Fresno State vs. Rice
GAME PREVIEW by EDDIE HUGHES
Bulldogs
Quarterbacks
This is the Paul Pinegar that fans have been waiting for. The junior had
his most efficient game of the season last week in a 42-0 win over SMU,
completing 14 of 20 passes for 191 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions
in just less than three quarters. Pinegar now has nine touchdowns and
12 interceptions on the season. Sophomore Jordan Christensen entered in
the third quarter, going 1 of 3 for five yards.
Running Backs
No Bulldogs back went for 100 yards last week, but the team netted 269
rushing yards. Sophomore Wendell Mathis led the ground game with 72 yards
on 10 carries. Mathis averages 7.1 yards per carry on the season and has
424 yards and four touchdowns. Junior Bryson Sumlin had 56 yards on 14
carries and leads the team with 483 yards and five touchdowns this season.
Sumlin averages 4.9 per carry. Fullback Roshon Vercher caught a touchdown
pass for his first score of the year.
Receivers
This unit came up with the types of plays that can help a quarterback
out of a funk. Sophomore Joe Fernandez continued his recent success with
his third touchdown of the season. He leads the team with 281 yards on
24 receptions. Sophomore Jaron Fairman caught his first career touchdown
pass on a tipped ball in the end zone.
Offensive Line
Senior Logan Mankins has 38 pancakes on the year and still hasn’t
allowed a sack on 170 pass plays. The Bulldogs’ line plowed through
SMU to help the running backs gain 269 rushing yards. Expect more of that
Saturday against Rice in a battle of two of the Western Athletic Confrence’s
top rushing teams.
Defensive Line
The tenacity and attitude seemed to return to this unit in last week’s
shutout. Junior Garrett McIntyre and seniors Brian Morris and Claude Sanders
each had one sack. McIntyre leads the team with five sacks and nine tackles
for losses. Morris has three sacks on the year and Sanders has two. Freshman
Charles Tolbert made a great play for an interception late in the game.
Linebackers
The blowout win gave some of the reserves a chance to get significant
playing time. And Ahijah Lane took full advantage, tying with Kyle Goodman
for the team lead with six tackles. Sophomore Dwayne Andrews is tied for
the team lead with 38 tackles on the year. The linebackers have a tough
task against Rice’s option offense. Discipline becomes important
in that it’s vital for each player to stay on his assignment and
prevent big plays.
Defensive Backs
The Bulldogs recorded their first interceptions since the Portland State
game, way back in September. Senior nickelback Nate Ray picked off a near-catch
by an SMU receiver. Sophomore corner Richard Marshall is tied with Andrews
with a team-high 38 tackles. Junior strong safety James Sanders has 36
and leads the team with three interceptions.
Special Teams
The Bulldogs didn’t get many chances to return kicks, considering
SMU didn’t score and its only kickoff was after halftime. Fairman
did partially block a punt—the third Bulldogs’ blocked kick
this year and the 52nd the team has had under coach Pat Hill.
Coaching
The Bulldogs finally got back on the winning track with their first victory
since Sept. 18. They’ll likely need to stay there to earn a sixth
straight bowl berth. History shows that the Bulldogs have been tough to
beat under Hill after the month of October.
Intangibles
Fresno State is 5-0 all-time against Rice. But it has been close. Last
year, the Bulldogs needed a last-second field goal from Brett Visintainer
to win the game. In 2002, Rice missed a potential game-tying field goal
as time expired.
Owls
Quarterbacks
Freshman Joel Armstrong is listed as the starter, but expect to see senior
Greg Henderson in the game, as well. Armstrong is second in rushing with
270 yards on 78 carries—a 7.3 yards average. He has completed 15
of 32 passes for 183 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Henderson
is third on the team with 502 yards rushing. The senior is 24 of 57 passing
with two touchdowns and five interceptions for the option-led Owls.
Edge: Even
Running Backs
The Owls are going to run and run and run. That’s what they do.
Their three-back system features senior Joe Moore at right halfback, sophomore
Quinton Smith at left halfback and leading rusher Ed Bailey at fullback.
The senior has 137 carries for 689 yards and eight touchdowns this season.
As a team, Rice averages 314.6 yards per game. Fresno State gives up 138
yards a game to opponents. Something has to give.
Edge: Even
Receivers
Junior split end Marcus Battle is the main receiving weapon for the Owls.
At 5-foot-9, 180 pounds, Battle has 14 catches for 200 yards. The closest
to those numbers is senior Ryan Simonak with 62 yards on six receptions.
The Owls are likely to have a lot of trouble getting anything in the air
against the Bulldogs’ secondary.
Edge: Bulldogs
Offensive Line
The Owls have an experienced group of linemen, which could be a big reason
why Rice has the top-ranked rushing offense in the nation. Sophomore right
guard Cory Laxen is the only non-senior with a starting spot. The Bulldogs’
defensive line will be Rice’s toughest matchup since the Texas game.
Edge: Bulldogs
Defensive Line
Junior John Syptak is putting up big numbers. The end leads the team with
seven sacks and 12 tackles for losses and has 45 tackles on the year.
Senior nose guard Jeremy Calahan is tied with backup junior end Thadis
Pegues with four sacks each. Fresno State’s pass blocking has been
suspect at times, which could be a good sign for Rice.
Edge: Bulldogs
Linebackers
The linebacker corps is led by junior weak linebacker Adam Herrin, who
has 49 tackles and five tackles for losses. Herrin and strong linebacker
Omeke Alikor will need big games to slow a Fresno State running game that
averages 186.6 yards per game.
Edge: Even
Defensive Backs
The Owls have 12 interceptions on the year—all from the secondary.
Rover Terry Holley, a senior, has three picks and 7.5 tackles for losses.
Sophomore free safety Andray Downs leads the team with 55 tackles.
Edge: Bulldogs
Special Teams
Freshman kicker Luke Juist made three field goals in Rice’s loss
at Tulsa last week. He’s 3 for 4 on the year with a long of 36 yards.
Sophomore punter Jared Scruggs averages 38 yards per punt. Downs averages
26.1 yards per kick return.
Edge: Bulldogs
Coaching
Ken Hatfield is 54-65-1 in his 11th season at Rice. He’s 167-127-4
overall as a college coach, the fifth-winningest active coach in the country.
Edge: Bulldogs
Intangibles
The two previous games at Rice Stadium were both very close—both
three-point Bulldogs wins. The Bulldogs haven’t fared well in close
games this season.
Edge: Owls
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