HOUSTON — Ben Wiggins had a pair of touchdowns receptions and Marcus Battle caught a third to highlight Rice's final preseason scrimmage Saturday morning in Rice Stadium.

Wiggins, a senior track all-America from College Station (A&M Consolidated HS) had a 27-yard TD catch from redshirt freshman Joel Armstrong (Longview/High) and added another 27-yard scoring catch from senior Greg Henderson (Wichita Falls/High). Another Wiggins catch set up an Ed Bailey (Klein/High) touchdown run on the first offense's initial drive.

Battle, a junior from Ocean Springs, Miss., had a 54-yard TD reception from Henderson on a spectacular one-handed catch.

"I'm really pleased with the way Greg threw the ball and the way those receivers caught it," said head coach Ken Hatfield. "Ben had a great, great day, as did Marcus. All of our receivers did a great job of catching the ball, as they have all summer."

After taking Sunday off, the Owls will begin game-week preparations for the 2004 season opener against Houston in the Game for the Administaff Bayou Bucket. Rice will practice Monday afternoon in Reliant Stadium, the site of this year's UH game.

Sunday August 29, 2004

Member Texas Sports Writers Association, Football Writers of America Association