QB Jackson leads Rice in relief with 2 TDs in 33-14 win over Air Force in Armed Forces Bowl

Air Force quarterback Connor Dietz (11) pitches the ball as Rice defensive end Tanner Leland (13) chases during the first half of the Armed Forces Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero) (The Associated Press)

Air Force running back Mike DeWitt is wrapped up by Rice safeties Paul Porras (24) and Gabe Baker (27) after a gain during the first half of the Armed Forces Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012, in Fort Worth, Texas. . (AP Photo/LM Otero) (The Associated Press)

FORT WORTH, Texas – Freshman quarterback Driphus Jackson threw for 264 yards in relief of Rice's hurt starter, including two touchdown passes to Jordan Taylor, and the Owls beat Air Force 33-14 in the Armed Forces Bowl on Saturday.

Jackson's first series after taking over for Taylor McHargue ended with a bad pitch for a fumble near the goal line only 2 seconds before halftime, when the Owls (7-6) trailed 14-7.

But Jackson made up for it after halftime, when Rice scored 26 straight points. Taylor caught nine passes for 153 yards, with a 16-yard TD from McHargue in the first quarter.

McHargue never returned because of an apparent head injury after a helmet-to-helmet collision with about 5 minutes left in the first half.

Air Force (6-7), which scored on consecutive drives in the second quarter with backup quarterback Kale Pearson in the game, was held to a season-low 214 total yards.