Photo by Andrew Kilzer, TexAgs
Texas A&M Football
Andrew Kilzer, TexAgs
Malena (pictured) continues to get the job done, after replacing the injured Michael and Cyrus Gray in 2011's final two games.
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(pictured) continues to get the job done, after replacing the injured
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* Rising: Ben Malena. The junior carried the ball 11 times for 88 yards in the first half, including two rushing touchdowns. With Christine Michael currently living in the coaches' doghouse, the ever-reliable Malena is taking full advantage of his opportunity. Number 1 does so many little things that Sumlin and Co. like to see out of their running back. Look for Malena to continue to get chances as the season rolls along.
Post-Game Review: Texas A&M 70, South Carolina State 14
September 22, 2012
5,135
COLLEGE STATION — The Texas A&M football team improved to 2-1 on the young season with a 70-14 blowout victory over South Carolina State Saturday evening at Kyle Field. Here are the highlights from my view inside the press box:
* Turning point: After a sloppy first quarter, the Aggies found themselves leading by just seven points, 14-7. But for the second straight week, A&M went "boom" in the second … accumulating 35 points in the period to take a 49-7 lead into the locker room at halftime. The play that turned the entire momentum in A&M's favor for good was Johnny Manziel's 39-yard touchdown scramble early in the second to put the Aggies on top, 21-7. It was all-maroon from that point forward.
Manziel only played the first half, accounting for five total touchdowns. He passed for 174 yards and three TDs and gained 78 yards on the ground, including two rushing scores.
Andrew Kilzer, TexAgs
Malena (pictured) continues to get the job done, after replacing the injured Michael and Cyrus Gray in 2011's final two games.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"right","Size":"large","Caption":"Malena
(pictured) continues to get the job done, after replacing the injured
Michael and Cyrus Gray in 2011\u0027s final two
games.","MediaItemID":21610}
* Falling: Christine Michael. C-Mike suited out for A&M but did not see a snap in the first half. He finally got in during the third quarter, rushing seven times for 26 yards and a touchdown. It's a new regime in Aggieland and Sumlin has made it clear that each and every player will do things the right way or somebody else will play. It will be interesting to see what Michael's playing time looks like with a critical game against Arkansas coming up next week.
* Best hit: Steven Campbell. The senior upended Bulldogs tight end Dwight Brannon on a fourth quarter screen pass. Campbell laid a pop near Brannon's knees, causing him to do a full front-flip and land hard on the turf. In a 63-7 game, it was nice to see #2 out there playing hard … despite being demoted for the time being at the safety position.
* Best hands: Dustin Harris. On his 96-yard punt return for a touchdown, Harris scooped up the football in heavy traffic and fielded it cleanly. He then proceeded to pick up a few key blocks and outrace everybody on his way to the house. Most punt returners let that ball fall and get downed inside the five, or see if it bounces into the end zone. But the mark of a great special teams ace is having the confidence to grab the ball in a situation like that.
Harris accumulated a school-record and SEC-record 246 yards on eight punt returns in the win over SCSU.
Harris accumulated a school-record and SEC-record 246 yards on eight punt returns in the win over SCSU.
* Standing 'O': Uzoma Nwachukwu. The senior wide receiver is having a season that rivals Chad Schroeder's start to the 2005 campaign. Nwachukwu's two touches in the game both went for a touchdown. Catch number one went for a nine-yard touchdown to make it 14-7 A&M. On the second grab, Nwachukwu took a slip-screen from Manziel, leaped over a defender at the 30-yard line and raced 37 yards to the house to put the Aggies on top, 42-7 in the second quarter. He has four receptions for four touchdowns so far this season.
Nwachukwu also made his presence known in the running game, laying massive blocks on long runs by Manziel, including a block near the goal line on Manziel's 39-yard TD run early in the second quarter that allowed the Aggies to pull away for good.
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