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SPORTS
Rice cooks MU with potent offense
Marshall running back Darius Marshall fights off two Rice defenders during the second half of the C-USA matchup on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008, at Rice Stadium.
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HOUSTON -- Any remaining postseason aspirations definitively were squashed Saturday afternoon.
Rice University's calculating, efficient offense dominated in a 35-10 victory over Marshall University before 15,131 fans at Rice Stadium. The loss locks down a fourth straight Thundering Herd losing season.
Earning a bowl bid remained a season-long goal for Marshall (4-7, 3-4 Conference USA), but a sixth loss in seven games eliminated any opportunity. Rice (8-3, 6-1) outscored the Thundering Herd, 28-3, after halftime.
"Tale of two halves," fourth-year Marshall head coach Mark Snyder said. "Second half they changed up the tempo of their offense, changed the pace on us and forced us to make some critical mistakes penalty-wise where we're hurting ourself.
"We had some leverage issues at (defensive back), letting receivers inside when we can't let receivers inside. Chase (Clement) went to his go-to guys and they put 14 quick on us.
"All of a sudden we've got to start playing catch-up and you know we're not a catch-up offense."
Saturday's matchup initially played out as a mismatch. Marshall's offense continued struggles from a week ago while Owls quarterback Chase Clement quickly carved up the Thundering Herd defense, requiring just five plays and 1:56 to march 56 yards and reach the end zone. His 12-yard touchdown run off a nicely-executed option handoff fake provided a 7-0 lead less than five minutes into the game.
The Herd eventually countered with its finest drive of 2008, an 18-play, 99-yard possession lasting 7:58 and featuring 15 runs. Mark Cann found tight end Cody Slate from seven yards, culminating the marathon march and knotting the score.
An expected shootout was tied at 7-7 through two quarters.
"That was awesome," Snyder said of the touchdown drive. "That was the way we wanted to start the game. That's why we took the ball (after winning the coin toss).
"We wanted to start just like that but, unfortunately, it didn't happen. They get a quick seven on us and, then, we take it and march it right down the field.
"The plan was working until we came out in the second half.
Rice opened the second half much like the first, quickly finding the end zone. Jarett Dillard, among the nation's top wideouts, exposed single coverage on a 27-yard connection with Clement. The Owls' following possession totaled 73 yards and 4:29, ending with Clement's 5-yard scoring strike to Toren Dixon.
Rice comfortably led 21-7 with 5:54 remaining in the third quarter.
Craig Ratanamorn's 36-yard field goal trimmed the deficit to 21-10 in the quarter's closing seconds. Rice wasted little time slamming the proverbial door - both on the game and Marshall's bowl hopes - when Corbin Smiter broke tackles along the way of a 44-yard catch and run TD, providing a 28-10 fourth-quarter lead. Clement and the Owls needed just 1:18 and five plays to cover 70 yards.
Rice's capper was a 13-yard Clement-to-Dillard fourth quarterback touchdown.
"We had opportunities present themselves in the first half," Rice head coach David Bailiff said. "We just had inopportune drops and penalties.
"The opportunities were there; we just didn't capitalize on it like (we) did in the second half. We are a prideful bunch and led by seniors."
Rice outgained Marshall, 456-268, averaging six yards a play to the Herd's 3.8. The Owls' second-half dominance was underscored by boasting 11:16 of fourth quarter possession time.
Clement completed 25 of 41 passes for 315 yards and four touchdowns against one interception. Smith totaled 120 yards on four catches and Dillard added six catches and 88 yards.
Marshall's Darius Marshall rushed for 118 yards on 24 carries, upping the sophomore's season total to 1,001. Cann completed 13 of 24 passes for 83 yards and a touchdown against an interception.
"We wanted to come in and get the run game going and control the clock," Marshall right guard Matt Altobello said. "We did it the first half, but the second it just crumbled apart on us."
Altobello acknowledged 10 points aren't sufficient against an opponent averaging more than 40 a game.
"Not with that high-powered offense," the senior said. "They can score whenever they want.
"You can put a good defense out there, which ours is - they're going to put points on the board and we know we have to score."
Marshall wraps its fourth season under head coach Mark Snyder next Saturday against West Division power Tulsa. Kickoff at Joan C. Edwards Stadium is 3:30 p.m. and CBS College Sports will televise the game.
Thundering Herd fans are afforded a rare football/men's basketball doubleheader. Head coach Donnie Jones' basketball squad hosts Old Dominion at 11:30 a.m. at Cam Henderson Center prior to Marshall-Tulsa.
"We signed up to play 12 games," Snyder said. "It's the seniors' last go-around and our younger guys have a chance to make a statement against a very good Tulsa football team.
"And there's the challenge."
