Aggies Become Bowl Eligible

Aggie running back Christine Michael ripped off a 97-yard touchdown run Saturday to boost the Aggies past Baylor, 38-3.

The win makes the Aggies (6-5 3-4 Big 12) bowl eligible. The Bears (4-7, 1-6) are mathematically eliminated from bowl eligibility.

A pass interception by Aggie corner Terrance Frederick set up the Aggies on the Aggie one-yard line. Aggie quarterback Jerrod Johnson then rushed for two yards. On second and eight, Michael took the ball through a gaping hole, veered to the right, and raced down the sideline for 97 yards.

"I was proud of them today. I thought they did a good job of responding to the challenge they had in front of them. They knew what the implications of this game were. We wanted to be able to win this football game at home and put ourselves in a good position to play Texas on Thursday. We look forward to that ballgame now,” Aggie Coach Mike Sherman told a post-game press conference.

The score seemed to break the backs of the Bears, who were trailing 14-3 and had been moving the ball well through the first period. The game stood 21-3 at halftime. After the half, the Aggies tacked on three more scores; two were in the fourth period.

It was a great day for Aggie runners. The Aggies rushed for 375 yards. The Bears went into the game with the Big 12 last place defense. Michael ran for 116 yards and Cyrus Gray rushed for 107 yards. Jerrod Johnson threw for 153 yards. It was one of Johnson’s lowest productions in the passing game, but his total for the year (2,875) set a single season record for an Aggie QB.

The Aggie defense picked off Bear’s quarterback three times. They limited the Bears to 297 yards of offense. The Aggies’ offense totaled 587 yards on the ground and through the air.

Michael’s 97-yarder was a record run from scrimmage by any Aggie. He eclipsed D’Andre “Tik”’ Hardeman’s 95-yard run also against Baylor in 1999. The 375 yards rushing was a season high. The previous high was 321 in the Aggies’ 52-30 win of Texas Tech in Lubbock.

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The game set up the Aggies to play Texas University next Thursday at Kyle Field. The game will be televised on ESPN. The Longhorns are leading the league and ranked in the AP top five.

The Aggies discount ticket scheme worked. The attendance was 82,106. It was the largest maroon-clad crowd at Kyle Field this year.

By Jay Goode
Big 12 Fans Texas A&M Correspondent

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