Photo by Brandon Jones, TexAgs.com
Texas A&M Football
Post-Game Review: Texas A&M 52, Rice 31
August 31, 2013
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The start was a little sluggish, but Texas A&M rebounded nicely to post a 52-31 college football season-opening victory over Rice.
Here’s a look at some of the game’s top plays and moments.
Rising: Freshman WR Ricky Seals-Jones wasted little time distinguishing himself. A major matchup problem at 6-5, 225 pounds, his first catch late in the second quarter resulted in a first down. Later, he bolted behind Rice safety Julius White, pulled down a lob from Matt Joeckel and raced 71 yards for a touchdown. Seals-Jones had three catches for 84 yards.
Further, just before the game A&M announced that DE Gavin Stansbury, CB De’Vante Harris, LB Steven Jenkins and WR Edward Pope were suspended two games for violating athletic department rules. The Aggies' defense played the first half without six potential starters.
Best hit: Freshman LB Darian Claiborne made a perfect read and dropped Rice QB Taylor McHargue for a two-yard loss on third-and-one at the A&M 49 to force a punt.
Best hands: CB Otis Jacobs made a leaping interception of a McHargue pass on the third play of the second half. That gave the Aggies possession at the Rice 40-yard line and led to a field goal.
Turning point: Rice, which led early, fought the Aggies to a 14-14 tie in the second quarter and wasn’t giving any indication that it would back down. But five minutes into that frame, Seals-Jones made his big catch-and-run for the 71-yard touchdown that gave the Aggies their first lead. They never trailed again.
Standing 'O': The Kyle Field crowd — most of which was already standing, of course — made it unanimous when quarterback Johnny Manziel coolly walked onto the field with 14:40 showing in the third quarter. Manziel promptly scrambled for 12-yard gain to start a series which ended with Taylor Bertolet’s 44-yard field goal that staked the Aggies to a 31-21 lead.
Sophomore punter Drew Kaser drew a huge round of applause too when he uncorked a 76-yard punt midway through the third quarter. It tied for the sixth longest punt in A&M history.
Here’s a look at some of the game’s top plays and moments.
Rising: Freshman WR Ricky Seals-Jones wasted little time distinguishing himself. A major matchup problem at 6-5, 225 pounds, his first catch late in the second quarter resulted in a first down. Later, he bolted behind Rice safety Julius White, pulled down a lob from Matt Joeckel and raced 71 yards for a touchdown. Seals-Jones had three catches for 84 yards.
Just before the game A&M announced that DE Gavin Stansbury, CB De’Vante Harris, LB Steven Jenkins and WR Edward Pope were suspended two games for violating athletic department rules. The Aggies' defense played the first half without six potential starters.
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Falling: The Aggies’ reputation for discipline has taken a nose dive. It’s bad enough that DT Kirby Ennis and FS Floyd Raven were suspended for the game and CB Deshazor Everett sat out the first half because of offseason issues. Further, just before the game A&M announced that DE Gavin Stansbury, CB De’Vante Harris, LB Steven Jenkins and WR Edward Pope were suspended two games for violating athletic department rules. The Aggies' defense played the first half without six potential starters.
Best hit: Freshman LB Darian Claiborne made a perfect read and dropped Rice QB Taylor McHargue for a two-yard loss on third-and-one at the A&M 49 to force a punt.
Best hands: CB Otis Jacobs made a leaping interception of a McHargue pass on the third play of the second half. That gave the Aggies possession at the Rice 40-yard line and led to a field goal.
Turning point: Rice, which led early, fought the Aggies to a 14-14 tie in the second quarter and wasn’t giving any indication that it would back down. But five minutes into that frame, Seals-Jones made his big catch-and-run for the 71-yard touchdown that gave the Aggies their first lead. They never trailed again.
Standing 'O': The Kyle Field crowd — most of which was already standing, of course — made it unanimous when quarterback Johnny Manziel coolly walked onto the field with 14:40 showing in the third quarter. Manziel promptly scrambled for 12-yard gain to start a series which ended with Taylor Bertolet’s 44-yard field goal that staked the Aggies to a 31-21 lead.
Sophomore punter Drew Kaser drew a huge round of applause too when he uncorked a 76-yard punt midway through the third quarter. It tied for the sixth longest punt in A&M history.
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