CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Chase Jenkins accounted for two touchdowns and Rice’s defense racked up six sacks as the Owls pulled away for a 28-17 victory over Charlotte in the American Conference opener Thursday night .
Jenkins threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Drayden Dickmann in the first quarter and added a 34-yard scoring run late in the second, helping Rice (3-1, 1-0 American) overcome three first-half field goals by Charlotte’s Liam Boyd. Daelen Alexander paced the ground game with 73 yards and two touchdowns, including a 1-yard plunge that made it 28-9 early in the fourth .