Rice routs Fresno State, 30-6

Published 1:32 am Friday, December 26, 2014

HONOLULU (AP) — Driphus Jackson passed for 318 yards and three touchdowns, and Rice completed a remarkable turnaround with a 30-6 victory over Fresno State in the Hawaii Bowl.

The Owls (8-5) started the season 0-3 and ended it with their second bowl win in the last three years.

Jackson was accurate with his arm, especially on two deep sideline routes, and dangerous with his feet. He rushed for 41 yards and some key scrambles out of trouble.

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Fresno State (6-8), the only team with a losing record to play a bowl game this year, broke its Hawaii Bowl record for fewest points. Fresno State scored 10 points two years ago in a lopsided loss to SMU. It was the fewest points Fresno State scored all year.

The Bulldogs lost to Rice for the first time — they had a 6-0 edge from their old WAC days — and dropped their sixth consecutive bowl game.

Rice piled up 463 yards and held Fresno State to 93 yards passing. Brian Burrell was 10 of 20 for 44 yards and didn’t complete a pass longer than 8 yards.