Texas A&M vs. Southern Miss - Postgame Notes & Quotes
Sep 19, 1998 | Football
September 19, 1998
HOLDMAN HAS HUGE GAME --- Senior outside linebacker Warrick Holdman, an all-conference candidate, had a huge game against Southern Mississippi with seven tackles, including two behind the line and a sack. He also pressured the QB once and batted down a pass at the line of scrimmage.
AGGIES TURN TURNOVERS INTO POINTS --- The Aggies forced five turnovers against USM and turned them into 13 points. In the first half, a fumble forced by linebacker Dat Nguyen was recovered by Ron Flemons. The Aggies booted a short field goal four plays later. In the second half, Jason Webster intercepted a pass and the Aggies quickly turned it into six points when Dante Hall took it in from 16 yards out. In the fourth stanza, linebacker Cornelius Anthony pounced on a fumble which the Aggies converted into three more points on a Bynum field goal.
The Aggies came into the game with a +1.50 turnover margin average per contest (No. 10 nationally). The Aggies improved on that against the Eagles, gaining five turnovers while giving up no turnovers.
STEWARTS PUTS TOGETHER ANOTHER INT-FREE STREAK --- Senior quarterback Branndon Stewart hasn't thrown an interception since the Aggies' loss to Nebraska in the 1997 Big 12 Championship game --- a span of four games and 67 pass attempts. Last season, Stewart had a seven-game, 126-attempt streak with a pickoff.
BYNUM KEEPS SPLITTING UPRIGHTS --- Sophomore Russell Bynum continues to solidify his claim to the A&M placekicking job. Bynum booted three field goals against USM, bringing his season total to a perfect 5-of-5. He's also connected on 6-of-6 extra points.
SCORING STREAK AT 123 STRAIGHT GAMES --- Texas A&M improved its school record scoring streak to 123 games with a 24-6 win over USM. The streak dates back to 1988 when Jackie Sherrill's Aggies were shut out 28-0 by Louisiana State in Baton Rouge.
TOOMBS MAKES FIRST CAREER START AT FB --- True freshman Ja'Mar Toombs made the first start of his career at fullback in place of regular starter D'Andre Hardeman, who has been suspended indefinitely. Toombs is the only member of A&M's 1998 signing class to see action this season.
AGGIES SHOW OFF DEPTH AT RB --- The Aggies used a quartet of running backs to rush for 127 yards on 33 carries from the "A" running back position. With regular starter Dante Hall ailing with back spasms, senior Sirr Parker got the start and chipped in 20 yards on 11 carries. Then sophomore Burnest Rhodes came off the bench and contributed 18 yards on 10 carries. On the final drive of the first half, Hall saw his first action of the game and rushed for 51 yards on two carries, including a 44-yard TD run. Hall's run was the Aggies' long of the season, and the longest by the Aggies since Hall scored on a 74-yard run against UCLA in the Cotton Bowl. Hall left the game because of back spasms but still had 76 yard on eight carries. Junior Eric Bernard came in in the fourth quarter and had 13 yards on four carries.
HALL GETS YARDAGE IN BUNCHES --- Despite being hampered by back spasms, junior RB Dante Hall juked his way to 76 yards on only eight carries for an average of 9.5 per carry. Hall averaged more than 7.0 yards per rushing attempt in both his freshman and sophomore seasons.
LECHLER'S LEG --- Junior All-American punter Shane Lechler had another impressive game, averaging 50.1 yards on nine punts. It was Lechler's second 50-plus day of the season and the seventh of his career. Lechler's school record for game average is 54.7 (six for 328 yards) that he set against Iowa State in 1996.
WESLEY REPRESENTS 12TH MAN --- Brian Wesley, a 5-11, 175-pound sophomore squadsman from Dallas Hillcrest, will represent the Aggie student body on the 12th Man Kickoff Team. It will be his first career action in an Aggie uniform. A note about Wesley --- during spring strength and conditioning testing, Wesley's 2.5 percent body fat was the lowest on the team.
Texas A&M Postgame Quotes
OLB Warrick Holdman --- "All week Coach (Bill) Johson was pushing the defensive line hard and telling them they were the key to our defense against USM. They came through and put a lot of pressure on the quarterback, which enabled us to make some big plays. We played hard the whole game, and the offense came through and put some points on the scoreboard. This win gives us confidence that we can win on the road. It was a hostile environment, but I thought we handled it well."
RB Dante Hall --- (on back spasms) "I strained the muscles in the my back early in the week, but they felt better as the game went on and the coaches put me in the game. I got some great blocks from my offensive line and that enabled me to get into the endzone."
"We did a good job of taking care of our business. We didn't give up any turnovers and we stayed focused for four quarters. When we play mistake-free football, we're a tough team to beat."
DB Rich Coady --- "The defensive line did a good job of putting pressure on the quarterback. He made some mistakes and we were able to capitalize."
Head Coach R.C. Slocum --- "I told the team 'Never take a win on the road for granted." I knew Southern Mississippi would play extremely hard. I thought it was important that our defense forced some turnovers and the offense put some points on the scoreboard. This is a team game, and when you have someone injured or someone can't play, someone else has to step up and take up the slack. I'm very pleased with this win."
