Building Champions
 Texas A&M vs. New Mexico Post Game Notes

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Sept. 5, 2009

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TEXAS A&M POST GAME NOTES

EARLY RISERS -- The Aggies used 18 freshmen in the game, ncluding 13 true freshmen and 5 redshirts. Of the true freshman, five were on offense and seven were on defense: wide receivers Uzoma Nwachukwu, Kenric McNeal and Brandal Jackson; running back Christine Michael; offensive lineman Patrick Lewis; linebackers Sean Porter and Jonathan Stewart; defensive backs Colton Valencia, Steven Campbell, Dustin Harris and Steven Terrell; and defensive linemen Kirby Ennis and Spencer Nealy.

Three of the true freshman started against the Lobos -- Nwachukwu at wide receiver in a three-wide set, Stewart at weakside linebacker and Harris at cornerback.

True freshmen were responsible for 8 catches for 122 yards, 11 rushing yards on 93 carries and 9 tackles.

Another member of Sherman's 2009 signing class, defensive back Coryell Judie, also entered the game in the fourth quarter. A junior college transfer Judie was a late addition to the fall camp 105 and has only a handful of practices under his belt.

HIGH AND LOW WATER MARKS FOR SHERMAN -- The Aggies gained 606 yards of total offense while limiting New Mexico to just 231 yards, their best offensive and defensive games under Coach Mike Sherman. The previous offensive high was 544 yards vs. Kansas State, while the best previous defensive performance was 284 yards by Army last season.

SEASON-OPENER TOTAL OFFENSE -- A&M's 606 total offensive yards set a school record for a season opener and tied for 11th most in school history. The previous high for an opening game was 567 against Sam Houston State in 1997. It was A&M's best offensive effort since it gained 714 yards against SMU in 2005.

DEFENSE TURNS PAGE ON 2008 -- A year after allowing 461.9 yards and 37.4 points per game, the Aggie defense was solid in the 2009 season opener, limiting the New Mexico offense to 6 points and 231 total yards. UNM didn't hit the 100-yard mark in total offense until just over 1:30 remained in the first half, and the Lobos didn't score until they connected on a 19-yard field goal with :13 seconds remaining in the first half.

FULLER STANDS TALL -- Sophomore receiver Jeff Fuller caught a career-high 10 passes for a career-best 111 yards and one touchdown. His previous bests were 8 receptions against Iowa State and 95 yards against Iowa State and Colorado.

MANNING CANDIDATE JOHNSON SHREDS LOBOS -- Junior quarterback Jerrod Johnson completed 31 of 41 passes for 349 yards and two touchdowns, tying his career-best for completions (Iowa State in 2008). It was the third-most passing yards of his career and his most since he had 381 against Iowa State last year. Johnson also carried 13 times for 57 yards and a touchdown, the second-most rushing yards of his career (68 vs. Kansas State in 2008). His 406 yards of total offense were the sixth most in school history and the second best of his career. He gained a school-record 487 yards (419 pass/68 rush) last year against Kansas State.

MACKEY CANDIDATE MCCOY HAS SOLID OPENER -- Senior tight end Jamie McCoy, a member of the 2009 John Mackey Award watch list, helped keep the chains moving for the Aggies with five catches for 44 yards, including two that produced first downs. McCoy has now had three or more catches in 11 straight games.

FIRST DRIVE SUCCESS -- The Aggies took their opening possession and went 74 yards for a touchdown in eight plays (2:46 time of possession), culiminating in a 16-yard touchdown scramble by quarterback Jerrod Johnson. Last season, the Aggies scored opening drive touchdowns in just three games.

SACK HAPPY -- The Aggie defense posted a pair of quarterback sacks in the first quarter against New Mexico (from redshirt freshman Kyle Mangan and junior Von Miller). For the game, the Aggies had four sacks, matching last year's season high set against Iowa State. A&M defenders had just 16 sacks in the wntire 2008 season.

TONIGHT'S 12th MAN / MISCELLANEOUS --- The Aggies dominated in time of possession (26:43 to 18:17 after three quarters) ••• Senior linebacker Derek Dumas (Crawford, Texas) represented the student body tonight for the third time in his career as the 12th Man ... Dumas won the honor through fan voting at the Maroon & White spring game ... Dumas had served as the 12th Man twice previously, wearing the hallowed "12" jersey against Arkansas State and at New Mexico (both games last season). ••• Game captains were senior Jordan Pugh and juniors Jerrod Johnson and Kenny Brown. The Aggies won the toss and deferred to the second half.

NEW MEXICO POST GAME NOTES

Team

Individual

Senior QB Donovan Porterie
•  set a career high with 29 pass completions...40 attempts were the second-most of his career o passed Graham Leigh (1996-98) for 4th place all-time at UNM with 394 career pass completions

Sophomore K James Aho
•  2-2 on FGs, connecting from 19 and 48 yards...the 48-yarder ties a career long set last year against Arizona o 20-26 FGs in 13 career games at New Mexico...5 multiple field goal games

Sophomore DE Johnathan Rainey
•  did not start, but had career-highs of 7 tackles, 2.0 sacks (-20 yards)...also unofficially credited with 6 QB hurries/hits

Senior LB Clint McPeek
•  10 tackles in his first game at LB (former safety)...6th career game with double-digit stops - all since 2008

Senior LB Tray Hardaway
•  Game-high 12 tackles, including 1.5 for loss, in his first career start...13 stops in 11 games (mostly special teams) last year

Senior WR Daryl Jones
•  led the team with career-highs with 5 receptions for 53 yards...entered the night with 6 grabs for 72 yards in 34 career games

Redshirt freshman RB A.J. Butler
•  53 yards from scrimmage on just 7 touches (7.6 avg.) - all in the second half...3 carries for 22 yards and 4 catches for 31 yards

True freshman RB Demond Dennis
•  first true freshman RB to start a season opener since Art Celestine at UTEP in 1991 o had 98 all-purpose yards: 10-23 rushing, 5-29 receiving and 46 on 2 KO returns


 

 

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