Print
E-mail
Comment
Area players help Rice win Texas Bowl
  
|
By CHUCK HLAVA
Players and fans from Western Michigan University arrived in Houston last week for the Texas Bowl against Rice University happy to get away from all that snow up north.
However, it didn’t quite work out and the visiting Broncos were snowed under by the Owls 38-14 in Reliant Stadium on Dec. 30.
Not exactly a New Year’s celebration for a trip back to Michigan, but in Houston it certainly was a very happy New Year.
Reliant Stadium was jumping with 58,880 fans. That was the fourth largest bowl crowd ever in Houston.
Rice had 19 players on the roster from schools covered by Houston Community Newspapers, including former Clear Brook kicker Brandon Yelovich and Clear Lake’s Scott Nimmons, Rice’s defensive lineman. That list included former players for Deer Park, Pearland and lots more.
On paper, the game was billed as a close contest. However, the paper was wrong.
Rice actually led 38-0 at one point before the Owls began substituting. At halftime it was already 24-0. The Broncos, who finished 9-4 after the loss, got their final two touchdowns in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.
Owls quarterback Chase Clement was voted MVP of the game and deserved it. He was 30-of-44 in the game, which is the most pass attempts and completions in Texas Bowl history. The 320 passing yards is the second best in Texas Bowl history. Clement threw for 307 of those yards and three touchdowns.
Clement scored every which way. He threw touchdown passes, he ran for a score and, in a trick play, took a pass from his wide receiver and scored. But let it be known that Clement did not kick a field goal.
“It’s been awesome,” said Clement after the game. “When you sit down and look back at how everything has unfolded, it’s a special opportunity at what we’ve been able to accomplish.”
“When you see some of the plays that (tight end) James (Casey) and JD (wide receiver Jarett Dillard) have made today and that’s what they’ve been doing all season. I have to give credit to all those guys,” Clement added.
Among the game’s highlights was Dillard’s 13-yard touchdown toss to Clement in the third quarter. They tried that same play in the first period but Dillard was way off target on that one. Clement ran for a first-quarter touchdown and Clark Fangmeier hit a 30-yard field goal as the Ows led 10-0 heading into the second quarter. There Clement threw a TD strike to Toren Dixon
Clement then Dillard for an 18-yard score in the fourth period.
Rice coach David Bailiff was, of course, happy.
“I tell you, first off, what a great experience to play at the Texas Bowl. I mean, from the start of this bowl week to the end of that fourth quarter, it’s been an experience this football team will always cherish.
He said that after he was doused with the complimentary water shower by several players.
Bailiff admitted to being somewhat on edge coming into the Texas Bowl.
“I was really worried going into it that we would not have the stamina after 31 days off, especially the offensive line.”
But the defense shined also, allowing only 61 rushing yards in the game.
Western Michigan head coach Bill Cubit had praise for Clement & Co.
“I think the Clement kid, they got exactly what they (need). Clement, Casey and Dillard are all really good players.
“We had some chances. We just didn’t capitalize on offense. Then we get behind the eight ball and then all of the sudden they just come after you just overpower us.
“They got on a roll. Third downs killed us. We just didn’t play well,” Cubit added.
However, it didn’t quite work out and the visiting Broncos were snowed under by the Owls 38-14 in Reliant Stadium on Dec. 30.
Not exactly a New Year’s celebration for a trip back to Michigan, but in Houston it certainly was a very happy New Year.
Reliant Stadium was jumping with 58,880 fans. That was the fourth largest bowl crowd ever in Houston.
Rice had 19 players on the roster from schools covered by Houston Community Newspapers, including former Clear Brook kicker Brandon Yelovich and Clear Lake’s Scott Nimmons, Rice’s defensive lineman. That list included former players for Deer Park, Pearland and lots more.
On paper, the game was billed as a close contest. However, the paper was wrong.
Rice actually led 38-0 at one point before the Owls began substituting. At halftime it was already 24-0. The Broncos, who finished 9-4 after the loss, got their final two touchdowns in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.
Owls quarterback Chase Clement was voted MVP of the game and deserved it. He was 30-of-44 in the game, which is the most pass attempts and completions in Texas Bowl history. The 320 passing yards is the second best in Texas Bowl history. Clement threw for 307 of those yards and three touchdowns.
Clement scored every which way. He threw touchdown passes, he ran for a score and, in a trick play, took a pass from his wide receiver and scored. But let it be known that Clement did not kick a field goal.
“It’s been awesome,” said Clement after the game. “When you sit down and look back at how everything has unfolded, it’s a special opportunity at what we’ve been able to accomplish.”
“When you see some of the plays that (tight end) James (Casey) and JD (wide receiver Jarett Dillard) have made today and that’s what they’ve been doing all season. I have to give credit to all those guys,” Clement added.
Among the game’s highlights was Dillard’s 13-yard touchdown toss to Clement in the third quarter. They tried that same play in the first period but Dillard was way off target on that one. Clement ran for a first-quarter touchdown and Clark Fangmeier hit a 30-yard field goal as the Ows led 10-0 heading into the second quarter. There Clement threw a TD strike to Toren Dixon
Clement then Dillard for an 18-yard score in the fourth period.
Rice coach David Bailiff was, of course, happy.
“I tell you, first off, what a great experience to play at the Texas Bowl. I mean, from the start of this bowl week to the end of that fourth quarter, it’s been an experience this football team will always cherish.
He said that after he was doused with the complimentary water shower by several players.
Bailiff admitted to being somewhat on edge coming into the Texas Bowl.
“I was really worried going into it that we would not have the stamina after 31 days off, especially the offensive line.”
But the defense shined also, allowing only 61 rushing yards in the game.
Western Michigan head coach Bill Cubit had praise for Clement & Co.
“I think the Clement kid, they got exactly what they (need). Clement, Casey and Dillard are all really good players.
“We had some chances. We just didn’t capitalize on offense. Then we get behind the eight ball and then all of the sudden they just come after you just overpower us.
“They got on a roll. Third downs killed us. We just didn’t play well,” Cubit added.
Submit a Comment
|
You must be logged in to post a comment.
|
Not yet a registered member?
Click here to become one. Comments to stories and articles on the Web site are not edited or pre-approved before appearing online. Readers posting comments are solely responsible for those comments. Comments must be germane to the story to which they apply. Online comments that are libelous, profane or personally attack another site participant can be reported as abuse using the link provided on each comment. Comments reported as abusive will be reviewed and may be removed from view, as will off-topic comments. BE CIVIL. Individuals continually posting abusive comments to the site may have their registrations revoked. |
