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Friday, January 21, 2011

The Year in Review

110-101

Just in case anyone thinks I'm losing my mind, the ratings have been changed since I've started. I'll soldier on regardless, so anyone who feels the need to check up on me, there is a reason for the changes.

110. Bowling Green (2-10, 1-7 MAC)

Original Forecast: With Tyler Sheehan and Freddie Barnes moving on, and the Falcons struggling to run the ball or defend, I didn't have much hope for them making a bowl this season. They backed up with my lack of faith with a 2-10 season in which they ranked dead last in rushing and 100th in points for and against. The passing game was a decent 51st, but as a team they managed just 12 TDs against 20 picks.

The Outcome: They weren't as bad as the stats suggest, losing four games by less than a TD and putting up decent point totals on most teams. QB Matt Schilz threw for 2223 yards, but managed only 8 TDs against 14 interceptions, and most of his passes were short, in part because of his being sacked 30 times. He also missed two games. Kamar Jorden took over for Barnes and caught an excellent 96 passes for 1109 yards, but only 4 TDs. Not exactly Barnes-esque, but still a superb season. RB Willie Geter is a decent speed back who would do well in an offense tailored to his skills. He fought hard to gain 718 yards and 6 TDs on 197 carries, but that was about it for the running game. The offensive line struggled to block for the run as well as allowing 34 sacks and the offense struggled to get going. The defense could only manage 17 sacks and was vulnerable to both the run and the pass, but they did come away with a decent 29 turnovers. After making a bowl last season, regardless of excuses, 2010 can only be considered a step back.

Best Game: They lost some close games to decent opponents like Troy and Temple, but their 44-28 win over Marshall has to count as their best victory of the season. In their most complete game of the season, the Falcons racked up 393 yards of offense, including 292 through the air. Apart from a 68 yard run by Andre Booker, the defense made Marshall gain every yard and also came away with five turnovers, including two picks returned for touchdowns. Schilz threw and ran for scores, and Geter picked up a 100 on the ground and 5 catches for 86 yards through the air. What made the victory even more impressive is playing the fourth quarter with backup QB Aaron Pankratz after Schilz was knocked out with a sprained shoulder, the sole down note for the game. Pankratz also threw for a TD.

Worst Game: The 30-6 thrashing at the hands of Kent State was probably the team's worst performance of the season. The Golden Flashes looked like last years Falcons, with QB Spencer Keith completing 26 of 32 for 223 yards and two TDs. Receiver Tyshon Goode caught 12 of those for 158 yards and 2 TDs, while RB Jacquise Terry kept things ticking over on the ground with 94 yards. The Falcons, on the other hand, ran for -10 yards (yes, that's a minus) and Schilz completed 18 of 35 for just 118 yards and two picks. The only bright spot was a 75 yard kick return TD by Jerry Gates. Just to highlight the futility of the day, the Falcons managed to have the PAT blocked. Bowling Green wasn't great this season, but was better than this performance.

109. San Jose State (1-12, 0-8 WAC)

Original Forecast: This was a troubled team that was changing coaches and systems and, while I expected the team to improve on the field, I didn't expect much improvement in the record. They actually dropped a game on last year, but they lost five close games and game Wisconsin a scare before losing by only 13. That being said, they lost 228-26 against ranked teams and Hawaii, and lost to UC Davis (6-5 record!), so this team is a long way from getting back to a bowl game.

The Outcome: The Spartans knew this would be a tough season before it even started, with injuries hitting and people quitting the team, robbing it of any depth. The WAC was tough this year, and playing Alabama and Wisconsin wouldn't do a BCS team any favours. Still, their only win was over Southern Utah (6-5), so being competitive means little if you can't pull off a couple of wins. There were some bright spots – despite throwing 16 picks, QB Jordan La Secla threw for 2860 yards and 16 TDs and got better as the season went on. A receiving corps of Jalal Beauchman, Noel Grigsby and Chandler Jones combined for 170 catches, 2131 yards and 11 TDs. As a result the passing attack was ranked a respectable 45th in the FBS. LB Keith Smith totalled 10 TFLs and 4 sacks, while DE Travis Johnson lived up to his freshman promise with 9.5 sacks. P Harrison Waid (43.8 avg) dropped 18 punts inside the 20 with just 3 TBs. These solid performances were the exception as opposed to the rule though, and the season had to be considered disappointing by all.

Best Game: When your only win is a dreary affair over a lower division team that actually outgained you but committed too many crucial penalties, you could almost ignore this section. But the Spartans effort against Wisconsin needs to be noted, considering the struggles this team had all season. It wasn't particularly close, but they gave it their all. Badger RB John Clay was the difference maker, gaining 137 yards and 2 TDs. SJSU harassed QB Scott Tolzien all day, forcing three fumbles and recovering one, and also picking off a pass. La Secla was on fine form, completing 20 of 26 for 228 yards and 2 TDs and kept the Spartans within shouting distance. Jones and Grigsby combined for 15 receptions for 192 yards and 2 TDs. A fine effort against a team at the opposite end of the FBS spectrum.

Worst Game: Take your pick. In my opinion, it has to be the loss to UC Davis, a game they led 13-0 at halftime. They ran and passed with relative ease, but just couldn't hit the endzone in the second half as Aggies' QB Randy Wright threw for 223 yards and a TD to bring them back. Two turnovers and 11 penalties put paid to any chance at snatching back victory.

108. Ball State (4-8, 3-5 MAC)

Original Forecast: The Ball State went from 12-2 in '08 to 2-10 in '09, so anything would have been an improvement. They had a couple of good performances from players, but mostly it was first time starters stepping up the plate. The experience should help them in the long run, but not a whole lot of improvement was expected.

The Outcome: The prediction for last season was the only way is up, but despite winning four games, I'm not sure they achieved it. They did win four games, but were 1-1 against the FCS, and the FBS teams they beat totalled six wins between them. They were competitive against mediocre teams (the MAC wasn't great this year), but were steamrolled by better opposition. The hope was RB Miquale Lewis would approach his tremendous totals of '08 after being granted an extra year of eligibility. Instead he struggled all season and finished with just 414 yards and a TD and averaged just 3.5 per carry. Instead Eric Williams provided what little spark they had on the ground, but only gained 613 yards and 5 TDs. He was also an excellent kick returner. Freshman Keith Wenning started most of the season at QB, and had his moments, but struggled when he had to carry the team. The receivers weren't great, although Jack Tomlinson missed some time but finished strong. Kicker Ian McGarvey was expected to be reliable, and he fulfilled those expectations, making 14 of 17 FGs. There were a couple of solid performances on defense too. MLB Travis Freeman had 109 tackles with 6 for loss, while SS Sean Baker was all over the field with 88 tackles, 6 for loss, 6 interceptions and 10 passes defended. DE Robert Eddins had 63 tackles, 7 for loss, and 6 sacks. Outside of these stars though, the defense struggled. It's hard to say whether the Cardinals improved enough. The offense was mediocre at best, and the stars on defense where the same guys from '09. If wins are all that matters, then the season was okay. If actual performance counts, then probably not.

Best Game: When teams are at the bottom end of the FBS, it can be hard to find a performance that can be deemed the best. The Cardinals have two games that could be counted, the 31-17 win over Central Michigan and the 20-3 win over Buffalo. In this case, the CMU win looks to be the winner. Wenning was solid, keeping the offense ticking over by throwing for 130 yards and two TDs, but the real story was the running attack which mustered 306 yards. The Cards were up 31-3 in the fourth before the Chippewas made a concerted comeback behind Ryan Radcliff who threw for 295 yards and 2 TDs, but 3 earlier interceptions already had the game out of reach.

Worst Game: There are a couple of contenders, but the 45-16 thrashing to Western Michigan has to rankle the most, as the Broncos aren't a particularly good team either. WMU QB Alex Carder was practically a one-man army, throwing for 265 yards and a TD and running for 66 yards and 3 more. The Broncos racked up 480 yards of offense and had scored all their points by the end of the third quarter. Wenning was yanked from the game after completing more passes to the opposition (2) to his own team (1). One of the interceptions was returned for six on the Cardinals' first play of the game. The running game racked up 239 yards, but 5 turnovers meant their efforts would come up empty. Kelly Page did lead a TD drive in the fourth, but it was far too little, far too late.

107. Louisiana-Monroe (5-7, 4-4 Sun Belt)

Original Forecast: Thing were looking bleak for the Warhawks with a new coach and only a few starters returning. A tough OOC schedule would have many wondering whether the team could actually make it through relatively unscathed. I predicted 2-3 wins could be considered an acceptable season.

The Outcome: Lucky they didn't listen to me. Coach Berry had as many wins last season as he had in 4 years with Army. Let's be honest, this still isn't a particularly good team, but Berry showed why he was successful at Illinois State in managing this many wins. Freshman Kolton Browning brought stability to the passing attack, throwing for 2552 yards with 18 TDs against 12 picks. He had his off days, but he was pretty good out of the gate. He was also the second leading rusher with 385 yards and 4 TDs. The running game was problematic all season, with the usually reliable Frank Goodin only managing 438 yards and 3 TDs. Luther Ambrose provided a solid target for Browning with 65 catches for 752 yards and 6 TDs. The defense struggled, but had some good performances from OLB Cameron Blakes who had 74 tackles, 5 for loss, and 6 sacks, and DE Ken Dorsey who had 52 tackles, 7 for loss and 5 sacks. The season was better than most expected and ULM could do some damage next season.

Best Game: If there was one conference foe in the Sun Belt you wanted to beat, who would it be? Well, Troy of course. Troy arrived at ULM mid-season on the back of an unbeaten conference streak that dated back to 2008. The game was tied 14-14 midway through the second quarter before the Warhawks took the lead on a 43 yard run by WR Tavarese Maye. Browning scored on a 9 yard run after the half, and the defense shut down the Trojans with a late interception by Robert Nelson sealing the deal. Browning threw for 226 yards and a TD, and ran for 2 more, while Maye also caught a 48 yard TD. The defense flustered Troy QB Corey Robinson, who completed just 16 of 38 for 167 yards with a TD and two picks. An excellent all round victory that showcased the Warhawks future potential.

Worst Game: A week prior to the Troy game, the Warhawks travelled to Middle Tennessee to take on a Blue Raider team that was very beatable. Things started badly when Browning threw a pick-six on the first drive and things steadily got worse. MTSU QB Dwight Dasher threw for 219 yards and 2 TDs and also ran for 66 yards, while RB Phillip Tanner picked up 73 yards and a score on the ground and also had a 75 yard reception. With ULM rushing for -1 yard, Browning fought hard, throwing for 232 yards and a score but also threw another interception. With long third downs the order of the day, the Warkawks made just 3 of 18 and never came close to threatening the Blue Raiders' lead.

106. Middle Tennessee (6-7, 5-3 Sun Belt)

Original Forecast: The Blue Raiders had a good squad coming into the season, and were expected to contend for the Sun Belt even with QB Dwight Dasher missing the first four games.

The Outcome: After going 2-2 without Dasher, the team was expected to be far more of a threat with him back. Instead the team limped through the season, coming 3rd in the conference more due to the fact that the Sun Belt isn't a good conference than any great play. Dasher rarely flashed the immense talent he possesses, throwing for 1550 yards and 6 TDs against 18 interceptions, together with 543 yards and 8 TDs rushing. RB Phillip Tanner was their best threat on offense, gaining 928 yards and 13 TDs on just 160 carries. They had some solid performances on defense, but DE Jamari Lattimore, who had 68 tackles, 3.5 for loss, and 11.5 sacks, SLB Darin Davis who totalled 81 tackles, 6 for loss, 3.5 sacks and 3 interceptions and CB Rod Issac, who had 54 tackles, 4.5 for loss and 3 picks stood out. But one might ask, why is a bowl team ranked so low on the list? The answer is twofold: 1 – they play in the Sun Belt; 2 – there are too many bowls.

Best Game: They had some good wins, but the 28-27 win over Florida International to become bowl eligible probably ranks at the top. Dasher had one of his better games of the season, throwing for 244 yards and a TD, and rushing for 57 yards to keep the offense moving. Tanner ran for 62 yards and 2 TDs to keep FIU from focussing on Dasher. The defense allowed some big gains on the ground, including 104 yards to RB Darrian Mallary, but stood tall when it mattered, recovering a fumble on their own 27 as the Golden Panthers drove for a potential game winning FG.

Worst Game: They had some disappointing games, including being blown away by Arkansas State, but one loss rankles more that the others – a 42-13 home loss to Troy. Trojan QB Corey Robinson passed with ease, throwing for 259 yards and 3 TDs. Their oft-forgotten running attack totalled 238 yards and the defense held the Blue Raiders to just 207 yards. Dasher, in his first game back, ran for 2 TDs, but passed for just 172 yards and ran for 27. The game was never close, and MTSU coach Rick Stockstill falls to 0-5 against Troy.

105. Tulane (4-8, 2-6 CUSA)

Original Forecast: After a 3-9 record the year before, and an offense and defense that struggled, almost any improvement was welcome. They had a tough schedule which didn't inspire much hope for a quick turnaround, and a lot of questions at key positions.

The Outcome: The offense was greatly improved, thanks to a 38th ranked passing attack led by freshman QB Ryan Griffin, who threw for 2371 yards with 14 TDS against just 8 interceptions. The running attack was ranked just 91st, but was much improved over the second half of the season when RB Orleans Darkwa took over. He rushed for 752 of his 925 yards in the last six games. He also had 11 TDs. The receivers were competent, but lacked a game-breaker. The pass defense was improved, but teams didn't need to pass to beat the Green Wave. Ends Moses Dezman and Justin Adams combined for 13.5 sacks, and MLB Trent Mackey was a tackling machine with 124 stops, including 7.5 behind the line. The secondary was reliable enough, but corner Phillip Davis was the best of the bunch with 3 picks and 15 passes defended. The Green Wave showed plenty of improvement on the field, despite just mustering 4 wins, but the season was definitely better than the previous year.

Best Game: Beating Rutgers was nice, but in retrospect wasn't too big a deal. The 34-24 win over bowl squad Texas-El Paso, on the other hand, was their best team performance of the season. The offense was excellent; Griffin threw for 201 yards and a TD, and Darkwa and Albert Williams combining for 208 yards and 2 TDs on the ground. WR Casey Robottom caught passes for 151 yards and both of Griffin's TDs. The defense shut down UTEP's Trevor Vittatoe, holding him to 102 yards passing and a score against two picks. They gave up some yards on the ground, but made enough plays when it mattered to ensure victory.

Worst Game: Central Florida has been one of the best teams in Conference USA for a while now, but is better known for their stingy defense. While their offense gets the job done, it is hardly explosive. So how did Tulane manage to give up 61 points (well, 47 to be precise)? Not having Griffin hurt, as backup Kevin Moore completed just 15 of 34 for 156 yards and an interception. Darkwa ran for 129 yards and a TD, but he was the lone bright spot. UCF returned the opening kickoff all the way, and also intercepted 3rd string QB DJ Ponder and took it 100 yards for a score on the last play. In between, Knights QB Jeffrey Godfrey completed 6 of 8 passes for 133 yards and 2 TDs, and also ran for 2 scores. RB Latavius Murray ran for 146 yards and a TD on just 11 carries, and the Knights D forced 4 turnovers in a game that was never close. A very disappointing loss this late in the season.

104. Central Michigan (3-9, 2-6 MAC)

Original Forecast: The Chippewas are usually one of the top teams in the MAC but the last four years they've been dominant, winning 3 championships. Last season they went 12-2 and won the MAC and their bowl game. No-one was expecting a repeat this season, especially as superstar QB Dan LeFevour and coach Butch Jones had moved on, but the guts of a talented team remained and respected coach Dan Enos was brought in to keep the ship afloat. They were still an outside shot at another MAC title, and looked good for at least 6 wins.

The Outcome: After a bright 2-1 start to the season with the only loss to a tough Temple team, the wheels fell off the wagon and the Chippewas only won one more game. Sophomore QB Ryan Radcliff had the thankless task of trying to replace a legend, and did okay, throwing for 3358 yards and 17 TDs, but also 17 interceptions. He also lacked LeFevour's mobility and was sacked 33 times. He got little help from a rushing attack that ranked 108th, led by Paris Cotton who had 651 yards and 6 TDs, but the run game was too inconsistent. Sophomore Cody Wilson was the top receiver, catching 83 passes for 1137 yards and 5 TDs. The pass defense wasn't bad though it only managed 4 interceptions, but the run defense was the real weak spot. They were good on third down and in the redzone, and as a result ranked an okay 60th in points allowed. WLB Matt Berning was the standout with 102 tackles, 9 for loss, and 4 sacks. CMU had to expect some dropoff from the previous stellar season, but nobody imagined this 3 win flop.

Best Game: Arch-rival Western Michigan came to town to take on a reeling CMU squad who had lost six in a row, and were up 22-13 at the end of the third quarter. But the Chippewas were not going to fold, especially not against the Broncos. The team raised its game in the fourth quarter to score 13 unanswered points and hold off any comeback attempts. Both offenses were on fine form, with Radcliff throwing for 300 yards and 2 TDs and Carl Volny carrying the load on the ground with 91 yards and a TD. Wilson made Radcliff's life easier by having a monster game, catching 12 passes for 185 yards and a TD. For the Broncos, QB Alex Carder threw for 272 yards and 3 TDs, with receivers Juan Nunez and Jordan White combining for 22 catches for 252 yards and 3 TDs. Central's defense kept Western scoring opportunities to a minimum by recovering four fumbles. A good and much needed win over a rival.

Worst Game: CMU were pretty competitive in league play, with the exception of eventual champs Northern Illinois. A 33-7 beating had to hurt, as they had some success moving the ball but shot themselves in the foot with 5 turnovers. Radcliff was the biggest culprit, throwing 3 picks. He did throw for 178 yards and a TD though. He wasn't helped by a running game that managed just 94 yards. Huskies QB Chandler Harnish threw for 138 yards at his leisure, backed up by a running attack that steamrolled the Chippewas to the tune of 282 yards. A disappointing loss in a disappointing season.

103. Nevada-Las Vegas (2-11, 2-6 Mountain West)

Original Forecast: UNLV were a team that underachieved defensively in '09 and had the speed to make more of an impact in 2010, but a killer schedule would keep them from going bowling. They had a fine passing attack, and had worked hard at improving the running game in the offseason. A new coach, Bobby Hauck, arrived off the back of a successful career at FCS team Montana, bringing new enthusiasm to the squad.

The Outcome: Could someone please explain the Rebels' season to me. They won two games (equally hapless New Mexico and Wyoming) by an aggregate of 87-26, and lost 11 by 490-152. I appreciate that playing in the Mountain West can be thankless if you're not in the top 3.5 (Air Force), but there can't be that much of a gulf. The offense and defense were equally poor, despite some good talent on the roster. QB Omar Clayton had his moments, throwing for 1818 yards and 13 TDs with just 9 picks. The top ground gainer was Tim Cornett, who totalled just 546 yards and 6 TDs, and he had more than double number two. The receivers were serviceable with Phillip Payne providing the deep threat and Michael Johnson catching the underneath stuff. No-one was stood out as the kind of player an offense could build on though. Corner Will Chandler picked off five of the team's seven passes, but the defense lacked playmakers otherwise and was susceptible to both the run and the pass. UNLV has been a coach's graveyard lately. Let's hope Hauck can put together better seasons than this shocker.

Best Game: Both their wins were impressive, but New Mexico had a freshman making his first start, so we'll go with the 42-16 victory over Wyoming. Clayton had the rare chance to pass at his leisure, throwing for 163 yards and 3 TDs. RB Tim Cornett ran for 70 yards and 3 TDs, and also had a TD reception. The defense allowed a 72 yard run on the first play from scrimmage, but just 201 yards after that. Cowboys QB Austyn Carta-Samuels completed 13 of 22, but for just 108 yards and also threw a pick. The Rebels offense totalled 376 yards and converted all 3 4th down attempts, while shutting down Wyoming after allowing two big plays for TDs in the first quarter.

Worst Game: One week after being battered 48-6 by TCU, the Rebels headed to play a sub par (by their standards) Brigham Young, minus Clayton at QB. The result was even uglier, with the Cougars thrashing them 55-7, a game in which UNLV didn't score until the last minute. Jake Heaps picked apart the Rebels defense for 294 yards and a pair of scores, while runners JJ Di Luigi and Joshua Quezada combined for 145 yards and 4 TDs on the ground. The Rebels offense managed just 144 yards in total, with almost half of them coming on the final drive. QB Caleb Herring looked lost at sea, completing just 8 of 21 passes for 109 yards and 1 TD and interception.

102. Colorado State (3-9, 2-6 Mountain West)

Original Forecast: Coach Steve Fairchild said at the end of '09 that he wouldn't accept another 3-9 season, and the team had the talent to rack up a couple more victories. It was contingent upon finding a decent quarterback to keep an offense loaded at running back ticking over.

The Outcome: Well – another 3-9 season. Only this season was a step down. True freshman Pete Thomas took over at QB and did a good job, throwing for 2662 yards with an excellent 64.7 completion percentage, but he had only 11 TDs against 13 picks. The running attack, led by Leonard Mason who had just 513 yards and 5 TDs due to injuries, was very poor, ranking just 103rd in the country. There were no standout receivers, which hurt Thomas' TD stats, but they got the job done despite injury problems. The defense couldn't stop pretty much anyone, and they ranked 104th in points allowed. They had some good performers though: WLB Ricky Brewer had 107 tackles, including 7 for loss; SLB Mychal Sisson had 95 tackles, 10.5 for loss, 4.5 sacks and forced an outstanding 7 fumbles; while DT Guy Miller came up with 6.5 sacks. Fairchild was no doubt disappointed, and might even be feeling a bit of heat coming from his seat.

Best Game: Their three wins were all quality performances, but the ease with which they dispatched UNLV was impressive. Pete Thomas only threw 14 passes, but completed 10 for 233 yards and 3 TDs. Mason and Chris Nwoke combined for 196 yards and a TD on the ground. On defense, Guy Miller had 4.5 sacks and harassed the Rebel offense all day. QB Omar Clayton completed 15 of 23 passes, but tallied just 114 yards. UNLV had some success on the ground, but 2 turnovers and three 4th down failures put paid to any hopes of getting back into the game.

Worst Game: Easy choice, even in a bad season such as this. The last game of the year, facing an offensively impotent Wyoming squad, the Rams got blanked 44-0 and allowed 479 yards in the process. Pete Thomas, who'd been solid most of the season, completed just 16 of 33 for 97 yards and an interception, while the running game managed just 65 yards. 2 of 15 third downs and 2 turnovers just highlighted the futility. For the Cowboys, Austyn Carta-Samuels threw for 267 yards and ran for 46 yards and another score. Alvester Alexander and 147 yards and 5 TDs, while on defense Josh Biezuns racked up 3.5 sacks.

101. Rice (4-8, 3-5 CUSA)

Original Forecast: The Owls had a brief flirtation with success in the last couple of years before slipping back into familiar territory with just 2 wins last season. Except for QB they had enough talent to be competitive, but needed the defense to pull its weight to avoid too many shootouts. 5-6 was a possibility, but 3-4 wins was the most likely result.

The Outcome: Rice improved greatly over the previous season thanks to a decent offense and solid run defense. They didn't have much trouble putting points on the board, but the pass defense was shocking and cost them a better record. QB was a question coming into the season and Nick Fanuzzi was okay, throwing for 1681 yards and 11 TDs against 9 interceptions, but couldn't carry the team on his own. Taylor McHargue started the last two games and played in others, and threw for 491 yards and 6 TDs with only 1 pick. Rice had a decent running game too, with ex-Michigan RB Sam McGuffie picking up 883 yards and 6 TDs. Power guy Jeremy Eddington bulled for 365 yards and 10 TDs. They also had one under-rated weapon in punter Kyle Martens who averaged 46 yards a kick. The season was definitely an improvement and again they finished well.

Best Game: Easy choice here – a 62-38 home thrashing of bowl-bound East Carolina. Rice led 34-28 at halftime but ran riot in the second half, outscoring the Pirates 28-10. McHargue was outstanding, completing 11 of 15 for 220 yards and 3 TDs. On the ground, Eddington had 143 yards and 4 TDs, while McGuffie had 114 yards and a score. McGuffie also had 3 receptions for 83 yards and a 64 yard TD catch. East Carolina's QB Dominique Davis threw for 308 yards and 3 TDs, but also threw two interceptions. RB Jonathon Williams ran for 100 yards and a score, and receivers Lance Lewis and Dwayne Harris combined for 14 catches for 245 yards and 2 TDs.

Worst Game: Getting blasted 64-27 by Tulsa. Don't get me wrong, Tulsa are a fine team and when QB GJ Kinne is on form, they could score on pretty much anyone. Unfortunately for the Owls, this happened to be one of those games. Rice was down 41-7 by halftime as Kinne threw for 371 yards and 4 TDs. Receiver Damaris Johnson caught 8 balls for 163 yards and 2TDs, and also returned a kickoff for a score. Tulsa even returned a blocked PAT for 2 points to rub salt in an already gaping wound. Tulsa finished with 612 yards of offense. Rice QBs combined for just 8 of 18 passes for 221 yards and 2 TDs. McGuffie had a great day though, rushing for 178 yards and a score, but many of those yards came when the Owls needed to pass. A disappointing performance for a team that could have done better.

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