Texas A&M
5-4 , 2-3
Oklahoma State
4-4 , 2-2
Aggie Rally Falls Short in 28-23 Loss to Cowboys
Nov 02, 2002 | Football
November 02, 2002
Tatum Bell rushed for 143 yards and three touchdowns, and Vernon Grant intercepted a pass in the end zone with a minute remaining as Oklahoma State beat Texas A&M 28-23 Saturday.
Bell scored from 64, 5 and 2 yards as the Cowboys (4-4, 2-2 Big 12) defeated a traditional conference power for the second time in as many games.
Grant's interception of Dustin Long's pass ended a late Aggies rally as the Cowboys beat Texas A&M (5-4, 2-3) for the first time since 1988, a span of six straight losses.
Long finished 25-for-43 passing for 332 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Aggies. But he also threw two interceptions. Tight end Greg Porter added nine catches for 154 yards and a touchdown for Texas A&M.
The Cowboys beat Nebraska 24-21 for the first time in 41 years two weeks ago to keep their bowl hopes alive. Oklahoma State must win two more games _ with Kansas and Baylor on the schedule _ to be eligible for a bowl.
Oklahoma State dominated the first half of this homecoming game, gaining 273 yards against the Aggies' vaunted Wrecking Crew defense en route to a 28-14 halftime lead.
It was the second straight week the Aggies' defense has been shredded. Nebraska rushed for 389 yards a week earlier.
Texas A&M scored first on Joe Weber's 1-yard run, but Bell ran 64 yards on the next play to tie the score at 7 in the first quarter.
Bell added two more scores, and Josh Fields connected with John Lewis for a 42-yard touchdown as the Cowboys pulled away in the second quarter and held on in the second half.
The Aggies pulled within five points on Bethel Johnson's 23-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter, which the A&M controlled. But Porter was stopped short of the end zone on the 2-point try.
Texas A&M drove to the Cowboys' 31 with under 2 minutes to play, converting on two fourth downs in the drive. But Grant intercepted Long, and the Cowboys ran out the clock.
Team Stats
TA 7, OS 0
TA - Weber, Joe 1 yd run (Pegram, Todd kick), 11 plays, 82 yards, TOP 3:50
TA 7, OS 7
OS - Bell,Tatum 64 yd run (Phillips,Luke kick), 1 plays, 64 yards, TOP 0:21
TA 7, OS 14
OS - Bell,Tatum 2 yd run (Phillips,Luke kick), 9 plays, 60 yards, TOP 2:11
TA 7, OS 21
OS - Lewis,John 42 yd pass from Fields,Josh (Phillips,Luke kick) 5 plays, 58 yards, TOP 1:59
TA 14, OS 21
TA - Porter, Greg 27 yd pass from Long, Dustin (Pegram, Todd kick) 11 plays, 78 yards, TOP 4:53
TA 14, OS 28
OS - Bell,Tatum 5 yd run (Phillips,Luke kick), 9 plays, 79 yards, TOP 2:59
TA 17, OS 28
TA - Pegram, Todd 35 yd field goal 7 plays, 46 yards, TOP 2:43
TA 23, OS 28
TA - Johnson, Bethel 23 yd pass from Long, Dustin (Long, Dustin passfailed) 7 plays, 67 yards, TOP 3:46
