06:50Sam McGuffie 88 Yd Pass From Driphus Jackson (Chris Boswell Kick) 3514