Padgett, Connors lead Rice to 28-7 win over Charlotte
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) AJ Padgett threw for a touchdown and ran for two more, Dean Connors rushed for 184 yards and Rice defeated Charlotte 28-7 on Saturday.
Padgett was 13-of-21 for 140 yards passing, throwing a 20-yard TD pass to Luke McCaffrey for the Owls’ final points late in the fourth quarter. He also had TD runs of 5 and 2 yards. He survived two interceptions.
Connors carried a load with his career-high yardage total on 19 carries for the Owls (5-6, 3-4 American Athletic Conference), coming on a day when Rice didn’t approach its average of over 277 yards passing per game.
A Padgett TD run and Tim Horn's two field goals put Rice in front 13-0 at halftime. Padgett made it 21-0 in the third quarter with his other rushing TD.
Trexler Ivey had Charlotte's only score with a 12-yard rush in the fourth quarter. The 49ers (3-8, 2-5) were held to 158 yards offense to the Owls' 380.
Rice now holds a 3-2 edge in the series after the 49ers won the previous two meetings.
In regular-season finales next Saturday, Rice is home to Florida Atlantic and Charlotte plays at USF.
--- Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season. Sign up here --- AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
Copyright 2025 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
A. Padgett
12 QB
|
A. Padgett | 13/21 | 140 | 1 | 2 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
D. Connors
0 RB
|
D. Connors | 19 | 184 | 0 | 34 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. McCaffrey
10 WR
|
L. McCaffrey | 1 | 40 | 0 | 40 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Broussard
5 RB
|
A. Broussard | 8 | 17 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Q. Jackson
16 RB
|
Q. Jackson | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Padgett
12 QB
|
A. Padgett | 8 | 4 | 2 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Campbell
1 WR
|
K. Campbell | 1 | -4 | 0 | -4 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
L. McCaffrey
10 WR
|
L. McCaffrey | 10 | 5 | 54 | 1 | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
L. Ransom-Goelz
17 WR
|
L. Ransom-Goelz | 4 | 4 | 44 | 0 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Groen
14 TE
|
B. Groen | 3 | 3 | 35 | 0 | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Campbell
1 WR
|
K. Campbell | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Barnett
30 FB
|
M. Barnett | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Broussard
5 RB
|
A. Broussard | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Connors
0 RB
|
D. Connors | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
S. Fresch
1 CB
|
S. Fresch | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Arkansas
6 LB
|
D. Arkansas | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Pearcy
12 LB
|
J. Pearcy | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Coco
44 DE
|
C. Coco | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Devones
2 CB
|
T. Devones | 0-0 | 0.0 | 1 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
T. Horn
15 K
|
T. Horn | 2/2 | 37 | 2/2 | 8 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
C. Hunt
23 P
|
C. Hunt | 2 | 37.0 | 0 | 42 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Q. Jackson
16 RB
|
Q. Jackson | 1 | 16.0 | 16 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
S. Fresch 1 CB
|
S. Fresch | 2 | 11.5 | 18 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Campbell 1 WR
|
K. Campbell | 1 | 14.0 | 14 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
T. Ivey
11 QB
|
T. Ivey | 8/19 | 51 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Jones
4 QB
|
J. Jones | 3/4 | 23 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Shoffner
6 QB
|
D. Shoffner | 0/2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
H. Wilson
38 RB
|
H. Wilson | 14 | 47 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Bangda
28 RB
|
J. Bangda | 8 | 40 | 0 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Ivey
11 QB
|
T. Ivey | 4 | 6 | 1 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Shoffner
6 QB
|
D. Shoffner | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Jones
4 QB
|
J. Jones | 4 | -12 | 0 | 1 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
R. Fields Jr.
2 WR
|
R. Fields Jr. | 4 | 2 | 18 | 0 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Weber
18 TE
|
C. Weber | 3 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Bangda
28 RB
|
J. Bangda | 1 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Thomas Jr.
10 WR
|
D. Thomas Jr. | 5 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Kennon
86 TE
|
B. Kennon | 4 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Clemons
81 TE
|
J. Clemons | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
H. Wilson
38 RB
|
H. Wilson | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Brown
83 WR
|
S. Brown | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Mack
12 WR
|
J. Mack | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
C. Coates
55 DL
|
C. Coates | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Ali
6 DB
|
A. Ali | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Burton
4 DB
|
C. Burton | 0-0 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. Okie-Anoma
0 DL
|
E. Okie-Anoma | 0-1 | 0.5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
P. Bemah
25 LB
|
P. Bemah | 0-1 | 0.5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Knight II
28 LB
|
D. Knight II | 0-0 | 0.0 | 1 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
K. Cunanan
98 K
|
K. Cunanan | 0/1 | 0 | 1/1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
J. Larson
42 K
|
J. Larson | 0/0 | 0 | 1/1 | 1 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
G. Gonya
44 P
|
G. Gonya | 6 | 43.0 | 2 | 54 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
J. Bangda
28 RB
|
J. Bangda | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
J. Mack 12 WR
|
J. Mack | 1 | -1.0 | -1 | 0 |