HOUSTON — E.J. Warner had an impressive performance, completing 25 of 39 passes for 347 yards and throwing two touchdown passes, including a dramatic 18-yarder to Matt Sykes right before the game ended. He also contributed to the team’s effort with a 5-yard rushing touchdown, leading Rice to a close 29-27 victory over UTSA on Saturday night, effectively ending a three-game losing streak for the Owls.

In a thrilling finish, UTSA’s Owen McCown connected on two of his three touchdown passes in the last six minutes of the game. He found Devin McCuin for a 6-yard touchdown pass with 5:40 left, followed by a 38-yard touchdown pass to Houston Thomas, which gave the Roadrunners a brief 27-23 lead with just over two minutes remaining. However, a 30-yard kickoff return by Quinton Jackson set Rice up for a crucial drive, which included overcoming an offensive pass interference penalty, leading to a phenomenal catch by Sykes in the back of the end zone that sealed the game for the Owls.

Dean Connors also had a significant impact on the game, catching a pass from Warner at around the 40-yard line and evading defenders to complete a 69-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter. He further extended the lead with an 8-yard touchdown run, bringing the score to 23-13 with roughly eight minutes remaining. Connors finished the night with a career-high 105 yards receiving, while Sykes contributed with seven receptions for 85 yards.

For UTSA, McCown completed 27 of 42 passing attempts for a total of 260 yards and was the lead rusher, amassing 59 yards on nine carries. The Roadrunners now sit at a record of 2-4 and are still seeking their first conference win at 0-2.