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No. 24/25 Texas A&M at Texas Tech
AGGIES PREVAIL WITH ANOTHER HUGE SCORING OUTBURST VS. TECH
Texas A&M won its
third straight game against the Red Raiders on the strength of another
big scoring night. In the three-game winning streak, the Aggies went
over 40 points in every game and averaged 46.3 points. A&M’s 45
points tonight were the second-most ever scored by the Aggies in
Lubbock, behind only the 52-point outburst in 2009.
It’s
the first time A&M has won three in a row against Texas Tech since
the early 1990s when A&M won five straight from 1990-94. It’s also
the first time A&M has won consecutive games in Lubbock since 1991
and 1993. It’s just the third time A&M has won consecutive games in
Lubbock since the Bear Bryant era in 1950s.
NO TAKEAWAYS, NO PROBLEM
The
Aggies couldn’t muster a takeaway for the fourth straight game, while
withstanding a school-record 105 offensive plays by the Red Raiders
(old record was 99 plays by Texas in 1968).
ANOTHER UNIQUE DOUBLE FOR TANNEHILL
Quarterback
Ryan Tannehill passed for 188 yards, which pushed him past the
3,000-yard plateau in career passing yards. According to FX research,
that makes Tannehill the first NCAA Football Subdivision player with
over 3,000 passing yards and 1,500 receiving yards in his career. It is
Tannehill’s second unique double: He is also the only FBS player with a
400-yard passing game (447 vs. Texas Tech in 2010) and a 200-yard
receiving game (210 vs. Kansas State in 2008).
Notables:
·
Mike Sherman’s Aggies won in meeting of two former R.C. Slocum
assistant coaches. Sherman coached for Slocum from 1989-93 and again
from 1995-96, while Texas Tech’s Tommy Tuberville served as Slocum’s
defensive coordinator in the Aggies’ undefeated 1994 season.
·
Senior Cyrus Gray posted his 12th career 100-yard rushing game with 116
yards on 21 carries. It is his third century game of 2011, and the 10th
time in his last 12 games.
· Two
Aggies were lost for the game with injuries: WR Jeff Fuller
(concussion) and Joker Brandon Alexander (dislocated elbow).
·
The Aggies’ Dustin Harris blocked Donnie Carona field goal attempt,
which was returned 65 yards for a touchdown by A&M’s Terrence
Frederick. It was A&M’s first FG block since Harris blocked a
three-point attempt against Baylor last year.
·
Strong performance by punter Ryan Epperson, who blasted five boots for
a 45.6 average including 68-yarder that was downed at the TTU 5. He
finished the night with two 50-plus punts and two coffin-corner
efforts.
· Frederick’s return was A&M’s first touchdown of the season not scored on offense.
·
Ryan Tannehill had a career-high two rushing touchdowns in the first
half. He only had two career rushing TDs coming into the game.
·
Texas A&M scored a touchdown on its initial offensive series for
the third straight game, and fourth time in five contests.
·
New starters for the Aggies: redshirt freshman Jarvis Harrison at LG
(Brian Thomas moved to RG), junior Michael Lamothe at TE; junior
Spencer Nealy at DE; sophomore Damontre Moore at Joker; freshman Howard
Matthews at SS. First-ever starts for all five Aggies.
·
Texas A&M game captains were permanent team captains Ryan Tannehill
(offense) and Trent Hunter (defense), along with sophomore defensive
back Desmond Gardiner (special teams).
· The 12th Man was C.J. Jones, a junior from Houston, who is fourth straight 12th Man start.
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