OSU V. Texas A & M Game Article

Cowboys, Aggies Put on Memorable Show
Bailey’s Late Heroics Lift OSU past A & M

The 26th meeting of the Oklahoma State Cowboys versus the Aggies of Texas A & M did not start off the way Coach Mike Gundy would have liked. After a record-setting outing in their last game with rival Tulsa, the Pokes would commit two costly turnovers that would lead to Aggie touchdowns with the Cowboy offense only able to manage just 22 total yards on 17 plays.

After receiving the opening kickoff, Senior A & M Quarterback Jerrod Johnson led the Aggies down the field on a 7 play drive, Johnson dropped back for a pass that was tipped at the line of scrimmage for an interception by Junior Safety Markelle Martin.

However, the Cowboys were unable to move the ball on a stout Aggie defense and were forced to punt the ball away. After a Texas A & M three-and-out, OSU received the ball on their own 25 yard line.

On a second and eight yards to go, A & M Junior Defensive Back Terrence Fredrick blitzed off the edge untouched and hit Cowboy Quarterback Brandon Weeden in the back, causing a fumble that was recovered and returned to the Cowboy 5 yard line. Two plays later, Johnson found Junior Wide Receiver Jeff Fuller in the corner of the end zone for the game’s first score. At the 7:41 mark, the Aggies led 7-0.

OSU’s ensuing possession would see the Pokes pick up their first and second first downs of the game, but the drive would end in a punt. After the Aggies punted the ball back to the Cowboys on their own 35, Weeden would commit his second turnover of the game.

On a third down and two, Weeden was intercepted by Aggie Sophomore Defensive Back Dustin Harris. The Aggies would then drive the ball 55 yards in 11 plays, capping it off with a 3 yard shovel pass from Johnson to Junior Runningback Cyrus Gray, giving Texas A & M a 14 point advantage.

The second quarter of play would see the two teams trade scores and interceptions. The Cowboys would gain an additional 85 yards of offense during the second frame for a total of 107, but coupled with their 122 yard first quarter, the Aggies were able to clone their output during the same period, racking up 242 yards by halftime.

Texas A & M would commit their first turnover of the game in the second quarter on a third down and three from the Cowboy 28 yard line when Johnson tossed a 22 yard interception to Senior Defensive End Ugo Chinasa. OSU would threaten the end zone for the first time in the game after a Kendall Hunter 10 yard rush and 15-yard late hit penalty on the Aggies.

The Aggies forced the Pokes into a 4th and 3 and Offensive Coordinator Dana Holgorsen decided to leave his offense on the field for an attempt to pick up first down yardage. Weeden dropped back to pass and deja vu literally hit the quarterback, this time in the form of Junior Defensive Back Lionel Smith. Weeden’s pass was disrupted by the hit and the throw was caught at the 9 yard line by Aggie Senior Linebacker Michael Hodges.

On the ensuing possession, Chinasa would get to Johnson for the Cowboys’ first sack of the game, throwing the Aggie QB for a 10 yard loss. After a punt back the the Cowboys’ 35 yard line, Brandon Weeden would lead the Pokes down the field for their first score of the game. On a first and ten from the Aggie 38, Weeden found Freshman Runningback Joseph Randle streaking over the middle of the Aggie defense for a 38 yard touchdown pass.

Unfortunately, the Aggies were not quite done. After a 47 yard kickoff return by Cyrus Gray, Jerrod Johnson directed a 10 play, 53 yard drive that saw Johnson hook up again with Jeff Fuller on a six yard touchdown strike to end the quarter. The Aggies had re-extended their earlier 14 point lead to enter halftime.

The Aggies turned in a strong offensive performance in the first half going 3-for-3 in red zone opportunities and converting 2 fourth down plays. Jeff Fuller’s 2 first half touchdown grabs broke a 42-year-old A & M receiving record for career scores. The Pokes struggled mightily only managing to gain 2 net rushing yards, failing to convert their only fourth down conversion attempt, and turning the ball over 3 times, resulting in 14 Texas A & M points.

When the Cowboys received the second half kick, Mike Gundy saw his team literally come alive on both sides of the ball. Texas A & M was not able to get to Weeden in the third quarter; however, it was the Cowboy defense that forced Texas A & M into turnovers, forcing the Aggies to give up the ball twice, opening things up for Holgorsen and the Cowboy offense. OSU would score 21 unanswered points to take the lead 28-21 by quarter’s end.

Brandon Weeden directed a 13 play, 73 yard drive to open the third quarter. Kendall Hunter was able to add to his stats for the day, capping the Cowboys’ drive with a 2 yard touchdown dive. Texas A & M’s lead was cut back to 7.

After Senior Linebacker Orie Lemon sacked A & M’s Johnson for a 6 yard loss, OSU got the ball back for their second possession of the third frame. It took 2:18 for the Cowboys to drive back down the field from their own 29 to even the score at 21 all. On a second down play, 5 yards to go, Brandon Weeden found his favorite target, Wide Receiver Justin Blackmon over the middle for a 29 yard touchdown bomb.

Texas A & M took the following kickoff from the Pokes and drove into Cowboy territory. On the Aggies third fourth down attempt, the Cowboys were ready and stoned Aggie Sophomore Runningback Christine Michael and forced a turnover on downs.

OSU was not able to pick up a first down and punted the ball back to the Aggies on their  own 21 yard line. On the first play, Jerrod Johnson committed his third turnover of the game, an interception to Senior Cornerback Andre McGee. The Pokes took over on the Aggie 49, and in just 57 seconds, the Cowboys took their first lead of the game on a Kendall Hunter 7 yard touchdown run, his second score of the game. When the third quarter closed, the score stood OSU 28, Texas A & M 21.

The fourth quarter saw the Aggies trying desperately to catch back up to the Cowboys; and they did. The Cowboys would score a defensive touchdown to start off the fourth quarter scoring, but the Aggies were able to re-group their offense and answer back. The game would come down to each team’s last possession. And for the first time in his career, Brandon Weeden would face big-game pressure under the lights and on national television.

Texas A & M had the ball to begin 4th quarter play, but 8 plays in, Jerrod Johnson fumbled the ball as he attempted to avoid pressure by Cowboys Junior Defensive End Jamie Blatnick. Blatnick forced Johnson to fumble to ball and after a mad dash to recover it, Junior Linebacker James Thomas scooped up the ball and returned it 63 yards for the Pokes’ fifth touchdown of the game, extending their lead by a margin of 35-21.

A & M would finally answer the Cowboys at the 5:19 mark of the fourth. After 15 plays for 76 yards, Johnson found Sophomore Wide Receiver Kenric McNeal for a 4 yard touchdown pass. The Cowboys lead cut back to single digits at 35-28.

As the Aggie defense stiffened, the Cowboys were forced to punt the ball, giving A & M their opportunity to knot the score. And after a 4 play drive, covering 80 yards and only taking up 1:26, the Aggies did just that as Johnson found Sophomore Wideout Ryan Swope for a 28 yard touchdown pass and run.

OSU hurt themselves on the following kickoff, committing a penalty that moved the Pokes to their own 10 yard line. Unable to keep their drive alive, OSU punted back to A & M, who took over a their own 29. Four plays into the drive, Johnson tossed his 4th interception of the game to Freshman Linebacker Shaun Lewis, who returned the ball to the Texas A & M 40.

After a Brandon Weeden pass to Junior Receiver Josh Cooper for 9 yards and a Kendall Hunter 7 yard run, OSU lined up Senior Placekicker Dan Bailey for a 40 yard field goal attempt. After Coach Mike Sherman called timeout to ice Bailey, the Cowboy kicker trotted out for his attempt to send the Aggies home with their first loss of the season and he did just that, nailing the 40 yard game-clincher to keep the Cowboys perfect, now with hopes of a conference championship run with the Big XII’s toughest foes ahead of them.

Up next for the Pokes, a non-conference tilt with Louisiana-Lafayette on October 8th. For more on NCAA and high school football, check out my blog at http://footballimp.blogspot.com or email me at brett_t_hill@hotmail.com. (Printed in the Mcalester Mews-Capital. Big thanks again to Jay Knight!)