November 13, 1999
LECHLER MATCHES NCAA RECORD --- A&M punter Shane Lechler posted the 36th 40-yard plus punt game of his career, which ties the NCAA record set by Mississippi's Bill Smith from 1983-86. Lechler averaged 53.4 yards on seven punt. It also the 10th 50-yard plus day of Lechler's career, and was just off his school record for game punt average of 57.2 (set against Texas Tech earlier this year).
The versatile Lechler also handled the placekicking duties for the Aggies today, connecting on a 32-yard field goal and 3-of-4 extra points tries. The field goal attempt was the second of his career (a 51-yard miss against Louisiana Tech in 1998), while the extra point tries were the first of his career.
BIG BACK (S) ATTACK --- Due to the injury to starting "A" back Eric Bernard and the dismissal of senior Dant? Hall, the Aggies started its "Jumbo set" of 260-pound Ja'Mar Toombs and 242-pound D'Andre Hardeman in offensive backfield. It was the first time Toombs and Hardeman have ever started a game together. The tandem combined for a punishing 118 yards and three touchdowns on 31 carries. Adding to the big back attack was freshman Joe Weber, a 222-pounder himself, who chipped in 121 yards on just eight carries (15.1 average). The Aggies rushed for a season-high 254 yards on 48 carries.
AGGIES OFF OPENING QUARTER OFFENSIVE TD SNIDE --- The Aggies' 17-play, 70-yard opening drive that resulted in a two-yard touchdown plunge by sophomore Ja'Mar Toombs was A&M's first offensive TD in the first quarter all season. The drive was the second-longest of the season, in terms of total plays. The longest drive of the season was an 18-play series against Southern Mississippi that resulted in a field goal.
TODAY'S FIRSTS:
A&M scored its first first-quarter offensive touchdown of the season against Missouri.
Today's A&M win was its first road victory of the season.
Freshman Joe Weber became the first Aggie to crack the 100-yard rushing barrier in a single game this season with a career-best 121-yard rushing effort against Missouri.
JAMESON SHATTERS SCHOOL MARK FOR INT RETURNS FOR TD --- Junior safety Michael Jameson 70-yard interception return for a touchdown against Missouri was his third of the season and broke the former record of two set by Kevin Smith in 1991. Jameson also took over the team's interception lead with a pair of pass thefts today. Jameson now has five interceptions with three TD returns. It was the first multiple INT game by an Aggie since Rich Coady grabbed two picks against Louisiana Tech in 1998.
TIDBITS
A&M improved to 6-0 all-time against Missouri *** Today's 37-point margin of victory marked the biggest road win since the Aggies blasted Oklahoma, 51-7, in Norman in 1997. That was also the last time A&M scored 50 or more points in a road game *** Senior quarterback Randy McCown completed 12-of-21 passes for 201 yards, which was his sixth 200-yard passing day of the season *** Freshman backup quarterback Mark Farris had a pair of firsts today. He held on field goal and extra point placement for the first time and he scored his first career rushing touchdown on a fourth-quarter sneak *** The Aggies occasionally lined up wide receiver Bethel Johnson at tailback. Johnson began his high school career at running back before moving to wide receiver. *** A&M game captains were: Shane Lechler, Semisi Heimuli, Jason Glenn and Ja'Mar Toombs. *** Today's 12th Man Kickoff Team representative is Eric Stanford, a sophomore from Waco's Robinson High School. Another 12th Kickoff Team member, Luke Anderson, is wearing jersey No. 57 at today's game. *** Offensive guard Semisi Heimuli made his 49th career start today against Missouri. He is now just two short of the school record of 51 career starts set by Dat Nguyen from 1995-98.
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QUARTERBACK RANDY McCOWN
Missouri has a tough defense, but we were able to come out and match their intensity. We were real successful running the ball. We knew it was their senior day, and we wanted to match their intensity and we outplayed them. I thought Ja'Mar [Toombs] and Tiki [Hardeman] had a great week of practice, and that reflected in the game. We challenged them and the offensive line. They responded and had an excellent game.
RUNNING BACK JA'MAR TOOMBS
We knew we could run the ball on them. We wanted to come out and show everyone that the running game the last couple of weeks was not us. We are better than that. I really came out pumped, especially since Coach Slocum put the load on me to run. Our offensive line was good and Tiki [Hardeman] blocked great. Our overall performance was better. We came out strong. We had a lapse in the 2nd quarter but we knew coming out in the 2nd half what we had to do to put them away.
LINEBACKER JASON GLENN
This week on defense we came out and executed our plays right. We made fewer mistaked than wehad the last couple of weeks. Our offense gave us a boost with that great opening drive. We were able to come out and feel good b/c we weren't going to play catch-up this game. They gave us points. This game, our offense scored and our defense held.
HEAD COACH R.C. SLOCUM
We knew that playing on the road against a challenging opponent we needed to get off to a good start. I thought our offense came out and set the tempo by getting points on the opening drive. The offense took the opening drive of the second half and got points again, and we were able to take control of the game in the 3rd quarter. I'm very proud of this football team and their focus this week on getting the job done.