Texas A&M Football post game notes vs. Arkansas

Reporter: Texas A&M Sports Information

 

 

 

Saturday, October 1, 2011 * Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Notables:
· The 38 points scored by the Aggies were the second-most ever in a losing effort behind the 47 points in 2002’s 48-47 overtime loss.
· For the third straight game, junior C.J. Jones was the Aggies’ 12th Man.
· New starters were RB Christine Michael, OG Cedric Ogbuehi, DE Ben Bass and SS Steven Terrell.
· WR Jeff Fuller extended his school record for consecutive games with at least one catch to 37 games, which is every game of his career.
· A&M has just three takeaways in four games in 2011. Since grabbing interceptions on back to back drives to open the season against SMU, A&M’s only turnover gained came via Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon’s fumble through the endzone last week.
· A&M has lost the turnover battle in three straight games, giving up eight turnovers and gaining just one. For the season, A&M’s turnover margin is -5.
· Arkansas’ Jarius Wright set an opponent record with 281 yards on 13 catches (previous high was 214 by Iowa State’s Todd Blythe in 2005.
· Punter Ryan Epperson had four coffin-corner boots in six tries against the Hogs.
· Senior Cyrus Gray, already the school record holder in career kickoff return and all-purpose yardage, gained 211 all-purpose yards, including 116 in kickoff return yardage.
· The Aggies didn’t throw at least one TD pass for the first time since the Nebraska game (Nov. 20, 2010).

C-MIKE SHINES IN RETURN TO STARTING ROLE: Returning to the starting lineup for the first time since last year’s Missouri game, junior Christine Michael exploded for 128 first-half yards on his way to a career-best rushing effort with 230 yards on 32 carries. Two games after the Missouri start, Michael was lost for the season with a broken leg. Today’s performance was his first 100-yard effort since the injury; in fact, it was his first since rushing for 119 yards vs. FIU in game three of 2010.
Michael and Cyrus Gray combined for 325 on 49 carries.
BIG 12 SACK LEADER PORTER TALLIED TWO MORE: Big 12 sack leader Sean Porter added two more sacks to his season total with a pair of QB takedowns against the Hogs. Porter finished the day with four tackles, two sacks and a QB hurry.
BIG OFFENSIVE OUTPUT: The Aggies went over 600 yards in total offense for the second time under head coach Mike Sherman, and the 16th time in school history. A&M gained 628 yards, which was the No. 8 effort in school history and the highest of Sherman’s head coaching era.
FAST FIRST HALF: The Aggies roared to a 35-17 halftime lead against Arkansas. A closer look at some A&M first-half numbers:
· Christine Michael rushed for 128 yards and three TDs in the first half, both career-highs.
· As a team, Aggies gained 404 yards on 45 plays (9.0 per play), including 225 rushing yards.
· Michael and Cyrus Gray combined for 187 yards on 24 carries.
· QB Ryan Tannehill was an efficient 15-of-19 for 179 yards.