October 12, 2002
Texas A&M's postgame notes after Saturday's 41-0 win over Baylor in Waco.
ABOUT THE SHUTOUT --- With today's 41-0 win, the Aggies posted the eight shutout of the R.C. Slocum era and the second straight against the Bears in Waco. The Wrecking Crew hasn't allowed a Baylor score in Waco since a 29-yard TD pass from Odell James to Morris Anderson in the fourth quarter of the 1998 contest. It is the first shutout by the Aggies since the 2000 A&M-Baylor game.
STREAK CONTINUES --- The Aggies stretched their winning streak over the Bears to 12 games and its unbeaten streak to 17 with today's 41-0 victory. The Aggies have won 12 straight in the series dating back to a 20-20 tie in 1990 and haven't lost to the Bears since a 20-15 decision in Waco in 1985. Head coach R.C. Slocum improved his career mark against Baylor to 13-0-1 in 14 seasons.
WRECKING CREW GUILTY OF THEFT --- The Aggie defense nabbed five interceptions against the Bears, including a pair by sophomore Byron Jones who returned them for 54 yards. It's the most by the Aggies in a game since the season-opener against Louisiana-Lafayette when they posted six pickoffs. For the season, the Aggies have grabbed 14 in six games. In addition to Jones' pair of picks, the Aggies got interceptions from Terrence Kiel, Jaxson Appel and Sammy Davis. Jones leads the team with four interceptions.
SPREADING IT AROUND --- The Aggies' 18 completions went to eight different receivers, including Hawg Hunter tight end Thomas Carriger who grabbed the first touchdown catch of his career on a 4-yard toss from Dustin Long. Posting the first reception of his career was true freshman wide receiver L'Tydrick Riley, who pulled in a five-yard pass from Reggie McNeal late in the game.
DEFENSE SHINES --- The Wrecking Crew limited the Bear offense to 229 total yards --- 107 on the ground and 122 through the air. Baylor held the ball for only 24:59 and was successful on just 3-of-17 third-down situations.
JOHNSON CONTINUES CLIMB UP CHARTS --- With three catches for 81 yards and two touchdowns, senior wide receiver Bethel Johnson continued his climb up the A&M receiving lists. For his career, Johnson has 91 catches for 1,333 yards and seven touchdowns. On the career receptions list, Johnson leap-frogged Tony Harrison (1990-93) into a tie for sixth-most with Barney Harris (1967-69). In receiving yards, Johnson passed Jimmy Teal (1982-84), Bob Long (1966-68), Harris and Chris Taylor (1997-2000) into seventh place. Johnson's also improved his career receiving touchdowns total to seven and is tied for 11th in school history.
ANOTHER BIG DAY FOR SCATES --- A&M junior punter Cody Scates, who entered the game with a 44.7 season punt average, had another strong outing. Scates averaged 51.2 yards on six boots, including a 59-yarder that was downed on the BU 3. He also had a 52-yarder down on the BU 7.
The Aggies extended its streak of consecutive touchdowns via the pass to nine before a short TD run by Derek Farmer in the third quarter snapped the string. After scoring all seven touchdowns last week via the pass, the Aggies added a pair of passing scores against Baylor --- a 12-yard TD pass from Dustin Long to Bethel Johnson in the first quarter and a 4-yard TD pass from Long to tight end Thomas Carriger in the third stanza.
The Aggies got on the scoreboard first for the sixth straight time this season when Long and Johnson connected a 12-yard TD pass and catch in the first quarter.
FOR THE RECORD --- A&M game captains for the Baylor game were senior guard Billy Yates, junior defensive end Linnis Smith, sophomore wide receiver Terrence Murphy and junior punter Cody Scates *** Representing the A&M student body on the 12th Man Kickoff Team was Matt Douglas, a junior from White Oak, Texas *** Making his first career start was fullback Stacy Jones, who was in the starting lineup for the injured Joe Weber.