PonyFans.com preview: RICE

[PonyPride]

Coming off the first victory of the season and of the Phil Bennett era (the Ponies' 37-34 triumph over defending Western Athletic Champion Louisiana Tech), the SMU Mustangs (1-7 overall, 1-3 in Western Athletic Conference games) head to Houston this weekend to face the Rice Owls (2-5, 1-3). The game kicks off at 2:05 p.m. and can be heard in Dallas on KTCK (1310-AM).

SMU maintains a 44-34-1 lead in the all-time series, which has been played since 1926, the year SMU joined the now-defunct Southwest Conference. The Ponies ended the Owls' season last year with a 37-20 win over Rice in Gerald J. Ford Stadium. The teams play the game for the Mayor's Cup, the traveling trophy that goes to the annual winner of this I-45 battle. The series has belonged to the home team in recent years, with the Owls having beaten SMU six straight times in Rice Stadium, and the Mustangs having claimed the last three games in Dallas.

The Owls are tough at home: Rice was 5-0 at home last year, and is 27-15 at home during head coach Ken Hatfield's tenure. Last year's undefeated home record was the school's first since 1949.

Rice returns home after Saturday's 38-35 loss in El Paso to UTEP, a game the Owls lost when UTEP's Keith Robinson drilled a 59-yard field goal with 11 seconds left. Junior Rice QB Kyle Herm (5-8, 175) completed 5-of-10 passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns in the Owls' loss to the Miners. For the year, Herm has completed 50-of-67 passes (74 percent) for 512 yards, four touchdowns and just one interception. He also is the team's second-leading rusher, with 342 yards and a touchdown on 90 carries.

As in years past, the Rice offense is based on the option. But unlike Navy, which utilized an option-based offense in its season-opening victory over SMU, the Owls have more diversity.

"They're more of a 'double-slot' offense, and they usually have a tight end out there," SMU head coach Phil Bennett said Monday. "But there are times they'll also use a spread offense and put three receivers outside. We have to prepare for a lot of different looks."

The majority of the Owls' passing attack goes through the split end, where the team's depth chart lists five players (compared to two at most positions). The team's leading receiver this year is walk-on freshman split end Marcus Battle (5-9, 180), who has a team-high 16 receptions through seven games for 205 yards and a score. Quarterback-turned-receiver (and Duncanville HS graduate) Jeremy Hurd (5-10, 155) is next on the team with 9 receptions for a team-leading 221 yards and three scores (one of which was a 71-yard bomb from Herm against Navy.

Still, the running game dictates the success of the Rice offense. The team's top rusher is junior fullback Robbie Beck (5-10, 220), whose 347 yards are five more than Herm's 342 and have come on four fewer carries (86). Senior halfback Vincent Hawkins (5-6, 175) is third on the team with 339 rushing yards on 47 carries. Beck has a team-high 4 rushing touchdowns; Hawkins has 3.

The Owls' offensive line, like Navy's, relies on quickness more than on mass and power. The starting five averages just over 6-2 per man and averages 297 pounds. The Owls' biggest starter is sophomore right tackle Greg Wilson (6-4, 310).

The defensive line averages a shade under 6-3 per man and only 260 across the front. However, Bennett called senior defensive end Brandon Green (6-3, 250) one of the best linemen SMU will face all year, a player who creates problems for blockers with his quickness and speed. Green has 45 tackles this year, a team-leading four quarterback sacks and an interception, which he returned 13 yards for a touchdown against Louisiana Tech. He also has caused a pair of fumbles.

Junior strongside linebacker Jeff Vanover (5-11, 210) leads the team with 59 tackles and has three sacks. Senior weakside linebacker Justin Engler (6-3, 230) is second on the team with 50.

Free safety John White (5-11, 175) of Grand Prairie leads the secondary with 43 tackles, while weak safety Greg Gatlin (6-0, 175) has 42. Senior strong safety Antwan Shell (5-10, 190) and backup safety Corey Evans (5-11, 175) of Richardson join Green as the only Owls with an interception.

Senior kickoff return specialist Clint Hatfield (5-6, 180) leads the team in all-purpose yardage, thanks in large part to his 228 yards on 11 kickoff returns (20.8 average). Brennan Landry has converted 20-of-21 extra points and has hit 4-of-8 field goal attempts, with his longest having come from 32 yards. Punter Travis Hale averages 41.4 yards per punt, with a long of 52 yards.

[This message has been edited by PonyPride (edited 10-23-2002).]

[Hilltopper]

That's the best game preview I've seen all year - thanks for putting that together, and keep up the great work.
See you in Houston Saturday!

[Pony Up]

Since when did Rice start throwing the ball? I thought they never did anything other than that goofy option.
I hate the option.

[PonyExpress]

So if you're the Rice defensive coordinator, do you gear your gameplan around stopping Kincade or around stopping the newfound SMU aerial attack?

[Higher Authority]

I was glad to see DD Johnson back out there Saturday. My thinking has always been that the linebackers, more than anyone, are instrumental in stopping an option offense, and DD can really run.

Speaking of guys named DD, where's DD Lee? Is he hurt? I thought Coach Bennett really liked him. Maybe he just can't get on the field as long as Vic Viloria is here.

Speaking of which, who's going to be our middle linebacker next year? DD Lee, or do you think Brian Bischoff will slide inside?