The national audience received a taste of the Scott Abell era at Rice.
The Rice Owls stormed in Charlotte on Thursday night in a primetime ESPN slot and made a statement that this year’s team is different. Not only schematically, but from a results standpoint. Behind the new gun choice option offense, Rice (3-1, 1-0 American) coasted to a 28-17 road victory over Charlotte (1-3, 0-1 American) to solidify its first 3-1 start since 2001.
“I’m incredibly proud of our team that we went on the road in a hostile
environment to get our first conference win,” Rice head coach Scott Abell said. “To open the campaign 3-1, I’m really proud of that. But people know who I am and I found myself frustrated. I thought we were sloppy at times. We kept that game more interesting than it needed to be, but that’s a credit to Charlotte too. At the end of the day, we continued to play hard, continued to fight for one another, and we call that the ‘TNT’ — things that ‘take no talent’ — and I thought we did that well tonight.”
The Owls produced 255 rushing yards in the conference opener, eclipsing 200 for the third time in four games under Abell. It was the three-headed monster of quarterback Chase Jenkins and running back Quinton Jackson and Daelen Alexander leading the charge, each producing 70+ yards on the 49ers. Center Nate Bledsoe also played a massive role in the ground game, consistently serving as a downfield lead blocker to assist the triumvirate of rushers.
“We just took what they gave us,” Alexander said. “We ran the ball outside a lot and it looks like they weren’t trying to guard that. We just took what they were giving us. We have a lot to show in the offense that we haven’t showed yet, so stay tuned.”
After letting up a field goal on an opening drive laden with penalties, Rice captured its first lead on a methodical 9-play, 75-yard drive, picking up consistently long gains through the run game. And when Charlotte sold out in the box, the Owls made them pay with through the air. Jenkins created an opening for Drayden Dickmann in the end zone off a play action for a 9-yard touchdown, setting the tone for the night.
Charlotte responded by forcing three-straight three-and-outs. Meanwhile, the 49er offense moved but not far enough. Tim Albin’s team regularly landed in field goal range, but Rice tightened up its defense every time the end zone was near. Kicker Logan Boyd sunk his first three first half field goals, handing Charlotte a 9-7 advantage with 2:23 before halftime. However, in the midst of Boyd’s second field goal drive, the 49ers lost quarterback Conner Harrell due to injury. Harrell hurt his lower leg on a 19-yard first down trot, causing Duke transfer Grayson Loftis to play the final two-and-a-half quarters at quarterback.
“I’m not gonna go up here and blame injuries, because we’ve got them,” said Charlotte head coach Tim Albin, who did not provide an update on Harrell’s timetable to return. “It’s part of the game and we’re gonna have a next man up mentality.”
The turning point occurred once Charlotte established that 9-7 lead behind Loftis’ relief duties. Rice’s offense went warp speed down the field, finishing a 65-second drive on a 34-yard sprint by Jenkins with 1:18 remaining in the half. That served as the first touchdown of a 21-0 run by the Owls, and Rice entered the break holding onto a 14-9 advantage. Rice continued its surge in the third quarter as a 37-yard connection from Jenkins to Tyson Thompson set up an Alexander touchdown run — finishing its 75-yard touchdown drive of the game. Alexander (10 attempts, 73 rushing yards, two touchdowns) eventually punched in the Owls’ final touchdown of a double-digit victory.
“It was very crucial because we slowed down after the first drive,” Alexander said on that late second quarter touchdown. “After that we kind of stalemated. Chase had a big run to set us up for a touchdown and that set us up for the second half.”
Rice only threw for a combined 95 yards in its first two games vs. FBS competition, but the Owls’ run-centric offense made several spectacular plays through the air to keep Charlotte on its toes. Six of Jenkins’ eight completions (on 11 attempts) traveled for first downs or touchdowns, and he started a perfect 7-of-7 for 79 yards.
“I think those were the difference makers,” Abell said on Jenkins’ throws. “People were crowding the box and we’ve got to be consistent to let everyone know we’re gonna threaten you over the top. Tonight he made a lot of really nice throws.”
Loftis finished 15-of-31 for 186 yards and a touchdown in Harrell’s place, pressured heavily by a Rice defense which landed six sacks on the night. Michael Daley led the group with 2.5 from the defensive end position, but no sack was more meaningful than one crafted by Ty Morris on the final play of the third quarter. Down 21-9, Charlotte faced a 1st and 10 from the Rice 26 when Morris flew in untouched on a blitz. The outside linebacker dislodging the ball from Loftis’ hands and defensive end Tony Anyanwu pounced on it for a critical turnover. Rice’s first takeaway in three games ultimately shut the door on any potential Charlotte comeback.
“Sacks are like momentum drive-killers,” inside linebacker Andrew Awe said. “That gives the juice for the DBs and us linebackers are like, ‘He don’t got time back there, so we don’t have to cover as long.’ We can jump routes because we know he doesn’t have time to do a double move or pump fake to another throw. He’s got one read and if he doesn’t have that read, then he’s down. We know the defensive line is the strong suit of our defense… so seeing everyone make plays shows that we’re like that on defense, and trenches win ballgames.”
Another stellar playmaker defensively was strong safety Marcus Williams. Defending a Charlotte passing attack which produced a 228-yard receiver in E. Jai Mason a week ago, Williams didn’t flinch. He flew aggressively to the ball for three pass breakups, a forced fumble, and six tackles — while being a major reason Charlotte completed just 23-of-44 total passes.
“Marcus, I always knew was a really good player. He’s very intellectual, very intelligent, knows a lot of ball,” Awe said. “He was just behind Gabe Taylor so he was just waiting for his shot a lot of time, and he’s been hurt. I know Marcus can ball so I trust him back there. We’re communicative and we talk all the time, especially as linebackers and safeties work together in coverage. I can trust Marcus, and I knew he was gonna make some plays.”
Charlotte dropped its conference opener and now trails Rice 4-3 in the all-time series. The 49ers look to rebound in Albin’s first year at the helm, and it will be 30 days before they suit up at Jerry Richardson Stadium again. A bye week looms as Charlotte looks to return several nicked up players and mull over adjustments needed for a stronger October.
“We have a lot of guys playing right now. In my 37 years I don’t think I’ve ever experienced this many guys (injured),” Albin said. “I bet we have over 20 guys, 15 on crutches. It is what it is. We’ve got to have next man up mentality. This break of 16 days couldn’t come at a better time. I told them to keep their heads up because we’re gonna fight.”
At 3-1, Rice is off to its strongest start in 24 years. The Owls are 2-0 on the road to commence the Abell era, and the veterans in the building echo that the program is simply different in the new head coach’s inaugural year.
“It’s exciting. It shows the world and shows everyone that it’s different this year for Rice,” said Awe, a sixth-year senior. “A lot of times when we were down, we were down and out once we started getting down. This year it’s different. We’re a contender for the conference this year, and we play hard every snap. We don’t care what the score is or how much time’s left on the clock. We still play hard. It’s really exciting to see, especially the growth from when I got here freshman year — just the locker room, how we work out, how we do meetings. They really treat us like pros and it really feels like a really program. It showed that tonight.”
