Photo by Brandon Jones, TexAgs
Texas A&M Football
Post-Game Review: Texas A&M 38, Rice 10
September 14, 2014
8,571
Kenny Hill threw four touchdown passes — two to Josh Reynolds — and Tra Carson plowed a yard for another score as seventh-ranked Texas A&M posted a 38-10 victory over Rice on Saturday night.
A Kyle Field crowd of 103,867 — which included 39,271 students — witnessed Hill increase his season total of touchdown passes to 11.
His scoring passes covered 14 yards to Speedy Noil, 13 to Ricky Seals-Jones and 48 and 20 yards to Reynolds.
Rising: The No. 7 Aggies should move up a spot in the rankings despite their rather lackluster victory. Georgia, which was ranked one spot above A&M, lost to South Carolina (an opponent A&M beat). Four ranked teams lost on Saturday, but none of the others were ranked ahead of the Aggies.
Brandon Jones, TexAgs
Garrett's impressive freshman season continued with 2.5 sacks, but A&M's defense will leave with teaching material.
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Falling: A&M’s defensive ranking was a respectable 53rd in the nation after the Aggies allowed an average of 338 yards in their first two games. They figure to fall a few spots following a lackluster showing against Rice in which A&M allowed 481 yards of total offense..
Best hit: Freshman defensive end Myles Garrett badly beat Rice offensive tackle Ian Gray to notch a blindside sack of Owls quarterback Driphus Jackson. Garrett had 2.5 sacks in the game and has 5.5 for the season.
Best hands: Noil leaped up and reached back to haul in an 18-yard crossing pass from Hill that gave the Aggies a first down at the Rice 13. Hill threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Seals-Jones on the next play.
Turning point: Rice kicker James Hairston converted a 53-yard field goal just before halftime that enabled the Owls to stay competitive at 21-10. Except … the Aggies were penalized for having too many men on the field, a dead-ball infraction that nullified the play. Hairston’s ensuing 48-yard field goal attempt was partially blocked by Seals-Jones and rolled down to the seven-yard line where Armani Watts raced to scoop it up. Watts crossed the field toward the Aggies bench, picked up a couple of key blocks and raced down the sideline for a 93-yard touchdown. Except … the Aggies were penalized for coming off the bench to nullify the touchdown.
Still, the Aggies maintained a two touchdown lead. They then started the second half with a five-play drive for a touchdown pass to Reynolds for a 28-7 lead. The Aggies cruised from there.
Standing 'O': Hill posted his third game with at least three touchdown passes. This time, the sophomore threw for four touchdowns. Also, he threw for 300 yards which raised his season total to 1,094. That’s the most passing yards through three games for an Aggie.
A&M: Speedy Noil 14 pass from Kenny Hill. (Josh Lambo kick). A&M 7, Rice 0. Key play: Malcome Kennedy 13 pass from Hill.
Brandon Jones, TexAgs
Hill ran his 2014 total to 11 touchdowns with zero interceptions.
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Second quarter
A&M: Ricky Seals-Jones 13-yard pass from Hill (Lambo kick). A&M 14, Rice 0. Key play: Brandon Williams 27-yard run.
RICE: Mario Hull 35-yard pass from Driphus Jackson (James Hairston kick). A&M 14, Rice 7. Key play: Jowan Davis 17-yard pass from Jackson on third-and-three.
A&M: Josh Reynolds 48-yard pass from Hill (Lambo kick). A&M 21, Rice 7. Key play: Malcome Kennedy 11-yard pass from Hill on third-and-three.
Third quarter
A&M: Reynolds 20-yard pass from Hill (Lambo kick). A&M 28, Rice 7. Key play: Noil 39-yard pass from Hill.
A&M: Tra Carson 1-yard run (Lambo kick). A&M 35, Rice 7. Key play: Hill 39-yard run.
RICE: Hairston 33-yard FG. A&M 35, Rice 10.
Fourth quarter
A&M: Lambo 47-yard FG. A&M 38, Rice 10. Key play: Edward Pope 30-yard pass from Hill.
A Kyle Field crowd of 103,867 — which included 39,271 students — witnessed Hill increase his season total of touchdown passes to 11.
His scoring passes covered 14 yards to Speedy Noil, 13 to Ricky Seals-Jones and 48 and 20 yards to Reynolds.
Rising: The No. 7 Aggies should move up a spot in the rankings despite their rather lackluster victory. Georgia, which was ranked one spot above A&M, lost to South Carolina (an opponent A&M beat). Four ranked teams lost on Saturday, but none of the others were ranked ahead of the Aggies.
Brandon Jones, TexAgs
Garrett's impressive freshman season continued with 2.5 sacks, but A&M's defense will leave with teaching material.
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Best hit: Freshman defensive end Myles Garrett badly beat Rice offensive tackle Ian Gray to notch a blindside sack of Owls quarterback Driphus Jackson. Garrett had 2.5 sacks in the game and has 5.5 for the season.
Best hands: Noil leaped up and reached back to haul in an 18-yard crossing pass from Hill that gave the Aggies a first down at the Rice 13. Hill threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Seals-Jones on the next play.
Turning point: Rice kicker James Hairston converted a 53-yard field goal just before halftime that enabled the Owls to stay competitive at 21-10. Except … the Aggies were penalized for having too many men on the field, a dead-ball infraction that nullified the play. Hairston’s ensuing 48-yard field goal attempt was partially blocked by Seals-Jones and rolled down to the seven-yard line where Armani Watts raced to scoop it up. Watts crossed the field toward the Aggies bench, picked up a couple of key blocks and raced down the sideline for a 93-yard touchdown. Except … the Aggies were penalized for coming off the bench to nullify the touchdown.
Still, the Aggies maintained a two touchdown lead. They then started the second half with a five-play drive for a touchdown pass to Reynolds for a 28-7 lead. The Aggies cruised from there.
Standing 'O': Hill posted his third game with at least three touchdown passes. This time, the sophomore threw for four touchdowns. Also, he threw for 300 yards which raised his season total to 1,094. That’s the most passing yards through three games for an Aggie.
Scoring summary
First quarterA&M: Speedy Noil 14 pass from Kenny Hill. (Josh Lambo kick). A&M 7, Rice 0. Key play: Malcome Kennedy 13 pass from Hill.
Brandon Jones, TexAgs
Hill ran his 2014 total to 11 touchdowns with zero interceptions.
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A&M: Ricky Seals-Jones 13-yard pass from Hill (Lambo kick). A&M 14, Rice 0. Key play: Brandon Williams 27-yard run.
RICE: Mario Hull 35-yard pass from Driphus Jackson (James Hairston kick). A&M 14, Rice 7. Key play: Jowan Davis 17-yard pass from Jackson on third-and-three.
A&M: Josh Reynolds 48-yard pass from Hill (Lambo kick). A&M 21, Rice 7. Key play: Malcome Kennedy 11-yard pass from Hill on third-and-three.
Third quarter
A&M: Reynolds 20-yard pass from Hill (Lambo kick). A&M 28, Rice 7. Key play: Noil 39-yard pass from Hill.
A&M: Tra Carson 1-yard run (Lambo kick). A&M 35, Rice 7. Key play: Hill 39-yard run.
RICE: Hairston 33-yard FG. A&M 35, Rice 10.
Fourth quarter
A&M: Lambo 47-yard FG. A&M 38, Rice 10. Key play: Edward Pope 30-yard pass from Hill.
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