October 19, 2002
Texas A&M postgame notes from Saturday's 47-22 win over Kansas:
BIG O --- The Aggies scored 40 or more points for the third straight game --- 47 vs. Texas Tech, 41 vs. Baylor, 47 vs. Kansas. The only other time that's happened in A&M history was 1941 when Homer Norton's Aggies scored 54 vs. Sam Houston Teachers College, 41 vs. Texas A&I and 49 against New York University in consecutive games.
The Aggies produced a season-best 564 yards of total offense and matched a season-high in points scored with 47 points. It's the most yards of total offense for the Aggies since they rolled up 606 against Tulsa in 1999.
The Aggies had a 300-yard passer (Dustin Long with 399), two 100-yard receivers (Bethel Johnson with 131 and Jamaar Taylor with 124) and a 100-yard rusher (Derek Farmer with 111 yards) against Kansas. The only other time the Aggies have turned that trick was against TCU in 1991 when Bucky Richardson passed for 321, Greg Hill rushed for 115 and Tony Harrison and Ryan Mathews posted 144 and 108 receiving yards respectively.
ANOTHER RECORD FOR LONG --- Sophomore quarterback Dustin Long shattered A&M's school record for passing yards with 399 yards on 18-of-31 passing against Kansas. Long broke the school record of 385 set by Branndon Stewart in a 1996 loss to Colorado.
Long also produced 407 yards of total offense, which ranks as the No. 2 single game effort in school history behind Edd Hargett's 418-yard day against SMU in 1968.
In three conference games, Long has thrown a Big 12-best 12 touchdowns.
TAYLOR'S BIG DAY--- Junior wide receiver Jamaar Taylor tied an A&M school record with his fourth career 100-yard receiving game with 131 yards on five catches against Kansas. Taylor moved into a tie with Albert Connell (1995-96) and Tony Harrison (1990-93). It also marks Taylor's third 100-yard day this season, which matches Robert Ferguson's school record set in 2000. Taylor's big day also pushed him over the 1,000-yard mark for career receiving yards.
JOHNSON CONTINUES CLIMB --- With six catches for 124 yards against Kansas, Bethel Johnson continued his climb through the A&M record book. In career receptions, Johnson leap-frogged Jeff Nelson to No. 5 on the all-time list with 97 catches. In career receiving yards, Johnson passed Chris Cole, Mike Whitwell, Rod Harris and Shea Walker today and stands at No. 3 with 1,457 yards. In career receiving TDs, Johnson leaped over Homer May, Walker, Rod Bernstine, and Cole and ranks in a tie for No. 6 with nine TDs.
FARMER CARRIES THE LOAD --- Sophomore running back Derek Farmer posted the third 100-yard game of the season with a 21-carry, 111-yard performance against Kansas. He also became the sixth A&M sophomore to hit 1,000 yards in career rushing. Farmer hit 1,000 in his 15th career game, which is tied for fifth-fastest in school history.
In three conference games this season, Farmer is averaging 107 yards per game. The last Aggie to average over 100 rushing yards per game against conference opponents was Greg Hill, who averaged 101.0 yards against SWC foes in 1993.
FOR THE RECORD --- The Aggies have scored first in every game this season...Randall Webb's fumble return for a TD was the second score of his career. He also scored against Notre Dame last year when he scooped up a blocked punt and ran for a touchdown...Webb's TD was A&M's second defensive score of the year. The other was Byron Jones' interception TD against Louisiana-Lafayette...The Aggies increased their Big 12-leading sack total to 33 with seven QB sacks against Kansas, including two by Jarrod Penright...Game captains were Cody Scates, Jesse Hunnicutt, Stacy Jones and Dwain Goynes. Matt Douglas, a junior from White Oak, Texas, was the 12th Man.