The Rice Owls were careful not to celebrate too soon. They wanted to laugh at the beaten Texas Longhorns, but they held back.
After 28 years of losing to Texas, they didn't object to waiting until the final seconds ticked off the clock on Sunday night to react to their 19-17 victory.Then, they tore down the goal posts and cut loose celebrating for all the Rice teams that had tried and failed to end the Longhorn dominance dating back to Rice's 20-17 victory in 1965.
"They (Texas) laughed at us last season, but they had good reason," Rice linebacker Larry Izzo said. "They beat us pretty good (55-38)."
Rice's defense clawed at the Longhorns from start to finish, holding them to 16 rushing yards, and Josh LaRocca threw two touchdown passes to end the streak.
"We knew we had a good game plan, and if we could control the ball and stop their running game, we could win," Izzo said.
It seemed so improbable, even when the Owls jumped on the Longhorns from the opening kickoff and took a 9-0 lead before Texas ever ran an offensive play.
Matt Huelsman kicked a 24-yard field goal to complete the game's opening drive, and after Josh Sumner bobbled the following kickoff, Jay Lamay recovered at the Texas 33 for the Owls.
LaRocca needed only one play to find Coston, outstretched in the end zone, for the touchdown on the first play with 5:58 left in the first quarter.
"This victory was sweet," LaRocca said. "It gives us something to build on. This was incredible. This is for all the Rice teams that have come close and for all the Rice people who have never seen a victory over Texas."
Texas was outgained 122-8 in the first quarter but recovered for a 10-9 lead on Phil Dawson's 44-yard field goal in the first quarter and Shea Morenz's 40-yard touchdown pass to Eric Jackson in the second quarter.
Rice (3-2, 2-0 Southwest Conference) took a 12-10 halftime lead, its first since 1989 against Texas (4-2, 1-1), on Huelsman's 33-yard field goal as time expired in the first half.
"For all the Rice teams that have come close in the past, this will go down in Rice history for a long time," coach Ken Hatfield said. "I don't know of bigger game with more riding on it than 28 years of losing."
Texas started the game as the favorite to capture the SWC title. The Owls were supposed to be a steppingstone.
But Rice's defense wouldn't allow the Longhorns any leeway, and the Owls' offense rushed for 207 yards on artificial turf drenched by driving rain.
"Our defense played darn good," Hatfield said. "We got after them. We shut down their running game, and that was the story of the game. The conditions were bad for passing, and every time they tried to get their running game going, we came up with a big play."