Daniels shows toughness in victory
JT Daniels was not as his best against East Carolina.
But the Owls are so appreciative that he fought off a left ankle injury suffered in last week’s game to play against the Pirates in Rice’s first American Athletic Conference victory. Daniels led a fourthquarter drive that concluded the scoring in a 24-17 victory on Saturday night at Rice Stadium.
“We are in the win business, and that was a conference win,” Rice coach Mike Bloomgren said. “I acknowledge that there is a lot for our team to work on.”
The Owls showed inefficiencies on offense, getting outgained 391-277, but the defense came up with a goal-line stand early in the third quarter and three fourth-down stops late in the fourth quarter.
Perhaps no one was more heroic than Daniels, who did not practice all week, in the Owls’ first AAC home game. The grad student did not make the decision to play until pregame warmups.
“JT Daniels was a complete warrior,” Bloomgren said. “He has set the bar so high with high expectations every time he plays. This will never go down as one of his best games on the stat sheet, but it’s one of his best games ever because of what he fought through to get here.”
After throwing for a measly 9 yards on 1-of-6 passing and an interception in the first quarter, Daniels finished with 232 passing yards and two touchdowns, completing 18 of 32 attempts. After the Pirates tied the game at 17 on a touchdown run and two-point conversion with 8:24 remaining, Daniels led the Owls on an ensuing scoring drive that culminated with his 44yard scoring pass to Landon Ransom-Goelz.
In the second half, Daniels threw for 168 yards.
Luv Ya Blue
Saturday’s game at Rice Stadium had the look of the Houston Oilers playing the San Diego Chargers.
Rice’s uniforms played the Oilers part in a throwback to the American Football League team that played its home games at Rice Stadium from 1965-67. Rice was clad in light blue jerseys and silver helmets. East Carolina wore gold uniforms, white jerseys, and white helmets.
The white pants with stripes and light blue jersey with the blocked “RICE” font and silver helmet acknowledged Rice’s position in the Houston sports community. The alternate uniform also prominently displayed the Rice TX State Pride logo with the Old English “R” in distinctive light blue.
“A lot of cool things our kids had a great time with. Our fans did as well,” Bloomgren said.
Big defensive stops
Rice easily could have fallen to 2-3 on the season and 0-2 in league play. The offense had its struggles, but the defense made big plays.
Early in the third quarter, the Pirates had driven to the 1-yard line. On fourth-and-goal from the 1, on a quick quarterback sneak, Alex Flinn was stopped up the middle by Coleman Coco and De’Braylon Carroll, preserving Rice’s 10-9 advantage.
“That goal line stand was phenomenal,” Bloomgren said.
The Pirates’ final three series of the fourth quarter ended on downs, all from the 6:16-0:24 mark. The first of the fourth-down stops came on a smashing hit from edge rusher Josh Pearcy. Daveon Hook broke up a fourth-down pass on ECU’s next series. ECU’s final possession ended on a 7-yard sack by safety Chike Anigbogu.
Pearcy’s blast on the receiver attracted the most attention.
“That was real,” Bloomgren said. “That will (be shown) at the team meeting on Monday.”
Jenkins steps up
Rice’s coaching staff was not sure when it put the game plan together the previous Sunday and Monday who the team’s starting quarterback would be. So the staff put in plays it thought would help true freshman Chase Jenkins succeed.
That is the reason the Owls played two quarterbacks against ECU. Jenkins, a product of Alief Taylor, scored on a 4-yard touchdown run in the final minute of the third quarter that increased Rice’s lead to 17-9 following an extra point from Tim Horn.
Jenkins had a 28-yard gain among his four carries that netted 27 yards. He completed his only pass for 8 yards.
“I love when we get Chase in,” Daniels said. “For some reason, I can’t run like Chase.”
Taylor gets first sack
There were several firsts for Rice players against ECU.
Linebacker Chris Conti sniffed out a screen pass, intercepting Flinn on the final play of the first quarter. Lineman Carroll applied the pressure. Conti’s interception was the first of his career and first by the Owls since Tre’shon Devones in the opening quarter versus Houston.
Gabriel Taylor’s sack late in the second quarter on a blitz was the first of his career. Miguel Cedeno made his first career start at left tackle for the Owls.
“My first sack, it was amazing,” Taylor said. “I’m not satisfied (with one).”
Taylor was credited with six tackles, two pass breakups and one quarterback hurry.
Team effort on TD
A lot of players did their jobs well on Ransom-Goelz’s touchdown reception. The slot receiver had a solid block on a defender, and left tackle Clay Servin took out his guy.
“Landon did the rest,” Bloomfield said. “But he had people get it started.”
Upcoming
Rice goes back outside the conference in its final non-AAC football game of the season. The Owls host UConn at 4 p.m. Saturday. East Carolina hosts SMU on Oct. 12.