Herd has hands full vs. Rice duo
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- No offense to their former coach, but Rice fans have to be happy that Ken Hatfield resigned three years ago after a one-win season.
Otherwise, the Owls' dynamic duo of quarterback Chase Clement and wide receiver Jarrett Dillard might not have accumulated the jaw-dropping numbers they possess today.
"The amazing thing about those two is, they were recruited by Ken Hatfield to run the option," Rice Coach David Bailiff said. "That's a made-for-Hollywood story."
Indeed it is.
Instead of running their way into school, conference and national record books, Clement and Dillard have made their mark by passing and catching.
No other duo in NCAA history has combined for more touchdown passes than Clement and Dillard, who have hooked up for 48 scores in their college careers.
Dillard ranks 12th in NCAA history in career receptions (274), 13th in career receiving yards (3,921) and 15th in career touchdowns (57). He is first in Conference USA history in career receiving yards, second in career receptions and second in career touchdowns.
Clements hold the Conference USA record for career touchdown passes (87) and ranks 18th in NCAA history in that category. He also shares the league record for career total touchdowns (109).
Clement also owns Rice records for career passing yards (7,093) as well as career completions (581) and career attempts (1,121).
"When they were redshirting on the scout team, they would stay out after practice and just throw and catch and try to work on miraculous plays," Bailiff said. "All of a sudden, four years later, they're the most dynamic tandem in college football history and they're still adding to their records."
Dillard, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound senior, ranks second in the nation in touchdown receptions (17), fourth in receiving yards (1,093), fourth in receiving yards per game (109.3), fourth in points per game (10.2) and 15th in receptions per game (6.9).
Clement, a 6-1, 210-pound senior, ranks third in the nation in points responsible for per game (25.0), third in total offense per game (362.6), sixth in touchdown passes (32), sixth in passing yards per game (311.6), eighth in completions per game (24.3), 10th in passing yards (3,116) and 10th in passing efficiency (164.4).
"They're very explosive on offense," said Marshall Coach Mark Snyder, who noted Rice can and will attack teams horizontally and vertically with its passing game.
Snyder and the Marshall defense must find a way to stop or at least contain Clement, Dillard and the rest of the Rice offense on Saturday, when the Owls (7-3, 5-1) will welcome the Thundering Herd (4-6, 3-3) to Houston for a Conference USA matchup.
CBS College Sports -- available on DirecTV (channel 613), Dish Network (152), Suddenlink (317), Comcast (174) and Armstrong (499) -- will televise the game, which will kick off at 3:30 p.m. (EST) at Rice Stadium.
The Owls are a nine-point favorite.
"I love their offense, to be honest with you," Marshall redshirt freshman cornerback T.J. Drakeford said. "I have been watching a lot of film on them.
"I love how they attack teams with the passing game. It's a West Coast offense. They really like to spread it out and throw the football down the field."
Clement completed 29-of-48 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns -- none to Dillard, surprisingly -- in a 34-21 road loss to Marshall last year in the teams' first meeting. He also carried 11 times for 76 yards and another score.
Dillard had seven catches for 99 yards in that game, the eighth on Marshall's 12-game schedule last year.
"Toward the end of the year last year, you got a flash of what you're seeing this year," Snyder said of the Thundering Herd's ever-improving defense.
Marshall already has shut down a pair of high-powered passing games this season in a 17-16 win over Memphis and a 37-23 win over Houston, both at home.
"We're going to have to get pressure on him," Snyder said of Clement, who has thrown six touchdown passes in one game twice this season. "After we get pressure on him, we're going to have to keep him in the pocket. And we're going to have to have superior coverage on them."
Snyder said Marshall's personnel will reflect a need for speed.
"They make you defend east, west, north and south," Snyder said of the Owls. "They do a great job of spreading the whole field and making you defend it. That's why they put so many points up.
"We'll probably go with a little bit smaller lineup this week, look like we did against Houston, and see what we can't get done."
The Thundering Herd enters with five losses in its last six games, including two in a row.
"The past is the past," Marshall junior defensive end Albert McClellan said. "I'm assuming all of the odds are against us. Some people like playing with their backs against the wall. We're going to give it everything we have got regardless."
"We're not just rolling out the red carpet and giving it to them," Drakeford added.
Contact sports writer Jacob Messer at jacobmes...@dailymail.com or 304-348-1712. His blog is at blogs.dailymail.com/marshall.
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- No offense to their former coach, but Rice fans have to be happy that Ken Hatfield resigned three years ago after a one-win season.
Otherwise, the Owls' dynamic duo of quarterback Chase Clement and wide receiver Jarrett Dillard might not have accumulated the jaw-dropping numbers they possess today.
"The amazing thing about those two is, they were recruited by Ken Hatfield to run the option," Rice Coach David Bailiff said. "That's a made-for-Hollywood story."
Indeed it is.
Instead of running their way into school, conference and national record books, Clement and Dillard have made their mark by passing and catching.
No other duo in NCAA history has combined for more touchdown passes than Clement and Dillard, who have hooked up for 48 scores in their college careers.
Dillard ranks 12th in NCAA history in career receptions (274), 13th in career receiving yards (3,921) and 15th in career touchdowns (57). He is first in Conference USA history in career receiving yards, second in career receptions and second in career touchdowns.
Clements hold the Conference USA record for career touchdown passes (87) and ranks 18th in NCAA history in that category. He also shares the league record for career total touchdowns (109).
Clement also owns Rice records for career passing yards (7,093) as well as career completions (581) and career attempts (1,121).
"When they were redshirting on the scout team, they would stay out after practice and just throw and catch and try to work on miraculous plays," Bailiff said. "All of a sudden, four years later, they're the most dynamic tandem in college football history and they're still adding to their records."
Dillard, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound senior, ranks second in the nation in touchdown receptions (17), fourth in receiving yards (1,093), fourth in receiving yards per game (109.3), fourth in points per game (10.2) and 15th in receptions per game (6.9).
Clement, a 6-1, 210-pound senior, ranks third in the nation in points responsible for per game (25.0), third in total offense per game (362.6), sixth in touchdown passes (32), sixth in passing yards per game (311.6), eighth in completions per game (24.3), 10th in passing yards (3,116) and 10th in passing efficiency (164.4).
"They're very explosive on offense," said Marshall Coach Mark Snyder, who noted Rice can and will attack teams horizontally and vertically with its passing game.
Snyder and the Marshall defense must find a way to stop or at least contain Clement, Dillard and the rest of the Rice offense on Saturday, when the Owls (7-3, 5-1) will welcome the Thundering Herd (4-6, 3-3) to Houston for a Conference USA matchup.
CBS College Sports -- available on DirecTV (channel 613), Dish Network (152), Suddenlink (317), Comcast (174) and Armstrong (499) -- will televise the game, which will kick off at 3:30 p.m. (EST) at Rice Stadium.
The Owls are a nine-point favorite.
"I love their offense, to be honest with you," Marshall redshirt freshman cornerback T.J. Drakeford said. "I have been watching a lot of film on them.
"I love how they attack teams with the passing game. It's a West Coast offense. They really like to spread it out and throw the football down the field."
Clement completed 29-of-48 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns -- none to Dillard, surprisingly -- in a 34-21 road loss to Marshall last year in the teams' first meeting. He also carried 11 times for 76 yards and another score.
Dillard had seven catches for 99 yards in that game, the eighth on Marshall's 12-game schedule last year.
"Toward the end of the year last year, you got a flash of what you're seeing this year," Snyder said of the Thundering Herd's ever-improving defense.
Marshall already has shut down a pair of high-powered passing games this season in a 17-16 win over Memphis and a 37-23 win over Houston, both at home.
"We're going to have to get pressure on him," Snyder said of Clement, who has thrown six touchdown passes in one game twice this season. "After we get pressure on him, we're going to have to keep him in the pocket. And we're going to have to have superior coverage on them."
Snyder said Marshall's personnel will reflect a need for speed.
"They make you defend east, west, north and south," Snyder said of the Owls. "They do a great job of spreading the whole field and making you defend it. That's why they put so many points up.
"We'll probably go with a little bit smaller lineup this week, look like we did against Houston, and see what we can't get done."
The Thundering Herd enters with five losses in its last six games, including two in a row.
"The past is the past," Marshall junior defensive end Albert McClellan said. "I'm assuming all of the odds are against us. Some people like playing with their backs against the wall. We're going to give it everything we have got regardless."
"We're not just rolling out the red carpet and giving it to them," Drakeford added.
Contact sports writer Jacob Messer at jacobmes...@dailymail.com or 304-348-1712. His blog is at blogs.dailymail.com/marshall.
