Texas A&M Football
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TEXAS A&M FOOTBALL Postgame notes: No. 24/25 Texas A&M at Texas Tech Saturday, October 8, 2011 * Jones AT&T Stadium, Lubbock, Texas 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 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 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. .