• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Rice wins first bowl game since 1954, routs Western Michigan

Dec 31, 2008 - 7:58 AM HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Chase Clement did it all to lead Rice to its first bowl win in nearly 55 years.

Clement passed for three touchdowns, rushed for one and caught another as the Owls cruised to their seventh consecutive win, a 38-14 victory over Western Michigan in the Texas Bowl on Tuesday.

"Coming in with the way that Rice was and looking at the way that we're leaving it's amazing how much this place has changed," said Clement, who was named the game's MVP.

"Hopefully, that can be the standard now for Rice Football."

Jarett Dillard, James Casey and Toren Dixon each hauled in a TD reception for Rice (10-3), which had not won a postseason contest since defeating Alabama in the Cotton Bowl on January 1, 1954.

"I thought we were very efficient," Owls coach David Bailiff said. "We made some mistakes that were really more on the coaching staff."

The Broncos (9-4) had trouble controlling the dual-threat ability of Clement, who completed 30-of-44 passes for 307 yards. The senior opened the scoring with 5:21 left in the first quarter, breaking a 26-yard rushing score.

The school's all-time leader in virtually every passing category, Clement finished with a game-high 72 rushing yards in this one.

"He runs the show for their team," Broncos defensive back E.J. Biggers said of Clement. "He made a lot of great throws today. They had some trick plays in today and they executed. They made the plays and we didn't."

With Western Michigan failing to mount an offensive attack, Clement tossed a pair of TDs in the second quarter to give the Owls a commanding 24-0 edge at the break.

Clement fired a 6-yard strike to Dixon with 6:53 remaining and found Casey for a 45-yard connection with just 75 ticks left in the first half.

The most prolific quarterback-receiver combination in major college football history hooked up for another touchdown in the third quarter - but not in typical fashion.

Dillard, who has an NCAA-record 60 TD catches in his collegiate career, took a lateral from Clement, faked the run and lobbed the ball across the field to an open Clement, who trotted in for the 13-yard score.

"It was awesome. You usually don't get two chances at that," Clement said. "He kind of screwed up the first one, but you definitely don't get two opportunities at that. But it was fun to catch one from him."

In his final collegiate contest, Dillard made eight receptions for 86 yards - including an 18-yard TD catch with 9:38 to play to extend Rice's advantage to 38-0.

The Broncos, who gave coach Bill Cubit a five-year contract extension earlier Tuesday, gained just 278 yards from scrimmage.

"I'm very happy," Cubit said. "This has always been my dream job and I am glad to be able to stay in Kalamazoo. It's a great place."

Tim Hiller tossed a 2-yard TD pass to running back Kirk Elsworth with 6:33 remaining as Western Michigan avoided being shut out for the first time since November 6, 2004.