Both Tim DeRuyter and David Bailiff cringed at the idea of a shootout on Christmas Eve.

The two head coaches in the Hawaii Bowl are former defensive coordinators. At their core, they believe in defense first.

As good coaches would, they have evolved and progressed over time as the game has changed and their conventional spread offenses are a reflection of that, though it’s not necessarily how they would prefer it.

"Offenses used to stand there and fight like men," Bailiff said at Monday’s press conference. "They’d huddle and they’d let you make some calls and let you flip corners.

"Now with all of this up-tempo, all the multiplicity in the formations, you’re going to have games like that."

Rice will face Fresno State Wednesday afternoon in a bowl that has typically been high-scoring.

During a seven-year run from 2003-10, the winning team scored at least 41 points with Tulsa dropping 62 points in a win and Hawaii twice scoring more than 50.

It’s changed somewhat recently, beginning with Southern Mississippi’s 24-17 win over Nevada in 2011 and Oregon State’s 38-28 victory over Boise State last year.

The Owls and Bulldogs have shown the ability to put up points when necessary, but the defenses are what got both teams to the islands.

Rice allowed 43.7 points per game in three losses to start the season before giving up 21 points or less in six consecutive wins.

Fresno State allowed 82 points in losses to Boise State and Wyoming to fall to 3-6 before rattling off three straight wins in which they allowed 24 or less.

"As good as they’ve been offensively, I think the strides they’ve made the most have been on the defensive side of the football where every week, they got a little better over there," Bailiff said.

Fresno State boasts two first-team All-Mountain West defensive players — nose guard Tyeler Davison and safety Derron Smith.

Smith, who had a game-high seven tackles in the bowl game two years ago against SMU, said the Rice offense reminds him a lot of one he is very familiar with.

"Honestly, they kind of remind me of our offense last year," Smith said. "Trying to get the ball to the perimeter, trying to get it in their playmakers’ hands (and) trying to use play action also."

Rice’s lone first-team All-Conference USA selection was defensive end Brian Nordstrom, who is one of six players likely to be the first Owls ever to start in three different bowl games.

His 181⁄2 tackles for loss are the second-most at Rice in a single season and he ranks fifth in the conference with 71⁄2 sacks.

"One of the big things is just playing good team defense," Nordstrom said. "I think (Fresno State) has a little bit of Old Dominion in them with their quick passing game and that’s a team we struggled against, obviously."

ODU put up 45 points against the Owls early in the year when Rice started 0-3.

The Owls won seven of the next eight to get bowl eligible before giving up 76 points in the regular-season finale against Louisiana Tech.

That opened the eyes of Fresno State receiver Josh Harper, who is playing in his first bowl game.

"I’m excited for this matchup," said Harper, who has caught 86 balls for 1,072 yards and seven touchdowns. "They play a lot of man and they’re going to be in your face."

Fresno State will get some help on defense from senior lineman Ioane Sagapolu, a 2011 Farrington High alumnus.

Sagapolu, who plays behind a first-team All-MWC nose guard in Davison, practiced last Saturday at Roosevelt High, where he played his home games with the Govs.

"It’s a great way to finish the season," Sagapolu said. "Coming out of Farrington I wasn’t a (NCAA) qualifier, so I had to take the long way and went to Fresno City (College).

"Now I’m here, senior year, Hawaii Bowl, last game, and it’s been a great experience."