January 1, 1947 – Orange Bowl Stadium
 
Blocked Punts Bring Down Vols
Eight first-quarter points, including a safety off of a blocked punt, paved the way for an 8-0 upset of Tennessee by Rice.
 
Rice blocked and tackled better than Tennessee, and it out-defended and out-kicked the team whose coach wrote the book on winning by kicking. There was a record 28 punts, including the Owls' Huey Keeney's 13. Rice Coach Jess Neely began to play Robert Neyland's game, matching quick-kick for quick-kick.
 
The Owls' lone touchdown came on their second series on an 83-yard drive. At midfield on second down, fullback Carl Russ popped through a hole and headed downfield where he was encircled at the Tennessee 15. He pitched a lateral to Keeney trailing the play, and Keeney sprinted untouched to the end zone to make it 6-0.
 
Soon after, the Vols punted on third down and freshman James Williams blocked the punt from the outside. The ball rolled to the Tennessee 1-yard line where the Volunteers recovered. They still had a down to work with. Rice's Ralph Murphy, another freshman, got through to the kicker again and knocked it out of the end zone for the safety.
 

SCORING SUMMARY
RICE: Rowan safety, recovered blocked kick; RICE: Keeney 50-yard run (kick failed)
 
Rice Head Coach: Jess Neely
Tennessee Head Coach: Gen. Robert Neyland