Thursday, December 25, 2014
Jackson leads Rice to Hawaii Bowl win
Doug Ferguson, Associated Press 7:20 a.m. EST December 25, 2014 20 CONNECT 15 TWEET LINKEDIN 1 COMMENT EMAIL MORE 20 CONNECT 15 TWEET LINKEDIN 1 COMMENT EMAIL MORE Rice running back Jowan Davis (3) finds himself being chased down by Fresno State linebackers Karl Mickelsen, center, and Ejiro Ederaine, right. (Photo: Eugene Tanner / Associated Press) Honolulu � Despite starting its season with three straight losses, Fresno State made it to a bowl game for the 14th time in the last 16 seasons. The Bulldogs lost their sixth consecutive postseason game Wednesday night when they didn't have an answer for Rice quarterback Driphus Jackson and couldn't budge against the Owls' defense in a 30-6 loss at the Hawaii Bowl. "It's frustrating," Fresno State coach Tim DeRuyter said. "We've got to figure out a way to get over the hump." It wasn't for a lack of trying against Rice. The Bulldogs (6-8) found an early spark from running back Josh Quezada, and they were able to keep a few drives going thanks to penalties on Rice, two that wiped out sacks and another that kept a drive going on a fourth-and-7 play. What they couldn't find was the end zone. Fresno State broke its own Hawaii Bowl record for fewest points � it had 10 in a lopsided loss to SMU two years ago. It was the first time the Bulldogs did not score a touchdown in any game since a 51-0 loss to Boise State four years ago, and the six points were the fewest for them in any bowl game in school history. "Give credit to Rice," said linebacker Karl Mickelsen, voted the MVP for Fresno State in the Hawaii Bowl. "They're physical. We've just got to be more physical. When it comes down to it, everybody has just got to get to the ball." All it took was 19 seconds late in the first quarter for Rice (8-5) to seize control, and the Owls were never seriously challenged after that. Even though Rice dominated early, it was tied at 3 when Jackson was perfect on a fly route to Dennis Parks down the left sideline for a 53-yard gain that led to his 14-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Taylor. Brian Burrell's deep throw was intercepted on Fresno State's next play from scrimmage, and Jackson then slightly underthrew a deep ball to Mario Hull, who came back for the catch and eluded two defenders to complete at 69-yard touchdown. "We couldn't ask for a better momentum shift," Jackson said. "When you have two scores in 19 seconds, and then on the kickoff return we have a great hit, emotions are running high and we responded OK. I wish we could have scored more on the offensive side of the ball to counter what the defense was doing. But we got the win, and that's all that matters." Burrell was 10 of 22 for 44 yards and two interceptions, both on deep balls, and he was pulled for Zack Greenlee after the second pick late in the third quarter. Burrell didn't complete a pass longer than 8 yards. Greenlee didn't fare much better, going 7 of 18 for 49 yards. "We were struggling offensively," DeRuyter said. "We went to a package that we've practiced going into this final game. We just thought offensively we needed a spark to change things up." Marteze Waller had 76 yards on 15 carries, but two of those runs went for 41 and 16 yards. Quezada finished with 52 yards on some tough runs against a strong defense. "Once we came into the second half, we wanted the big plays because we were down by so much," Quezada said. "So we turned more to the passing game." Rice outgained the Bulldogs 463-255.
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