The Rice Thresher

Location: http://the.ricethresher.org/sports/2007/01/12/owls_lose_bowl

January 12, 2007 > Sports > Bowl experience thwarts Owls, caps memorable year

Bowl experience thwarts Owls, caps memorable year

By Nathan Bledsoe | Thresher Editorial Staff

In its first bowl game since the Kennedy administration, the football team lost to Troy University 41-17 in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl Dec. 22. Troy quarterback and game MVP Omar Haugabook put up 309 yards of total offense and accounted for five touchdowns, four through the air and one on the ground. The Trojans (8-5), who averaged 22.8 points per game during the regular season, took a 21-7 lead in the first quarter and never looked back.

Sophomore receiver Jarett Dillard extended his touchdown catch streak to 15 games in a row thanks to a one-yard score late in the fourth quarter, well after the game had been decided. Dillard now trails only former University of Pittsburgh receiver Larry Fitzgerald on the all-time list. Fitzgerald, now an NFL receiver for the Arizona Cardinals, caught touchdown passes in 18 straight games during his 2002 and 2003 seasons. Dillard led all receivers in the game with nine catches for 71 yards.

Against Troy, the Owls (7-6) were plagued by turnovers. Senior quarterback Joel Armstrong’s five interceptions overshadowed his 305-yard passing performance. One of those interceptions came on Armstrong’s second pass of the game, as Troy linebacker Boris Lee advanced to the Rice one-yard line to set up the Trojans’ second touchdown of the game.

Not turning the ball over had been instrumental in the Owls’ success during the season. Rice’s plus-12 turnover ratio heading into the game was good for seventh in the nation, but with Troy playing nearly flawless football offensively — the Trojans committed just one turnover — the interceptions were too much to overcome. “We had too many turnovers, and we didn’t move the ball,” Dillard said. “Every time we got something started, we’d do something to stop it.”

Troy also benefited from excellent starting field position. On average, the Trojans started from their own 46, while the Owls started from their own 20. Rice won the time of possession battle, sustaining three drives of 10 or more plays while Troy had only one such drive. On the other hand, the Trojans’ quick-strike ability more than made up for any lack of time-consuming possessions.

The Owls were missing some key players in the game, as sophomore quarterback Chase Clement dressed but did not play because of an injured collarbone. Also, separate infractions caused sophomore cornerback Ja’Corey Shepherd’s suspension and freshman tight end Chance Talbert’s dismissal from the team. The natures of their infractions were not disclosed. While missing the three players hurt the Owls, Dillard said he did not feel their absence was the difference maker.

“It hurt us from the standpoint that we didn’t have two players on the field, but the players that stepped in their place played to the best of their ability,” he said. “Although [Shepherd] and Talbert weren’t there, we were lacking in other areas of the field as well.”

A bright spot for the Owls was the play of senior receiver Mike Falco, who caught six passes for 49 yards and a touchdown in his last collegiate game. Falco has always demonstrated big play ability, but his career has been greatly hampered by injuries. Dillard said the team will also miss his presence in the locker room heading into the offseason.

“He had a good game, and we’re really going to miss him next year,” Dillard said. “I guess you could say he was the comedian of the receivers, but he also had a lot of technique we could all learn from.”

Troy’s athletic defense gave the Owl offense fits, completely shutting down the Rice rushing attack and sacking Armstrong five times. The Owls averaged only 1.9 yards per carry, their worst showing since averaging minus-0.6 yards per carry in a 55-7 loss to the University of Texas Sept. 16.

“They stopped the run, and once you’re able to stop the run, the pass hurts,” Dillard said. “The run sets up the pass, but we couldn’t get anything set up with the run.”

While obviously frustrated with the loss, the Owls were optimistic about how the game would shape the future of the program. Expectations have been raised for the future after the team notched its first winning season in five years.

“We have so much confidence now,” Dillard said. “We’re expecting to do the same thing next year, and more.”

End of article

Back to top