Aggies skin the Bobcats

Faced with a shortened week of practice and Hurricane Rita bearing down on the Texas Gulf Coast, Texas A&M held-off a feisty Texas State team, 44-31 in a re-scheduled Thursday night game at Kyle Field.

A 45-yard reception by senior WR Jason Carter set up a Todd Pegram field goal on the Aggies’ first possession in front of a slimmed-down, hurricane-cautious crowd that included 25,600 fanatical A&M students. Senior DB Ronald Jones recovered a fumble off of a muffed Texas State punt on the ensuing drive. Aggie Chad Schroeder ran for a 13-yard touchdown on a fake field goal attempt, putting the Aggies up 10-0 on the A&M’s next possession.

Texas State fumbled the subsequent punt attempt, setting-up a 20-yard Pegram field goal and taking A&M to a 13-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Bobcat’s prominent play of the first half came early in the second quarter when they put up six points after a 72-yard reception. But Aggie QB Reggie McNeal responded on the next drive, connecting with Carter on a 71-yard pitch and catch and taking A&M to a 20-7 lead.

Texas State kicked a field goal to pull within three points of A&M with 4:04 left in the first half; but McNeal and Schroeder answered with a 45-yard touchdown play to put the Ags up 27-17 headed into the half.

With 3:12 remaining in the third quarter, A&M’s Courtney Lewis notched a touchdown, set-up by a 35-yard run McNeal run.

But TSU mounted a legitimate come-back effort in the fourth quarter, recovering an A&M fumble and threatening with consecutive throws to the end zone. The Aggie defense responded, holding Texas State and forcing the Bobcats’ offense to turn the ball over on downs.

www.12thFan.com
Texas A&M Spirit Online