Houston, TX (Sports Network) - The Rice Owls held on to top Purdue at home, posting a 24-22 victory, ending a streak of 22 straight losses to BCS foes.
The Owls (1-1) knocked off a Big Ten program for the first time since 1990 by blocking a potential game-winning field-goal as time expired to preserve the victory.
Purdue (1-1), opened the season with a thrilling win over Middle Tennessee (27-24), but quarterback Caleb TerBush, who was instrumental in leading the team to victory in waning moments against the Blue Raiders, was unable to duplicate the feat against Rice. TerBush finished the game completing a modest 18-of-31 passes, for 183 yards and one TD, but did post 68 yards rushing on the day, to go along with one touchdown on the ground.
The hometown Owls got on the scoreboard first thanks to a 33-yard field goal by Chris Boswell.
TerBush led the Boilermakers on a nine-play, 80-yard drive immediately following, spotting his team a 7-3 lead at the end of the quarter, with a five-yard TD run.
Both teams opened things up in the second quarter, with Rice going back on top thanks to a two-yard TD run by Turner Petersen.
A 28-yard field goal by Purdue's Carson Wiggs almost five minutes later would tie the score at 10-10.
A 19-yard TD pass from TerBush to Crosby Wright would give the Boilermakers a 17-10 lead with just under six minutes to play in the half.
Rice would knot up the score once again thanks to a 12-play, 59-yard drive with under two minutes in the half, capped off by a four-yard TD pass from Taylor McHargue to Luke Willson as time expired in the half.
The Owls jumped on top in the second half, getting the ball first and going on an 11-play, 80-yard drive, finished off with a 19-yard TD pass from McHargue to Sam McGuffie.
Purdue would record a safety late in the third quarter and put up the only points of the fourth quarter with a 27-yard field goal by Wiggs with just under eight minutes to play in the game.
Down by two points with just under two minutes to play, Purdue got the ball near the 50-yard line and used three long runs by tailback Ralph Bolden to move inside the 20-yard line. Justin Allen saved the day however, for Rice, blocking a 31-yard field goal attempt by Wiggs as time expired.