RICE PREVIEW

[PonyPride]

PLAYERS TO WATCH
QB Kyle Herm
RB Robbie Beck
RB Clint Hatfield
WR Gavin Boothe
WR Gilbert Okoronkwo
DB Jason Hebert
LB Dan Dawson



Just like every other year, the Rice Owls are a run-based team that pounds teams with its triple-option offense that relies on confusing defenses as to who's going to get the ball and on flawless execution. This year is no different, as the Owls have used their tradition style to jump out to a 7-3 record (4-2 against WAC teams) prior to Saturday night's game against UTEP and sit atop the conference standings … Owls have outscored their opponents, 286-281, including a season-high 59 points in last week's 59-32 thumping of Tulsa … and have a 219-216 edge in first downs. Rice averages 290.8 rushing yards per game, compared to just 137.1 yards per game on the ground for their opponents. Conversely, the Owls aren't nearly as effective in the passing game as their opponents, averaging 129.4 passing yards per game, compared to 287.2 yards per game for the opposition. They also have lost 8 of 20 fumbles through their first 10 games … The Owls haven't had a single overpowering back since Trevor Cobb somehow won the Doak Walker Award almost a decade ago, but they have many ball-carriers who are capable of inflicting damage. QB Kyle Herm leads the team with 682 rushing yards in 10 games, followed by RB Robbie Beck, who has 529. Herm has a team-high 8 rushing TDs this year; Beck has 7, and RB Clint Hatfield has 4 … Because of the Owls' rush-heavy offensive scheme, Herm averages just 94.7 passing yards per game. His top aerial targets are WR Gavin Boothe, who has 20 receptions and leads the team with 344 yards and 4 receiving TDs. WR Gilbert Okoronkwo is second on the team with 17 receptions, 329 yards, and his one TD catch trails Boothe and Leroy Bradley, who has 2 TD catches … Rice defense is led by LB Joe Bob Thompson, who has a team-leading 84 tackles, and DB Jason Hebert, who has 81. Hebert also leads the team with three interceptions. LB Dan Dawson, who snapped his leg against SMU two years ago, is third on the team with 72 tackles and has an interception, which he returned 74 yards for a touchdown … In addition to his offensive duties, Hatfield also is a dangerous kick returner, piling up 514 yards returning kickoffs and punts, giving him a team-leading 897 total yards yards through his team's first 10 games. PK is just 6-of-16 on field goals, and gets more erratic the longer the attempt. 4 of his FG's have come from 20-29 yards out. He's 2-for-5 from 30-39 yards, and has yet to connect from 40 yards and beyond (he's 0-for-6 through 10 games.) P Travis Hale has averaged 38.2 yards on 53 punts, dropping 11 inside the Rice opponents' 20-yard line.

[MustangMom]

I was at the Rice - UTEP game last night. Mustang defense - watch out for the Rice QB, Hern. He is really fast and made several long, long runs against UTEP.

After watching Rice - who is a good team, and watching the Mustangs several times this year - I know that you can beat Rice!! It should be a great game - get up for it, the Mustangs have more talent!!

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Go Mustangs!!
-MustangMom

[This message has been edited by MustangMom (edited 11-18-2001).]

[Damon'sDaMan]

Seems like every other time we play Rice, Coach Schumann has us ready and we do great. We didn't do so well last year, so this year is our year to shut that offense down. We need the LB's to run to the ball - Vic V., DD Lee, Bishoff, Jarrian James, they're all going to have big games. And we need the big guys up front to occupy blockers so the LB's can make tackles sideline-to-sideline