Miami took advantage of two critical Aggie third quarter turnovers, Robert Marve threw two touchdown passes and Graig Cooper ran for 128 yards and two scores to lead Miami to a 41-23 win over Texas A&M on Saturday afternoon in fornt of a sold out Kyle Field in College Station. Jerrod Johnson passed for 275 yards and 3 TDs and Mike Goodson (left) had 143 yards and 2 TDs for the Aggies.
Texas A&M started with a bang. After a 31-yard kickoff return by Cyrus Gray, on the Aggies' first play from scrimmage, Jerrod Johnson completed a pass to Mike Goodson in the flat and Goodson took it 62 yards for an Aggie touchdown. Richie Bean's extra point gave the Aggies a 7-0 lead just 20 seconds into the game.
It didn't take Miami long to respond. After a 41-yard kickoff return by Brandon Harris, Miami drove 59 yards in 4 plays, with Graig Cooper scoring on a 19-yard run. Matt Bosher's extra point tied the game 7-all with 12:56 left in the 1st quarter.
Miami took a 14-7 lead on their next possession when Graig Cooper broke loose on a 51-yard touchdown run. The Aggies drove Miami 21-yard line in 12 plays before having to settle for a 38-yard Richie Bean field goal, cutting the Miami lead to 14-10 at the 3:21 mark in the 1st quarter.
Early in the 2nd quarter, Miami used 9 plays to drive to set up a 1st-and-goal at the Aggies 7-yard line. A strong defensive stand by the Aggies forced Miami to settle for a 20-yard field goal, giving Miami a 17-10 lead with 8:22 left in the first half. Texas A&M drove to the Miami 21-yard line before Richie Bean missed a 48-yard field goal.
Miami and Texas A&M exchanged punts before Miami's Travis Benjamin returned a Justin Brantley punt 44 yards to the Aggie 41-yard line. Robert Marve thres a 26-yard touchdown pass to Thearon Collier and Bosher's extra point gave Miami a 24-10 halftime lead
After an exchange of punts to open the 3rd quarter, Miami drove to the Aggie 2-yard line before another solid Aggie goal line stand forced Miami to kick a 20-yard field goal, extending the Miami lead to 27-10 at the 6:54 mark in the 3rd quarter.
On the first play of the next Aggie possession, a Jerrod Johnson pass was intercepted by Miami defensive end Eric Moncur and Moncur returned it to the Aggie 15-yard line. Robert Marve hit Kayne Farquharson on a 15-yard towuchdown pass to give Miami a 34-10 lead. On the Aggies next possession, Jerrod Johnson was sacked by Miami linebacker Colin McCarthy, fumbled, and Miami lineback Glenn Cook recovered at the 2-yard line and took it in for a touchdown to give Miami a commanding 41-10 lead with 5:43 left in the 3rd quarter.
Texas A&M drove 58 yards in 8 plays, with Jeff Fuller scoring on a 18-yard pass from Jerrod Johnson to reduce the Miami lead to 41-17 with 1:55 left in the 3rd quarter. A&M's next drive went 48 yards in 11 plays, with Mike Goodson scoring on a 1-yard toss from Jerrod Johnson to further reduce the Miami lead to 41-23 with 9:32 left in the game.
Miami used up over five minutes of clock on seven straight rushing plays before Aggie defensive back Johnathan Batson intercepted a Robert Marve pass at the Aggie goal line. The Aggies drove out to the 41-yard line before turning the ball over on downs. Miami ran out the clock to claim a 41-23 win ovcer Texas A&M.
The game was very close statistically. Both Miami and Texas A&M had 18 first downs. Miami led in total yards, 398 to 361. The Aggies led in time of possession 33:25 to 26:35.
For Texas A&M, Jerrod Johnson completed 19 of 33 passes for 275 yards and 3 TDs with one interception. Mike Goodson rushed for 64 yards on 12 carries and 4 passes for 79 yards and 2 TDs. Jeff Fuller caught 5 passes for 79 yards and 1 TD and Terrence McCoy caught 5 passes for 51 yards.
For Miami, Robert Marce completed 16 of 22 passes for 212 yards and 2 TDs with one interception. Graig Cooper rushed for 128 yards and 2 TDs on 16 carries. Kayne Farquharson caught 5 passes for 67 yards and 1 TD and Thearon Collier caught 4 passes for 62 yards and 1 TD.
This game was essentially decided in that one minute in the third quarter when Jerrod Johnson threw an interception setting up Miami at the Aggie 15-yard line and later fumbled on a sack for a Miami touchdown.
The Aggies will lake a number of positives from this game - 361 total yards, 275 yards passing, a couple of goal line stands, a solid second half defensive performance.
Texas A&M (1-2) will now look to rebound when they host Army next Saturday.