TJ McMahon threw two late touchdown passes — including a 3-yarder to Cedric Patterson III with 61 seconds remaining — and Rice rallied for a 35-31 victory over Louisiana Tech. Rice led 14-10 at halftime, but JD Head connected with Smoke Harris for a 5-yard score to give Louisiana Tech a 17-14 lead midway through the third quarter.

Georgia Southern quarterback Shai Werts (1) is lifted up after scoring a touchdown against Louisiana Tech during the first half of the New Orleans Bowl NCAA college football game in New Orleans, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)NEW ORLEANS – Georgia Southern quarterback Shai Werts kept his team in suspense until pregame warmups. “The guys fed off that for sure.”Werts had three touchdown runs and threw a 65-yard scoring pass to help Georgia Southern beat Louisiana Tech 38-3 in the New Orleans Bowl on Wednesday. Safety Justin Birdsong intercepted two passes — the first against Louisiana Tech starter Aaron Allen and the second against reserve JD Head in the third quarter. “He did not play very well,” Louisiana Tech coach Skip Holtz said.

But VYPE has still done what we have always done when it comes to previewing Texas high school football here in Houston. Other names to remember on offense include WR Cedric Mitchell, RB Darius Hale and kicker Caleb Mendez. Offensive lineman Jonathan Clark is back after earning second-team, all-district honors. Defensively, cornerback Winfred Donahue is coming off a second-team, all-district season. Defensive tackle Larry Vojacek is coming off a sophomore season where he earned second-team, all-district honors.