Rice's Bryce Callahan leaps up to intercept a pass against Fresno State. Sylvia Lee | SL

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Rice quarterback Driphus Jackson threw for 318 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Fresno State in the Hawaii Bowl. Steve Erler | Special to SL

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HALAWA — Driphus Jackson threw for 318 passing yards and three touchdowns as Rice handily defeated Fresno State, 30-6, in the Hawaii Bowl Wednesday.

A crowd of 13,922 fans at Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium saw the Owls, of Conference USA, improve to 8-5, while the Bulldogs, of the Mountain West, fell to 6-8.

Jackson, a junior quarterback, completed 15 of his 24 pass attempts and did not throw an interception. Wide receiver Dennis Parks hauled in a five receptions for a game-high 109 yards, including a 40-yard touchdown pass from Jackson in the third quarter.

Rice took command of the game early on when it scored 13 points in just 19 seconds late in the first quarter. Jackson hit Jordan Taylor for a 14-yard score and after defensive back J.T. Blasingame picked off Fresno State quarterback Brian Burrell, Jackson connected with Mario Hall for a 69-yard touchdown on a deep pass along the left sideline.

The Owls held a 16-6 lead at halftime. They added two second-half scores on Park's 40-yard touchdown haul and a 1-yard touchdown run by Darik Dillard early in the fourth quarter.

Jackson was named the Most Valuable Player for Rice, while linebacker Karl Mickelsen picked up the honor for Fresno State.

The Bulldogs were held without a touchdown and got their only points on a pair of field goals by Kody Kroening.

It was the 12th overall appearance in a bowl game for Rice and school-record third consecutive postseason trip. They have now played in four bowl games in eight seasons under head coach David Bailiff.

Fresno State was also making their third straight bowl appearance under head coach Tim DeRuyter. They have lost all three games. It was their 26th overall appearance in a bowl game.