Owls in the League 2020-Week 13
12/10/2020 4:37:00 PM | Football
Updating the Owls in action
The "week" in the NFL has become harder and harder to define due to delays caused by COVID-19, but prior to the start of the next round of games, here's a look back at last week's action involving the Owls.
This week's trivia question: Rice registered its first shutout in 25 years last Saturday. Can you name the pair of future NFL stalwarts who played a huge part in the last time Rice held an opponent off the scoreboard?
Before you find the answer, here's a rundown on the rest of the Owls in Week 12
Calvin Anderson— Anderson played in his 12th game of the season, seeing action on special teams for Denver in a 22-16 loss to Kansas City. After taking 34 snaps on special teams over the first eight games, Anderson made his starting debut for Denver on the road at Las Vegas in Week 10 and played all 71 offensive snaps. The Broncos travel to Carolina this Sunday at Noon. (CBS)
Chris Boswell—Boswell was nursing an injury and not active for the Steelers first loss of the season, 23-17 to Washington. The Steelers travel to Buffalo on Sunday to face the Bills at 7:20 p.m. (NBC)
Bryce Callahan- Callahan was placed on IR on December 2.
Christian Covington—Covington made his 10th start in 12 games for the Bengals as was credited with a tackle in a 19-7 loss to Miami. The tackle was his 29th of the year (career high). The Bengals will host Dallas, Covington's team in 2019 on Sunday at noon. (FOX)
Jack Fox—Fox continues to lead the NFL in punting (49.4) and net punting (45.6) and was named to the Pro Football Focus Midseason All-Pro team. He and his Lions teammates will host the Packers at 3:25 on Sunday. (FOX)
Phillip Gaines— Gaines made his second start of the year and matched his season high with six tackles in addition to breaking up a pass in the Texans loss to the Colts at NRG Stadium. The Texans travel to Chicago for a noon kickoff on Sunday. (CBS)
Vance McDonald— McDonald did not record a catch in the Steelers 23-17 loss to Washington. He is two yards shy of reaching 2,000 receiving yards in his career (1,998). The Steelers travel to Buffalo on Sunday to face the Bills at 7:20 p.m. (NBC)
Andrew Sendejo— Moved past Michael Downs into10th in the Rice career NFL games list with his 122nd contest. He was credited with eight tackles in the win over the Titans to give him 62 this season (most since he had 80 in 2017). He will tie King Hill for ninth on the Owls career list with his next appearance and needs four games to tie Hill's former quarterback partner at Rice, Frank Ryan, for eighth. Cleveland hosts Baltimore on Monday Night Football at 7:15 (ESPN).
Austin Walter— Walter was inactive as the 49ers lost to the Bills. They host Washington on Sunday at 3:25. (FOX)
Luke Willson— Willson picked up his first reception with the Ravens, an 12-yard connection with Lamar Jackson as the whipped Dallas 34-17 on Tuesday night. He'll be back in prime time action on Monday as the Ravens face Cleveland on Monday Night Football at 7:15 (ESPN).
With Walter's 2020 debut, Rice has had 10 players see action in 2020, the most Owls to play in an NFL season in school history. Nine Owls saw action in 2015 to set a school record, but only eight were active for the opening weekend. Rice also had nine former players active in professional football between the NFL and AFL in 1961 and nine between the NFL and the All American Football Conference in 1948.
Answer—Larry Izzo led the team with nine tackles and ND Kalu added three, including sack, and also forced a fumble to lead a Rice defensive effort that blanked UNLV 38-0 on September 2, 1995. The Owls picked off four passes on the day, the first coming on the second play of the game as Warrick Franklin returned it for a touchdown. The shutout was the first for the Owls in a season opener since 1970, but it took a goal line stand in the last minute to keep UNLV out of the end zone.
This week's trivia question: Rice registered its first shutout in 25 years last Saturday. Can you name the pair of future NFL stalwarts who played a huge part in the last time Rice held an opponent off the scoreboard?
Before you find the answer, here's a rundown on the rest of the Owls in Week 12
Calvin Anderson— Anderson played in his 12th game of the season, seeing action on special teams for Denver in a 22-16 loss to Kansas City. After taking 34 snaps on special teams over the first eight games, Anderson made his starting debut for Denver on the road at Las Vegas in Week 10 and played all 71 offensive snaps. The Broncos travel to Carolina this Sunday at Noon. (CBS)
Chris Boswell—Boswell was nursing an injury and not active for the Steelers first loss of the season, 23-17 to Washington. The Steelers travel to Buffalo on Sunday to face the Bills at 7:20 p.m. (NBC)
Bryce Callahan- Callahan was placed on IR on December 2.
Christian Covington—Covington made his 10th start in 12 games for the Bengals as was credited with a tackle in a 19-7 loss to Miami. The tackle was his 29th of the year (career high). The Bengals will host Dallas, Covington's team in 2019 on Sunday at noon. (FOX)
Jack Fox—Fox continues to lead the NFL in punting (49.4) and net punting (45.6) and was named to the Pro Football Focus Midseason All-Pro team. He and his Lions teammates will host the Packers at 3:25 on Sunday. (FOX)
Phillip Gaines— Gaines made his second start of the year and matched his season high with six tackles in addition to breaking up a pass in the Texans loss to the Colts at NRG Stadium. The Texans travel to Chicago for a noon kickoff on Sunday. (CBS)
Vance McDonald— McDonald did not record a catch in the Steelers 23-17 loss to Washington. He is two yards shy of reaching 2,000 receiving yards in his career (1,998). The Steelers travel to Buffalo on Sunday to face the Bills at 7:20 p.m. (NBC)
Andrew Sendejo— Moved past Michael Downs into10th in the Rice career NFL games list with his 122nd contest. He was credited with eight tackles in the win over the Titans to give him 62 this season (most since he had 80 in 2017). He will tie King Hill for ninth on the Owls career list with his next appearance and needs four games to tie Hill's former quarterback partner at Rice, Frank Ryan, for eighth. Cleveland hosts Baltimore on Monday Night Football at 7:15 (ESPN).
Austin Walter— Walter was inactive as the 49ers lost to the Bills. They host Washington on Sunday at 3:25. (FOX)
Luke Willson— Willson picked up his first reception with the Ravens, an 12-yard connection with Lamar Jackson as the whipped Dallas 34-17 on Tuesday night. He'll be back in prime time action on Monday as the Ravens face Cleveland on Monday Night Football at 7:15 (ESPN).
With Walter's 2020 debut, Rice has had 10 players see action in 2020, the most Owls to play in an NFL season in school history. Nine Owls saw action in 2015 to set a school record, but only eight were active for the opening weekend. Rice also had nine former players active in professional football between the NFL and AFL in 1961 and nine between the NFL and the All American Football Conference in 1948.
Answer—Larry Izzo led the team with nine tackles and ND Kalu added three, including sack, and also forced a fumble to lead a Rice defensive effort that blanked UNLV 38-0 on September 2, 1995. The Owls picked off four passes on the day, the first coming on the second play of the game as Warrick Franklin returned it for a touchdown. The shutout was the first for the Owls in a season opener since 1970, but it took a goal line stand in the last minute to keep UNLV out of the end zone.
Players Mentioned
RB
/ FootballWBB: Rice vs. Marshall Postgame Presser
Wednesday, March 09
VB: Rice-Texas Postgame Presser
Saturday, December 04
VB: Rice-San Diego Postgame Presser
Thursday, December 02