Texas A&M 28, Army 24

Saturday, September 16

San Antonio, Texas

8:15 PM

Texas A&M

3-0

Army

1-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Texas A&M

Army

Sep 16, 2006 | Football

Box Score

By: Texas A&M Athletics

September 16, 2006

Jorvorskie Lane rushed for 101 yards and three touchdowns and Devin Gregg intercepted two passes as Texas A&M needed a last-second defensive stop to beat Army 28-24 at the Alamodome on Saturday night.

Stephen McGee threw a touchdown pass and ran for 142 yards for the Aggies (3-0), who gained 262 of their 364 total yards on the ground.

Wesley McMahand had two touchdown runs for the Black Knights (1-2), who gave the mistake-plagued Aggies a surprising nail-biter before a crowd of 64,583, many of them dressed in military garb.

The Aggies didn't secure the win until linebacker Misi Tupe led a pack of defenders to stop running back Tony Moore from inside the 10-yard line on the game's last play.

The nervous ending came after Army defensive end Cameron Craig stuffed Lane for a 4-yard loss on a fourth down from the Army 30.

A&M safety Melvin Bullitt was called for pass interference, giving the Black Knights a first-and-goal at the 2 with 13 seconds left. David Pevoto threw an incomplete pass before Moore got the ball. The Aggies were waiting and broke into a celebration as the final seconds ticked off.

The Aggies had three fumbles and committed seven penalties for 59 yards.

Lane scored six minutes into the game, but the Black Knights answered immediately, helped by two personal-foul penalties. Pevoto found Walter Hill on a quick slant to convert a third-and-10 and McMahand scored on a six-yard run.

McGee found Howard Morrow for a 20-yard gain late in opening quarter and Army was called for a late hit, giving A&M a first-and-goal. But the Aggies were penalized twice before Army defensive tackle Tony Fusco blocked Matt Szymanski's field-goal try.

A bad punt by A&M's Justin Brantly gave Army the ball at the Aggies' 43. On first down, receiver Corey Anderson took a pitch on a reverse, broke two tackles and carried a third A&M defender into the end zone.

McGee had two long runs on A&M's next possession and Lane had his second one-yard TD run with 7:12 left in the half.

Gregg intercepted Pevoto's first pass after the break at the Army 46. McGee then took a pitch from Lane on a flea flicker and threw a 46-yard touchdown strike to Chad Schroeder.

The Aggies' defense forced an Army punt, but Schroeder fumbled it at the A&M 37. McMahand cut across the field on a 21-yard touchdown run with 11:42 left in the third quarter.

The 6-foot, 274-pound Lane carried five times for 45 yards on A&M's ensuing 80-yard drive and he scored again with 6:29 left.

Aided by another personal-foul penalty, the Black Knights marched to the Aggies' 10 before Gregg intercepted a deflected pass at the 4-yard line.

Austin Miller kicked a 41-yard field goal to cut A&M's lead.

McGee fell a half-yard short of a first down on a third-down run with 2:58 left and A&M coach Dennis Franchione decided to go for it after losing an appeal of the spot.

Craig then made the play on Lane to set up the wild ending.

TEXAS A&M POSTGAME QUOTES

HEAD COACH DENNIS FRANCHIONE --- (on fourth down play) "I had faith in our guys. If we are able to convert that fourth down play, the game is over. When I look back at it with hindsight, I probably should have punted."

(On defensive stand) "Our defense really rose up on that defensive series. I think we grew up a lot on that series. We attacked and had tremendous pursuit and that paid off with the stop. Army played extremely well, which we knew they would. They are well-coached and always give max-effort."

QUARTERBACK STEPHEN McGEE --- "Our offensive line did a great job tonight and Jorvorskie Lane was really a workhorse. When our offensive line plays that way and Jorvorskie runs that way, our offense can do some really good things.

(On defensive stand) "That's what the Aggie Spirit is all about. We kept fighting and the defense made some huge plays at the end of the game. The goal line stand at the end of game is what the Aggie Spirit is all about."

LINEBACKER JUSTIN WARREN --- "We knew by looking at scoreboard that we needed a stop. They had second down on 2-yard line and got a good read on QB eyes and was able to bat it away. On the last play, Misi (Tupe) came downhill and made a heck of a play."

TEXAS A&M POSTGAME NOTES

Sophomore Jorvorskie Lane had his second straight big scoring night with three rushing touchdowns against Army. Last week Lane had four against Louisiana-Lafayette.
Jorvorskie Lane and Stephen McGee both went over the 100-yard mark in rushing yards. Lane currently has 101 yards on 24 carries, and McGee has 142 on 11 totes. It is the first time A&M has had a pair of 100-yard rushers in the same game since Lane and McGee did it in last year's regular season finale against Texas.
McGee has attempted 47 passes in 2006 without throwing an interception.
The Aggies improved to 15-1 in games in the Franchione era when they win the turnover battle. A&M grabbed three interceptions, while the Aggie offense lost only one fumble. When the Aggies lose the turnover battle, their record is 4-18.
The Aggies had their first three interceptions of the season - two by sophomore Devin Gregg and one by redshirt freshman Jordan Peterson.
On the six initial drives of the first and second halves this season, the Aggies have scored five touchdowns and missed a field goal.
Sophomore Devin Gregg's interception on the first offensive play of the second half was the first of his career.
The 46-yard touchdown pass from Stephen McGee to Chad Schroeder (after flea flicker from Jorvorskie Lane) was the longest completion of McGee's career. The TD was the 11th of Schroeder's career, and the fifth 40-plus TD strike of his career.
The Aggies scored a touchdown on their opening possession for the third straight game. 12 plays 80 yards 5:57 time of possession.
Wide receiver Pierre Brown, who had five special team tackles last week, made the tackle on the Aggies' first kickoff of the game.
Redshirt freshman Jordan Peterson made his first career interception in the second quarter.
Layne Neumann's second quarter extra point was the first PAT of his career. Neumann is from nearby Hondo High School.
Game captains were: Cody Wallace, Mark Dodge, Justin Warren and Stephen McGee
The 12th Man was junior Nathan Haile (Friona, Texas). It was Haile's second time as the 12th Man. He was also the 12th Man for last year's Clemson game. Haile made the tackle on the opening kickoff of the second half and forced a fumble with a big hit.
The crowd of 64,583 was the largest regular season football crowd in Alamodome history and the eight-largest largest sports crowd in Alamodome history.