Texas A&M Football
Escape From Shreveport: Somehow, Aggies win again
October 14, 2012
6,579
SHREVEPORT, La. — All the poker players in the casinos of this Red River port city would wish for a hand like Texas A&M opened with on Saturday night.
Three touchdowns and two field goals — an offensive full house — staked Texas A&M to a huge early lead. But the Aggies learned what all those gamblers should know: Don’t count anything until all the dealing is done.
It wasn’t done until early Sunday morning when Ben Malena fielded an onside kick and No. 22 Texas A&M escaped after midnight with a nerve-wracking, 59-57 victory over No. 23 Louisiana Tech.
The Aggies' fifth consecutive victory was the craziest so far in what has already been a crazy season. They did everything possible to win — and to lose.
They surged up and down the playing surface of Independence Stadium as fabulous freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel again made dozens of big plays. They blocked a Louisiana Tech extra point attempt and turned it into two points. They intercepted another two-point conversion. They got a career-long field goal from Taylor Bertolet.
Andrew Kilzer, TexAgs
Two of any staff's biggest pet peeves — penalties and missed tackles — reared their heads in bunches, but A&M fought through.
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But they also missed tackles at an alarming rate. They allowed Louisiana Tech receiver Quinton Patton to explode for a 233 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 21 catches. Manziel had an interception returned for a touchdown. Bertolet missed an important extra point. The defense gave up two touchdowns in the final two minutes.
But then they were able to sweat out game-tying two-point conversion attempt and then secure the decisive on-side kick.
Aggie coach Kevin Sumlin had to be happy with A&M’s fifth consecutive victory, but he couldn’t have been pleased — not with a defense that was lit up like neon signs on all those Shreveport casinos.
Yeah, the Aggies were without safety Steven Campbell and cornerback Deshazor Everett, who are injured, and linebacker Steven Jenkins and defensive back Howard Matthews, who were suspended. Yet, those absences hardly excused such a poor performance by a defense that allowed 615 yards.
But he had to be happy that the Aggies — who routinely folded in similar situations a year ago — followed up on last week’s incredible come-from-behind victory over Ole Miss with perhaps an equally-incredible win in which they made the pivotal plays when needed most.
“I think our mindset is different,” he said. “We do what it takes to win.”
Here’s what it took to win:
- Defensive end Damontre Moore had a career-high 17 tackles.
- Bertolet kicked three field goals, including a career-long 54 yarder.
- Sophomore LeKendirck Williams scored the first touchdown of his career.
- Redshirt freshman Mike Evans had a 75-yard touchdown catch, the longest of his career.
- Manziel broke his own Southeastern Conference total offense record with 576 yards. He also accounted for six touchdowns.
Yet, despite all that the Aggies had to step up — and then sweat it out — in an amazing fourth quarter that rendered the previous three almost insignificant.
TexAgs
For another week, the Aggies can focus on a winning streak and Manziel's dazzling highlight reel.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"left","Size":"large","Caption":"For another week, the Aggies can focus on a winning streak and Manziel\u0027s dazzling highlight reel.","MediaItemID":22668}
Louisiana Tech, which trailed 39-16 at halftime, pulled to within 46-44 when Lucas Shakeil intercepted a Manziel pass and returned it five yards for a touchdown with 11:59 remaining.
The Bulldogs could’ve tied the score, but Dustin Harris, who earlier had returned a blocked extra point for two points, intercepted Louisiana Tech quarterback Colby Cameron’s pass on a two-point conversion attempt.
Manziel responded by leading the Aggies on a 10-play drive for a 17-yard touchdown pass to Thomas Johnson with 7:28 to play. Five minutes later, he broke loose for a 72-yard touchdown run that left the Aggies with a 59-44 lead.
“We’re getting used to that,” Sumlin said.
But then Bertolet missed the extra point, which didn’t figure to matter until the first play of the ensuing possession when Patton turned a short pass from Cameron into a 62-yard touchdown to pull within 59-51.
The Bulldogs recovered the onside kick and then quickly moved downfield for a 13-yard touchdown pass from Cameron to Ray Holley to pull within 59-57 with 38 seconds to play.
But Cameron’s pass on the following two-point conversion sailed incomplete. Malena then covered the next onside kick, and finally the Aggies could rake in their fifth win.
That close call may cause great concern with LSU next on the schedule and Mississippi State and top-ranked Alabama looming later.
Any poker player would advise to be happy with a winning hand and don’t worry about the next one until it’s dealt.
Three touchdowns and two field goals — an offensive full house — staked Texas A&M to a huge early lead. But the Aggies learned what all those gamblers should know: Don’t count anything until all the dealing is done.
It wasn’t done until early Sunday morning when Ben Malena fielded an onside kick and No. 22 Texas A&M escaped after midnight with a nerve-wracking, 59-57 victory over No. 23 Louisiana Tech.
The Aggies' fifth consecutive victory was the craziest so far in what has already been a crazy season. They did everything possible to win — and to lose.
They surged up and down the playing surface of Independence Stadium as fabulous freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel again made dozens of big plays. They blocked a Louisiana Tech extra point attempt and turned it into two points. They intercepted another two-point conversion. They got a career-long field goal from Taylor Bertolet.
Andrew Kilzer, TexAgs
Two of any staff's biggest pet peeves — penalties and missed tackles — reared their heads in bunches, but A&M fought through.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"right","Size":"large","Caption":"Two of any staff\u0027s biggest pet peeves — penalties and missed tackles — reared their heads in bunches, but A&M fought through.","MediaItemID":22453}
But then they were able to sweat out game-tying two-point conversion attempt and then secure the decisive on-side kick.
Aggie coach Kevin Sumlin had to be happy with A&M’s fifth consecutive victory, but he couldn’t have been pleased — not with a defense that was lit up like neon signs on all those Shreveport casinos.
Yeah, the Aggies were without safety Steven Campbell and cornerback Deshazor Everett, who are injured, and linebacker Steven Jenkins and defensive back Howard Matthews, who were suspended. Yet, those absences hardly excused such a poor performance by a defense that allowed 615 yards.
But he had to be happy that the Aggies — who routinely folded in similar situations a year ago — followed up on last week’s incredible come-from-behind victory over Ole Miss with perhaps an equally-incredible win in which they made the pivotal plays when needed most.
“I think our mindset is different,” he said. “We do what it takes to win.”
Here’s what it took to win:
- Defensive end Damontre Moore had a career-high 17 tackles.
- Bertolet kicked three field goals, including a career-long 54 yarder.
- Sophomore LeKendirck Williams scored the first touchdown of his career.
- Redshirt freshman Mike Evans had a 75-yard touchdown catch, the longest of his career.
- Manziel broke his own Southeastern Conference total offense record with 576 yards. He also accounted for six touchdowns.
Yet, despite all that the Aggies had to step up — and then sweat it out — in an amazing fourth quarter that rendered the previous three almost insignificant.
TexAgs
For another week, the Aggies can focus on a winning streak and Manziel's dazzling highlight reel.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"left","Size":"large","Caption":"For another week, the Aggies can focus on a winning streak and Manziel\u0027s dazzling highlight reel.","MediaItemID":22668}
The Bulldogs could’ve tied the score, but Dustin Harris, who earlier had returned a blocked extra point for two points, intercepted Louisiana Tech quarterback Colby Cameron’s pass on a two-point conversion attempt.
Manziel responded by leading the Aggies on a 10-play drive for a 17-yard touchdown pass to Thomas Johnson with 7:28 to play. Five minutes later, he broke loose for a 72-yard touchdown run that left the Aggies with a 59-44 lead.
“We’re getting used to that,” Sumlin said.
But then Bertolet missed the extra point, which didn’t figure to matter until the first play of the ensuing possession when Patton turned a short pass from Cameron into a 62-yard touchdown to pull within 59-51.
The Bulldogs recovered the onside kick and then quickly moved downfield for a 13-yard touchdown pass from Cameron to Ray Holley to pull within 59-57 with 38 seconds to play.
But Cameron’s pass on the following two-point conversion sailed incomplete. Malena then covered the next onside kick, and finally the Aggies could rake in their fifth win.
That close call may cause great concern with LSU next on the schedule and Mississippi State and top-ranked Alabama looming later.
Any poker player would advise to be happy with a winning hand and don’t worry about the next one until it’s dealt.
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