Dean Connors runs for 105 yards, 2 TDs; Rice beats Navy for first time since 2002

Updated Nov. 3, 2024 1:00 a.m. ET

Associated Press

HOUSTON (AP) — Dean Connors ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns to lead Rice to a 24-10 victory over Navy on Saturday night.

Rice (3-6, 2-3 American Athletic Conference) beat the Midshipmen for first time since 2002.

It was also the second straight loss for Navy (6-2, 4-1), which was ranked 24th when it lost to then-No. 12 Notre Dame 51-14 last week.

Connors scored on a 4-yard run with 9:30 remaining in the first quarter after play resumed following a more than five-hour weather delay.

E.J. Warner's 17-yard touchdown pass to Matt Sykes made it 14-0 heading into the second quarter. Connors added a 9-yard touchdown run to stretch the Owls' lead to 24-7 with 2:00 remaining in the third.

Warner completed 28 of 40 passes for 239 yards for Rice.

Blake Horvath threw an interception to Tyson Flowers on Navy’s first play from scrimmage but scored on a 9-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter.

Horvath was 10-of-21 passing for 120 yards with two interceptions and ran 16 times for 64 yards.

It was the 13th meeting between the teams and the first since 2009 when Navy won 63-14 that extended its winning streak in the series to four.

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