Texas A&M Postgame Notes
vs. Nebraska
Saturday, Oct. 20, 2007
Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, Neb.)
RIDING MCGEE --- Jumping on the back of quarterback Stephen McGee, the Aggies rushed for 359 yards on 66 carries while controlling the ball for 36:55 of the game. With NU crashing on the Aggie running backs, McGee called his number for a quarterback school record 35 times for a career-high 167 yards. The old school mark for single game carries and yards by a quarterback was 27 for 182 yards by David Walker against SMU in 1977.
With the victory, McGee’s record on the road as a starter improved to 6-3. Prior to McGee’s ascension to starter, the Aggies were 3-13 in road games. McGee’s record in Big 12 road games is 5-1.
LANE TRAIN --- Junior Jorvorskie Lane rushed for four touchdowns against Nebraska, which marked the third four-TD game of his career, which is a school record.
The four scores raise Lane’s career totals to 43 rushing TDs (No. 2 in school history) and 44 total TDs (No. 3). Darren Lewis holds the school record for rushing touchdowns with 44 from 1987-90, while Lewis and Rodney Thomas (1991-94) share the A&M standard for rushing and receiving touchdowns with 45.
Well-known for his short yardage exploits, Lane generated three of his longest rushes of the season against Nebraska ? a 22-yarder, a 27-yarder and 31-yarder. Lane finished the game with 130 yards, which was just off his career high of 139 yards on 22 carries vs. Oklahoma State, 2005.
GROUND ATTACK --- The Aggies ground out 359 rushing yards on 66 carries against the Cornhuskers, which marks the highest road rushing output for the Aggies since the first year of the Big 12 Conference. In that game, the Aggies rushed for 369 yards against Baylor in 1996 in Waco.
Today’s 359 team rushing yards were a season-high and were the most for A&M since 2005 when the Aggies rushed for 399 yards against Oklahoma State in College Station.
Today’s game marked the third time this season that both Stephen McGee and Jorvorskie Lane have hit the "Benjamin" mark in rushing. McGee and Lane also surpassed the 100-yard mark against Fresno State and Baylor.
The Aggies controlled the ball for more than 35 minutes for the second time this season, and have now won six straight games when holding the ball for 35 minutes or more. Since 1985, the Aggies have controlled the football for 35 minutes or more in 40 games and have compiled a 38-2 record in those games.
TELLING TURNOVERS --- The Aggies were turnover-free on offense, while producing three takeaways against the Cornhuskers, which moved A&M’s record to 6-0 this season when the Aggies have the turnover advantage. During the Dennis Franchione era, the Aggies are 24-3 in games with a turnover advantage, and 7-22 in games with an even or minus turnover margin.
VICTORIOUS IN LINCOLN --- The Aggies beat Nebraska in Lincoln for just the second time in school history, and the first time since 1955 when Bear Bryant’s Aggies handed the Cornhuskers a 27-0 loss in Lincoln.
STARTING FAST --- The Aggies opened the game with a nine-play, 72-yard touchdown drive, marking the second straight week that A&M has scored on its initial drive of the game. It was also the fifth time this season that A&M scored on its first offensive possession.
MISCELLANEOUS --- Game captains were Joey Thomas, Jordan Peterson, Misi Tupe and Stephen McGee +++ The 12th Man was junior Nick LaMantia, a junior fullback from Mission, Texas. LaMantia has been the 12th Man in every game this season, and has 19 career 12th Man starts. +++ The Aggies played without tight end Martellus Bennett and guard Chris Yoder, who did not travel due to injury. Also not seeing action was defensive back/punt returner Jordan Peterson. +++ In Peterson’s place, true freshman Roger Holland handled the punt return duties (1 return for 8 yards). +++ Since the beginning of 2006, the Aggies are 15-6. +++ The Aggies are bowl eligible for the second straight year, and for the third time during the Franchione era.