Mistakes spoil Owls’ strong offensive performance
Two scores in the final minute end hopes for a win
Rice’s defense helped keep the Owls in tight Conference USA games against Florida International and UTSA, but a struggling offense failed to capitalize on opportunities.
On Saturday, Rice gave up 14 points to Louisiana Tech in the final minute as the Owls lost 42-28.
Down by a touchdown with about 10 minutes remaining in the game, Rice’s offense looked more balanced and more methodical than past weeks and set out to manufacture a game-tying drive from deep in their own territory after forcing a Louisiana Tech punt.
On third-and-12, a short pass from quarterback Sam Glaesmann was dropped by receiver Aaron Cephus.
On fourth down, just feet from midfield, Glaesmann dropped back with time.
He found Cephus streaking across the field and delivered a pass to the redshirt freshman, who exploded through the secondary for a 51-yard touchdown with less than five minutes to go.
But Louisiana Tech wasn’t finished.
In a drive that saw several Rice defenders leave the field with minor injuries, the Bulldogs pushed past midfield to the Owls’ 30-yard line with 1:11 remaining before Rice called a timeout. Quick scores
Louisiana Tech running back Boston Scott ran into the end zone untouched for the go-ahead score with a minute remaining.
On the Owls’ following offensive drive, Glaesmann was intercepted by Bulldogs cornerback Trey Spencer, who strolled into the end zone for a 37-yard touchdown as Rice fans began to file out of the stadium.
“Those young ones are sponges; every rep they take, they’ll get better. It’s about game speed and game preparation,” Rice coach David Bailiff said. “These kids have come out every game — even as hard as this season’s been — expecting to win.”
Despite their offensive productivity, a common theme played out for the Owls.
In what’s become a firstquarter ritual, a promising early drive was derailed by a turnover that led to the opponent’s opening score.
After picking up Rice’s second first down of a first-quarter drive, Glaesmann fumbled the ball on a botched handoff. As the redshirt freshman fell to the turf, the ball squirted away and sat on the turf until Louisiana Tech were able to pounce on it.
The Bulldogs worked up field, first with the pass before finishing the drive off with three consecutive runs, punctuated by a 5-yard touchdown by Scott. They pushed up field for another rushing touchdown early in the second quarter, extending their lead to 14-0 over the Owls.
Rice struck back on the following drive when a 41-yard catch by receiver Kylen Granson gave the Owls first-and-goal. Two plays later, Glaesmann scored on a 1-yard run to cut the Bulldog’s lead in half.
But again, untimely lapses hurt the Owls at the worst moments.
Freshman defensive back George Nyakwol drilled Bulldogs punt returner Teddy Veal. Nyakwol was flagged for the fair-catch infraction and ejected from the game for targeting.
A costlier mistake, perhaps, was the loss in field position as Louisiana Tech made quick work with a short field. The Bulldogs scored six plays later when quarterback J’Mar Smith found Kam McKnight for a 5-yard touchdown to put Louisiana Tech ahead 21-7 at the half.
“The first half, they’re never three and outs. It’s always a holding penalty or it’s a fumble,” Bailiff said of the Owls’ offensive inconsistency. Finding their offense
Rice (1-7, 1-3) controlled most of the second half, scoring 14 unanswered points to tie Louisiana Tech (4-4, 2-2) late in the fourth quarter.
For just the second time this season, the Owls recorded at least 400 yards of offense, outgained an opponent and scored more than 14 points.
Glaesmann finished with 187 passing yards and a touchdown, plus 68 yards and two scores rushing.
Cephus had two catches for 75 yards and a touchdown, tying Oklahoma State’s James Washington for most catches of 50 yards or more with five on the season.
“We had more total offense than Louisiana Tech, but the difference in the game is the turnovers,” Bailiff said.
Rice is on the road next Saturday to play UAB (4-3, 2-2) on Nov. 4.