Aggies Shut Down High-Powered Cyclones, 30-7

Saturday, October 21

Ames, Iowa

2:30 PM

Texas A&M

5-2 , 3-1

Iowa State

5-2 , 2-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Texas A&M

Iowa State

Oct 21, 2000 | Football

Box Score

By: Texas A&M Athletics

October 21, 2000

Sophomore quarterback Mark Farris rushed for a touchdown and passed for two more, as the Texas A&M football team spoiled Iowa State's homecoming with a 30-7 victory Saturday before an overflow crowd of 48,931 fans at Jack Trice Stadium.

Farris had another solid performance, completing 16-of-27 passes for 248 yards and the two scores. He did not throw an interception and was sacked just once.

Sophomore running back Joe Weber posted the first 100-yard performance by an Aggie back this season, rushing for 106 yards on 20 carries. A&M ended the game with 221 yards on the ground.

A strong performance by A&M's Wrecking Crew defense held a Cyclone squad that had been averaging nearly 30 points and 450 yards of offense per contest to a late touchdown and 239 total yards. A&M ran up 469 yards of offense, its most since a 490-yard performance earlier this season against Wyoming.

"We had a great week of practice, and it showed on the field today," senior linebacker Jason Glenn said. "We're going to take this game and try to build on it next week. We knew Iowa State had a very explosive offense and that we had to take care of our business."

Junior defensive back Jay Brooks' third blocked punt of the season set up the Aggies' first score of the game early in the first quarter. Brooks got his hands on ISU punter Carl Gomez's kick, and A&M recovered on the Cyclone five. Two plays later, Farris called his own number on draw and dove across the goal line for the 7-0 lead.

"We came out ready to play today, and the blocked punt really set the tone," Farris said. "Victories on the road in the Big 12 are hard to come by, so we knew we had to get off to a good start. I thought we played well in all phases of the game, especially on the offensive line."

After senior placekicker Terence Kitchens' 27-yard field goal extended the A&M lead to 10, the Aggies struck paydirt through the air. Pinned inside their own 10-yard line courtesy a punt and a penalty, the Aggies worked the ball out to the 24 when Farris connected with sophomore wide receiver Dwain Goynes deep down the sideline. Goynes outraced the coverage for a 76-yard touchdown, giving A&M a 17-point lead.

Kitchens, who saw little practice this week due to a strained groin, would tack on a 22-yarder to increase the lead to 20 at the break.

The only score of the third quarter would come via Kitchens' leg again, who booted a season-long 50-yard field goal with six minutes on the clock to make the score 23-0.

Special teams would set up A&M's final touchdown as well. Junior wide receiver Mickey Jones returned a Gomez punt 36 yards to the ISU 34-yard line midway through the fourth. One play after a 19-yard Weber run, Farris found senior wideout Chris Taylor for a 15-yard touchdown pass and a 30-0 advantage.

The Cyclones would get on the board with just 2:36 remaining when backup quarterback Gerrin Scott converted a 4th-and-16 situation by finding wide receiver Lane Danielsen on a 43-yard scoring strike down the right sideline.

The Aggies, now 5-2 on the year and 3-1 in the Big 12, have given up just seven points in their last eight quarters of play. Iowa State (5-2, 2-2) will look to clinch their first winning season in 11 years next week when they play host to Missouri.

"I was proud of our defensive effort," A&M head coach R.C. Slocum said. "We have a lot of respect for Iowa State's offense. They have a big offensive line and the ability to run and pass the football. I thought we played with a lot of emotion and gave a really solid effort. We had a great effort by the entire team."

A&M returns to action on Saturday when they play host to the 8th-ranked Kansas State Wildcats. Kickoff for the game, televised regionally by ABC, is set for 2:30 p.m.