Owls find right mix on offense, defense in victory at UTEP
QB Glaesmann makes strides after opening loss
The Rice Owls did what they said they would.
All offseason, coaches talked about how athletic this offense had become. About how much better the defense could play.
On Saturday, those predictions came to fruition as the Owls beat UTEP 31-14 in their Conference USA opener at El Paso. The win evens their record at 1-1.
The offensive line led the way, opening gaping holes from the start.
A stable of Rice running backs gashed the Miners’ defense, led by Sam Stewart, who collected 123 allpurpose yards (89 on the ground). Nahshon Ellerbe added 63 yards and a score.
Working out the kinks
Rice offensive coordinator Billy Lynch attributes his offense’s slow start against Stanford, at least in part, to the fact the Owls were easing in redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Glaesmann. Lynch suggested fans would see how dynamic Rice could be against UTEP.
On Saturday, Glaesmann looked much more comfortable in the pocket. Despite an inconsistent deep ball, he connected with fellow redshirt freshman Aaron Cephus on a 52-yard touchdown early in the third quarter to stretch the Owls’ lead to 17-0.
Glaesmann finished with 131 yards and a touchdown through the air, adding 23 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Rice’s offense was much more fluid against UTEP, using a steady mix of motion, misdirection and stretch plays for consecutive first downs. Jordan Myers, a freshman tight end from Dickinson, shined with four catches for 42 yards plus three carries for 29 yards, including a score on a quick option play near the end zone.
The Owls were solid on defense and special teams, too.
After being gashed by Stanford on the ground, the defense surrendered just 26 rushing yards. Despite an embarrassing thirdquarter lapse in the secondary on a crisp play-fake by Miners quarterback Ryan Metz, the defense allowed 203 yards passing.
Rice linebacker Emmanuel Ellerbee had a team-high nine tackles plus a sack. Facing an offensive line led by preseason All-American guard Will Hernandez, the Owls’ defensive front played aggressively, recording four sacks. End Blaine Padgett had seven tackles and 1½ sacks.
Rice outrushed UTEP 306 yards to 26. The Owls
ran the ball 49 times, attempting only 18 passes.
It was a good time for Rice to find its rhythm, but it’s obvious that UTEP isn’t Stanford.
UH awaits
The Owls travel across town next weekend to play a University of Houston team that beat Arizona later Saturday night.
It’ll be interesting to see if center Trey Martin and the Rice offensive line can slow UH All-American defensive tackle Ed Oliver, who recorded 11 tackles and a forced fumble against Arizona.
When the Owls’ offense executes, it does well keeping defenses off- balance. But against Stanford and UTEP, Glaesmann’s inconsistency on deep balls probably cost points in both games. If he can connect more often, the Rice offense has the weapons to be special.