## Rice Owns Navy, 24-10: Game Highlights and Analysis
In a dominating performance, Rice University's football team secured a convincing 24-10 victory over the United States Naval Academy (Navy) on Saturday. The Owls' triumph, led by an outstanding defensive display, marked their first win over Navy since 2014.
### Game Highlights
- Navy opened the scoring with a 32-yard field goal.
- Rice responded with a touchdown drive, capped by a 1-yard run by quarterback Wiley Green.
- Navy tied the game with a touchdown pass.
- Rice regained the lead with a 44-yard field goal by Christian VanSickle.
- Rice extended its lead with a 1-yard touchdown run by running back Treshawn Ward.
- Rice put the game away with a 34-yard field goal by VanSickle.
- Navy managed a late touchdown, but it was too little, too late.
### Analysis
Rice's offense struggled to generate consistent yardage against Navy's stingy defense. The Owls managed just 278 total yards, with 146 passing and 132 rushing. However, Rice made the most of its opportunities, scoring on three of its five trips to the red zone.
The Owl defense was the star of the show, completely shutting down Navy's vaunted triple-option attack. Navy managed only 119 rushing yards, well below their season average. The Rice defense also forced four turnovers, including two interceptions and two fumbles.
Rice's special teams unit played a pivotal role in the victory. VanSickle converted all three of his field goal attempts, while the Owls' return game generated some crucial momentum-shifting plays.
### Impact
With the win, Rice improves to 2-2 on the season and 1-0 in Conference USA play. The victory should boost the Owls' confidence and provide them with valuable experience against a strong opponent.
Navy, on the other hand, falls to 2-2 and 1-1 in the American Athletic Conference. The loss will sting for the Midshipmen, who had their eight-game winning streak against Rice snapped.
Overall, Rice's victory over Navy was a statement game for the Owls. It demonstrated their resilience, defensive prowess, and ability to win in challenging situations. With a tough schedule ahead, Rice will need to continue to play with the same intensity and discipline if they want to contend for a conference championship.