OwlSportsWatch.com - Owls Good...For a Half

October 4, 2009

David Mooney
OwlSportsWatch.com Publisher

Wow. It seems we're watching the same game over and over again in 2009.

Rice plays solid Defense in the first half, the score is close if not tied. Then, ka-blam, a blowout occurs and the wheels just come to a grinding halt in the second half of their games.

Such was the case again Saturday night when the Owls were tied with Tulsa 10-10 at intermission, before going on to lose 27-10 to the Golden Hurricane.

The tied score at halftime was actually very disappointing. By most accounts the score could have easily been 17-7 in favor of the Owls, if not for a series of miscues before the half...

- In the 2nd Quarter, Ryan Lewis hit a wide open Charles Ross with a pass near the Tulsa goal line that would have put the Owls up 14-7. The sure handed Ross dropped the pass.

- On the very next play, Lewis overthrew Luke Willson in the corner of the end zone. Willson was all alone for a score.

- Having failed on what looked like two sure touchdown plays, the Owls lined up for a field goal. Instead of going up 10-7 with a successful Clark Fangmeier kick, which they would later do, the ball squirted right through holder John Thomas Shepherd's hands and Tulsa tackled Fangmeier with the ball. It was the second time this year Owl holders have mishandled a snap.

- With just over 2:00 left in the first half, Rice gave up a 75 yard kickoff return to Tulsa speedster Damaris Johnson. Setting up at the Rice 21, Tulsa was able to convert on a 29 yard field goal attempt just before half.

While not particularly crisp, the Owls did move the ball effectively enough in the 1st half to score points.

However, in the second half they were completely shut down by Tulsa - gaining only 9 yards in the 3rd quarter. The second half also had Rice quarterbacks running for their lives as Tulsa ratcheted up Defensive pressure.

Eventually, the Rice Defense wore down in period 3, and as has been the case recently, the opposing team capitalized by scoring points.

With injuries piling up, the Owls simply could not get anything going on Offense against Tulsa in the second half. Owl Special Teams also had a couple of costly errors in the game. But the Rice Defense played well, and the Owls showed they could move the ball at times against the Golden Hurricane.

Hopefully Rice will find some answers on Offense quickly...

- Saturday's game was a career night for Defensive End Scott Solomon. The junior from San Antonio recorded 11 tackles and 3 sacks on the night.

- Sophomore Punter Kyle Martens continues to be a bright spot for the winless Owls. Saturday night in wet and windy conditions, Martens averaged 50 yards on 9 punts.

- Rice freshman Cornerback Phillip Gaines collected 5 tackles against Tulsa, including 1 for a loss.

- Tulsa sacked Rice Quarterbacks 4 times rushing against a makeshift Owl Offensive Line depleted by injuries. Guards Jake Hicks and Eric Ball have both been out with leg injuries, forcing RT Tyler Parish to move inside to Right Guard, Scott Mitchell to move over to Right Tackle, and Kody Emmert to come in for Mitchell at Left Tackle.

- Tulsa wasn't the only ones pressuring the QB though, Rice easily registered its best sack performance of the year with 5 against G.J. Kinne. Scott Solomon had 3 sacks, Terrance Garmon had 1, and Kramer Lucio also had 1.

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