Texas A&M @ New Mexico recap

Aggies even their record with unimpressive victory

It was a victory. It is not likely impressive enough to keep the Aggies out of ESPN’s Bottom 10.

The Aggies hung on to defeat the New Mexico Lobos 28-22 at University Stadium in Albuquerque. The Aggies evened their record at 1-1. The Lobos dropped to 0-2.

The Aggies may have found a future star in backup quarterback Jerrod Johnson. Starter Stephen McGee went down on the first series with an injury to his throwing shoulder. Sophomore Johnson stepped in and threw three touchdown passes while facing a horrendous pass rush. He was sacked one time and avoided any interceptions.

The Aggies got off to a 21-7 halftime lead and watched it almost slip away. The Lobos scored 12 unanswered points late in the fourth quarter. An attempted on-side kick by the Lobos failed with 34 seconds remaining. That sealed the victory for the Aggies.

Three turnovers, a fumble, and a hotly disputed roughing the passer penalty against the Lobos proved to be the game’s difference. Lobos Coach Rocky Long questioned the call before Versus TV network reporters at halftime. The Lobos led in every statistical category.

Lobo QB Donovan Porterie's two early interceptions led to a 14-0 Aggie lead. Aggie safety Jordan Peterson hauled in the first interception. He returned it 48 yards for a touchdown. That score put the Aggies in the lead, 7-0.

Less than a minute later, Aggie corner Arkieth Brown intercepted the second errant pass at the Lobo 31-yard line. Then Johnson threw for his first TD, a 21-yarder to true freshman tight end Jeff Fuller.

Johnson’s second TD came late in the second quarter and capped a drive that started on the Aggie 7-yard line. The 10-yard pass was again to Fuller who reached over the Lobo defender and took it out of his hands in the end zone.

The drive was helped immeasurably by a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty. It came on a third down and eight at the Lobo’s 45-yard line. Johnson’s pass was incomplete. The drive appeared to be stalled. The penalty kept the drive alive, and play resumed with the ball on the 30-yard line. The crowd of 28,007, mostly Lobo fans, booed until well after the touchdown that ended the series.

The Lobo’s lone first-half score was a 45-yard dash by running back Rodney Ferguson. The big Lobo back found a gap in the right side of the Aggie D-Line and burst through and went untouched for a TD. He ended the day with 135 yards on 19 carries.

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Lobo’s quarterback Porterie threw for 154 yards. It was the two interceptions that help bring his team down to defeat.

The Lobos led in every individual statistical category.

Massive, over-weight Aggie fullback Jorvorskie Lane got seven carries for 19 yards. Earlier in the week, Lane had been named to the Doak Walker Award’s watch list.

True freshman Cyrus Gray led the Aggie rushing attack with 29 yards on 10 rushes. Red-shirt freshman running back Bradley Stephens got 27 yards on seven carries.

Tailback Mike Goodson, who rushed for 124 yards against A-State, went down with a knee injury. He gained 15 yards on six carries.

The Aggies have a by-week and then must get ready for Miami.

By Jay Goode
Big 12 Fans Texas A&M Correspondent

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