Louisiana Tech quarterback J’Mar Smith handled the snap on the shotgun. He hesitated for a moment, facing against a Rice defense which imposed its will all game long. Smith found a crease on the left side of his offensive line and impulsively entered uninhabited territory. With daylight around the corner, the senior tucked the ball, put his head down, and dove past the goal line.
By the time, he stood up, the celebration had already ensued in Houston. Louisiana Tech never held a lead in the entire contest, except for the 23-20 advantage it held when Smith’s 12-yard run concluded.