Slow Start Costs Rice in 38-14 Loss to No. 25 Memphis

Rice football was in an early hole that it could not get out of Friday night as it lost 38-14 to No. 25 Memphis in Rice Stadium.

The Owls began badly with a nightmare start: they recorded a minus-2 yards of offensive and a turnover in their first five possessions in the first quarter. Memphis had already amassed a massive 28-0 advantage at the beginning of the second quarter before they had arrived.

The initial 18 minutes, we have to be improved. I should be better said Rice coach Scott Abell. The issue is how do you play 60 minutes with a football team which is really good? That is what we will need to work out.

It was only at the end of the first half that Rice demonstrated life. It took the 13-play, 78-yard drive, culminating with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Turner with a little more than two minutes to go to the halftime with quarterback Chase Jenkins.

During the second half the Owls played more evenly and they traded touchdowns with the Tigers, however, the damage was too great to be recovered in time.

The first quarter, said Abell, was a prelude. They put us out of our element at the first onset, and it only took us too long to fall into their pace.

In the case of Memphis, its quarterback Brendon Lewis executed a clean and efficient game with 18 of 22 passes being made with 225 yards as the Tigers dominated over Rice 355-212. The victory propelled Memphis to 8-1 and left them in the running to have a possible spot in the College Football Playoff.

Rice, on the other hand, fell to 4-5 but is still in the race towards bowl eligibility. The task is not going to be easier and they have upcoming games with North Texas (7-1) and South Florida (6-2).

We have reduced it to three games in a season, said Abell. Our goals are not yet behind us. This is a team that has the resources to perform well when we are united as a team, all we have to do is to be 1-0 every week.

Jenkins completed 11 out of 16 passes with 100 yards, one TD and one interception on behalf of the Owls.

Rice got off to a sluggish start, and even though there were glimpses of good performance, it was rather expensive, a lesson that the team will have to learn in the nearest future as its postseason hopes are not lost yet.

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