Aggies' winning ways continue
Texas A&M delves into bag of tricks to topple Baylor
Posted: Saturday October 17, 1998 11:41 PM
WACO, Texas (AP) -- Texas A&M didn't let down after its upset of
Nebraska. The Aggies just got better.
Wide receiver Chris Taylor ran 61 yards for a touchdown on a
reverse and halfback Sirr Parker threw his first touchdown pass
Saturday as No. 10 Texas A&M rolled to a 35-14 victory over Baylor.
"Considering our emotional win over Nebraska, I thought we did
a great job of keeping our composure and concentration," A&M coach
R.C. Slocum said. "A road win in the Big 12 is always welcome."
The Aggies (6-1, 3-0 Big 12), fresh off a 28-21 win over
Nebraska, ran Baylor (2-4, 1-2) into the ground in the first half,
then discouraged the Bears with three trick plays in the second
half before 42,333 fans who braved rain and flood warnings to
attend the game.
"We knew we couldn't afford to have a letdown against a
talented team like Baylor," Taylor said. "We were fired up for
the game. On the reverse I just followed a block by Cameron Spikes
and then there was no one out there."
The Aggies struck quickly in the first quarter. After
quarterback Randy McCown completed a 21-yard pass to Leroy Hodge,
the Aggies went to their touchdown-maker for the score. Dante Hall
took a pitch, juked linebacker Jason Jackson to the ground, and
scored on a 38-yard run.
"We made sure we had Baylor in focus," Hall said. "We knew
they had upset North Carolina State the week after they beat
Florida State. We knew had dangerous Baylor could be."
Texas A&M stretched the lead to 14-0 at halftime as McCown
scored on a 2-yard run out of the option. McCown set up his own
touchdown with a 39-yard pass to Parker.
The Aggies lost a potential touchdown late in the half when
Hodge caught a long pass but fumbled into the Baylor end zone.
Cornerback Gary Baxter made the hit and the fumble recovery.
Taylor took a handoff from Hall early in the third quarter and
outran safety Rodney Smith for the score.
Baylor mounted a 72-yard drive to cut the lead to 21-7 on a
1-yard run by Elijah Burkins.
But the Aggies tricked the Bears again as Parker, throwing only
his second college pass, hit tight end Derrick Spiller on a 17-yard
scoring pass. His other pass in 1995 had fallen incomplete.
A&M scored its fifth touchdown after punter Shane Lechler threw
a 29-yard pass on fourth down. It led to a 3-yard scoring run by
freshman fullback Ja'Mar Toombs.
"Texas A&M is just more physical than us," Baylor coach Dave
Roberts said. "They executed very well. We just couldn't stop
them. A&M is just an excellent team."
Baylor scored with 4:24 left on a 29-yard pass from Odell James
to Morris Anderson.
Hall had 137 yards on 17 carries for the Aggies, who defeated
Baylor for the eighth consecutive time.
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