Rice University
0-4 , 0-1
Florida State
3-1 , 1-1
Owls Fall To No. 18 Seminoles
9/23/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 23, 2006
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -For the second time in as many weeks, the Rice Owls ran into a nationally-ranked power smarting from a loss at home, looking to calm the home front and regain its momentum.
One week ago, it was the Texas Longhorns who blitzed the Owls 52-7 and on this Saturday, the Florida State Seminoles took out the frustrations of a loss to Clemson by besting Rice 55-7.
For the fourth straight week, the Owls won the toss and deferred to the second half, and for the fourth straight week, their opponents took the opening kick and marched in for a score. However, the Owls diverted from the normal script by taking the ball on their first possession and scoring in the first quarter for the first time this year.
Joel Armstrong opened the drive by hitting Jarett Dillard for a gain of 18 yards and four plays later he found Dillard all alone behind the FSU defense for a 32-yard scoring strike. It was Dillard's sixth straight game with a touchdown reception, matching DeSean Jackson of California for the longest current streak in the nation.
Quinton Smith ran for 104 yards on 16 tries, his second 100-yard effort of the year and the ninth of his career. He vaulted three spots on the Owls career rushing chart and needs less than 100 to move past College Hall of Famer Dickie Maegle into the top 10 in Rice history. Dillard caught seven passes for a career-best 113 yards for the Owls, who have now lost 20 of their last 21 games, leaving new coach Todd Graham still looking for his first victory.
The Owls wrap up their non-conferece schedule this Saturday when they travel to West Point to meet Army (2-2), 27-20 overtime winners over Baylor in Waco on Saturday night.
Team Stats
RICE 0, FS 7
FS - Surratt, J 1 yd run (Cismesia, G kick), 8 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:33
RICE 7, FS 7
RICE - DILLARD, Jarett 32 yd pass from ARMSTRONG, Joel (FANGMEIER, C. kick) 5 plays, 65 yards, TOP 2:25
RICE 7, FS 14
FS - Smith, A 3 yd run (Cismesia, G kick), 11 plays, 72 yards, TOP 4:11
RICE 7, FS 17
FS - Cismesia, G 32 yd field goal 4 plays, 0 yards, TOP 1:45
RICE 7, FS 20
FS - Cismesia, G 53 yd field goal 6 plays, 16 yards, TOP 2:14
RICE 7, FS 26
FS - Carr, G 18 yd pass from Weatherford, D (Cismesia, G kickfailed) 5 plays, 51 yards, TOP 2:23
RICE 7, FS 33
FS - Surratt, J 2 yd run (Cismesia, G kick), 2 plays, 38 yards, TOP 0:25
RICE 7, FS 40
FS - Booker, L 7 yd run (Cismesia, G kick), 3 plays, 69 yards, TOP 1:28
RICE 7, FS 47
FS - Smith, A 25 yd run (Cismesia, G kick), 6 plays, 56 yards, TOP 2:37
RICE 7, FS 55
FS - Carr, G 57 yd pass from Lee, X (Piurowski, C rush) 5 plays, 76 yards, TOP 3:01
