November 16, 2002
JOHNSON NABS A&M CAREER CATCHES MARK --- Senior Bethel Johnson grabbed a team-high six catches (for 98 yards) against Missouri to become Texas A&M's all-time leading pass catcher. Johnson's career receptions total stands at 115, breaking the 15-year old mark of 110 by running back Keith Woodside (1983-87). Earlier this season, Johnson set A&M's career receiving yards record, which he has improved to 1,715 yards. His 11 career receiving touchdowns are tied for No. 4 in school history.
HEARTBREAK AGGIES - The Aggies' last four losses have been decided either in overtime or in the final minute. The Nebraska and Oklahoma State games ended with final minute interceptions in the endzone that killed potential game winning drives. The Texas Tech and Missouri games were lost in overtime.
FOR THE RECORD ---
- A&M is now 2-3 in overtime games, including 0-2 this season. Missouri improves to 5-2 in overtime games, 1-1 this season. In A&M's OT game earlier this season, Texas Tech prevailed 48-47 at Kyle Field. Missouri fell to Colorado, 42-35, in overtime last Saturday in Columbia.
- A&M tight end Greg Porter, who came into the game leading the nation in receptions by a tight end, had five catches for 43 yards against Missouri.
- With 78,186 in attendance for the Missouri game, Kyle Field produced its 17th straight 70,000-plus crowd. Prior to the beginning of the streak in 2000, A&M has produced only 13 70,000-plus crowds in its history.
- Sophomore inside linebacker Randall Webb made his first career start at inside linebacker.
- The Aggies scored on their initial drive of the game (on a Todd Pegram field goal) for the second time this season.
- Sophomore Terrence Murphy's 58-yard catch and run in the first quarter was his fourth 40-yard plus reception of the season. Murphy finished the game with four catches for 101 yards, his second straight 100-yard game. He had five catches for 128 yards last week against Oklahoma. Murphy has four career 100-yard receiving games.
- Sophomore Terrence Thomas' 39-yard reception in the second quarter was a career-long.
- Sophomore quarterback Dustin Long completed his first five passes off the bench after starter Reggie McNeal left with an injury.
- A&M's 12th Man Kickoff Team representative was Tim Philbeck, a sophomore running back from Midland Christian High School.
- A&M game captains were seniors Terrence Kiel, Billy Yates and Bethel Johnson and junior Cody Scates.
- Texas music artist Phil Pritchett and his band were on the A&M sidelines for the game.
- Todd Pegram made 2-of-2 field goals today and is now 12-of-21 on the season. On kicks of 40 yards or less, he had made 10-of-13. Pegram has made nine of his last 11 field goals.
- A&M compiled 350 passing yards, the 10th most in a game in school history and its third most of the season. However, the Aggies rushed for a season-low 36 yards (31 carries), their fewest since they gained just two yards (38 carries) at Nebraska in 1999.
- Missouri rushed for 259 yards, the second most allowed by A&M this season. Nebraska rushed for 381 yards.
- Dustin Long came off the bench to complete 22-of-35 passes for 270 yards, but suffered two interceptions. For the season, Long has thrown for 2,314 yards, the fifth most in school history.
- Missouri's block of Cody Scates punt was the first blocked punt allowed by the Aggies since last year's Texas game.
- A&M finishes its home slate with a 3-4 record, its worst since 1983, when the Aggies also were 3-4 at Kyle Field.
WR BETHEL JOHNSON: "In the second half, we came out and played with emotion. In the first half, we didn't very good emotion and we didn't do what we needed to do. We were on the same accord emotionally. As a unit we picked it up in the second half."
(on losing McNeal and adjustment to Long) "Dustin had been our starter before tonight's game, so there was no adjustment. Dustin did a good job and was ready to play."
QB DUSTIN LONG: "We have two quarterbacks who can play each week. Unfortunately, Reggie got hurt, but we didn't change the plays. Whoever is hotter, that's who the coaches go with. I always have confidence in myself. It's tough to lose game like this. I've had it happen two or three times. Hopefully we'll win one of these eventually. We felt good in overtime. I thought we had a good chance to win when the defense held them to a field goal."
ILB BRIAN GAMBLE: "I thought we came out flat in the first half as a team and that made the crowd flat. It was really mundane. I thought we made some good adjustments in the second half. For the most part we played pretty well after halftime. It was the type of game that you played hard on defense the whole game, but it always seemed like they found a way to convert third down situations. They've got a good offense - one of the best in the Big 12."
"Anytime you play Texas, it's a big game. It's been a frustrating season. One week we beat the No. 1 team in the nation and the next we lose to a 4-6 team."
(Did you simplify the defense due to injuries) "We tried to run the normal gameplan. The young guys have to learn to play at a high level. We can't afford to simplify."
HEAD COACH R.C. SLOCUM: "We talked at halftime about things that they were doing and made some adjustments that helped our offense in the second half. (on injuries) It's frustrating. You hate it for these young men that haven't had a lot of practice time. But you try to play with what you've got and try to win the game. (hangover from OU?) No. I sure didn't. We had great practices all week. (running game struggles) They were getting a lot of guys in the box. We tried to throw the ball more and loosen them up. With how they were playing, it was hard to play with a steady diet of running."
MISSOURI CENTER A.J. RICKER: "That's what we needed after working so hard. We overcame a lot. There's a lot of times we could have went in the tank. They are a good defensive football team. This is huge. We have to build on it, get another win and get a bowl bid. We were in so much better condition than they were. They couldn't stop us."