Gray's 3 TDs leads No. 9 A&M over Idaho

Courtesy of the Houston Chronicle

KRISTIE RIEKEN, AP Sports Writer

Updated 09:44 p.m., Saturday, September 17, 2011

Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) throws a pass as Idaho linebacker Tre'Shawn Robinson (51) defends during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, in College Station, Texas. Photo: David J. Phillip / AP

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Cyrus Gray had three touchdowns and 101 yards rushing, Ryan Tannehill threw for 337 yards and two scores in less than three quarters and No. 9 Texas A&M shook off a sloppy start for a 37-7 win over Idaho on Saturday night.

The Aggies had two turnovers in the first quarter, but Idaho didn't take advantage. Texas A&M had tacked on 27 points before halftime thanks to two touchdowns by Gray to take a comfortable lead and go on to the win.

Gray finished with 101 yards rushing for his ninth straight 100-yard game dating to last season. He had a 17-yard touchdown run and a 3-yard reception for a score in the second quarter. His 1-yard run midway through the third quarter pushed the lead to 37-0.

With about three minutes left in the third, Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman replaced Tannehill with freshman Jameill Showers.

Idaho couldn't do anything offensively for most of the game and had to punt 10 times, converted two of 14 third downs and had nine penalties for 66 yards. The Vandals' only touchdown came on a 1-yard run on fourth down by Troy Vital on a drive against Texas A&M's second string defense late in the fourth quarter.

Idaho quarterback Brian Reader was 17 of 29 for 131 yards, and Mike Scott had eight receptions for 97 yards.

Ryan Swope had 74 yards receiving and a touchdown, Uzoma Nwachukwu added 80 yards andJeff Fuller had 79. Fuller had five receptions to give him the A&M record for career receptions with 174.

Randy Bullock made field goals of 25, 42 and 46 yards, but his attempt from 44 yards in the fourth quarter was wide left.

Gray got A&M's offense going after a slow and sloppy start when he ran 17 yards for a touchdown that made it 17-0 in the second quarter. Bullock's 42-yard field goal later in the second quarter stretched the lead to 20-0.

A&M got the ball back after Reader threw three straight incompletions on Idaho's next drive, and Gray made it 27-0 when he scored on a 3-yard pass from Tannehill just before halftime.

The Aggies were on the Idaho 20 on their first drive when Tannehill's pass was tipped and intercepted by Andre Ferguson. The Vandals couldn't convert and had to punt it away.

Idaho's Tre'Shawn Robinson forced a fumble by Christine Michael late in the first quarter which was recovered by the Vandals. But Idaho couldn't take advantage of this miscue either and had to punt again.

Texas A&M's sloppy offensive play carried over into the second quarter when a 44-yard reception by Fuller was negated by an offensive pass interference call. The Aggies were able to keep the drive going after the penalty, but eventually settled for a 25-yard field goal after consecutive incomplete passes to make it 10-0
.