Offense Takes Down Defense in Aggies' Maroon & White Game

April 16, 2011

COLLEGE STATION --- The Texas A&M football team closed out its 2011 spring drills with the annual Maroon & White Game presented by Wells Fargo and Chastang Ford with the offense scoring a 133-119 victory over the defense using a complex scoring system that grades each play from scrimmage.
 
Fourth-year Aggie head coach Mike Sherman said the Maroon & White Game was a good conclusion to the 2011 spring drills.
 
"We did a lot of banging with ones-vs.-ones and twos-vs.-twos and I just wanted to come away healthy, because we've already accomplished a lot of what I wanted to accomplish this spring," Sherman said. "Today was a chance for us to get out on Kyle Field in front of our great fans. I thought it was an unbelievable crowd for a spring game and they were into it. I wanted the players to embrace that part of it. I wanted them to play fast and furious. We were very vanilla on both sides of the ball, as you could tell, so it wasn't a real indication of winning and losing. It was a good end to a good spring, so I was pleased with it."
 

Mike Sherman [mp3] Randy Jordan [mp3] Ryan Tannehill [mp3] Cyrus Gray [mp3] Trent Hunter [mp3] Tony Jerod-Eddie [mp3] Luke Joeckel [mp3] Christine Michael [mp3] Caleb Russell [mp3]

The Aggie offense scored five touchdowns and booted a pair of field goals on its way to its winning margin. The Aggie defense countered with seven quarterback sacks and a field goal block.
 
The Aggies' top four quarterbacks were 37-of-51 (72.5 completion percentage) for 476 yards with three touchdowns. Senior-to-be Jamiell Showers connecting on 8-of-14 for 68 yards.
 
Manziel connected with senior Taylor Randle for a 21-yard TD and with redshirt freshman Mister Jones for a three-yard score. Tannehill hit junior-to-be Ryan Swope on a six-yard TD. Swope, who set the single season record with 72 catches with Jeff Fuller last year, finished the day with a game-high six catches for 88 yards.
 
The Aggies' two-headed tailback combo of senior-to-be Cyrus Gray and junior Christine Michael was also impressive with the pair combining for 63 yards on 16 carries. Michael looked strong in his first "live" action since breaking his right tibia against Texas Tech last year with 11 totes for 52 yards and two touchdowns. Gray contributed five carries for 11 yards and a catch for 23 yards. Mister Jones rushed for 32 yards on 11 carries. Michael scored on runs of eight yards and a one yard.
 
Also being decided at the Maroon & White Game was the 12th Man for the 2011 season-opener against SMU on Sept. 3. By virtue of fan voting at the game, junior Caleb Russell from Midlothian, Texas will represent the student body on A&M's kickoff team against the Mustangs. Russell also shined at the "joker" position with a game-high two sacks.
 
Game Statistics
Passing:
R. Tannehill, 9-14 for 162 yds with 1TD
J. Showers, 8-14 for 68 yds
M. Joeckel, 12-14 for 131
J. Manziel, 8-9 for 115 with 2TD
 
Rushing:
C. Michael, 11 for 52 with 2TD
C. Gray, 5 for 11, 1 rec for 23
M. Jones, 11 for 32
 
Receiving:
R. Swope, 6 for 88 with TD
M. Jones, 3 for 22 with TD