Texas A&M
Baylor
(#10) Texas A&M 35, Baylor 14
Oct 17, 1998 | Football
October 17, 1998
Texas A&M thoroughly dominated virtually every aspect of Saturday night's game, producing season-high totals in points, passing yards (241), rushing yards (294), total offense (535), third-down conversion percentage (8 of 13 for 62 percent), average yard per play (8.1) and quarterback sacks (5).
So much for the concerns about the Aggies suffering an emotional letdown following the Nebraska win.
"We knew this was a dangerous game, and we had heard all about how we might have a letdown after the way we beat Nebraska," said A&M senior linebacker Warrick Holdman. "But as a team, we weren't really worried about a letdown. We knew that if we came out and played the way we're capable of playing, we would be all right."
The Aggies were far better than "all right" on Saturday night. And not just on defense, which has so often been the case this season.
In fact, during many stretches of the game, A&M's offense was down-right dominant, hitting big plays, wearing the Bears down and scoring on drives of 64, 84, 79, 80 and 70 yards. Not even the steady rain that fell throughout much of the contest seemed to bother the Aggies.
Mixing up their plays effectively and converting one third-down situation after another, the Aggies scored on their first offensive series of the game and built a 21-0 lead by early in the second half. In other words, the outcome was never really in doubt.
"We felt like it was very important to jump out on them early and take away their hopes of an upset," said quarterback Randy McCown. "Overall, I was pleased with how we did that. But (offensively) I still feel like we're only firing on about six of eight cylinders. We can definitely step it up."
McCown, starting his third straight game and the fourth of his career, certainly stepped up his level of play. A week after completing only 2-of-8 passes against Nebraska, the junior signal caller was 9-of-14 for 195 yards against the Bears - the most passing yards by an A&M quarterback since Branndon Stewart threw for 231 yards last year against Baylor.
And McCown's passing was just part of what made his performance so impressive. He also did an extremely effective job of scrambling, running the offense and executing the option.
The Aggies scored their first touchdown of the evening on a perfect option pitch from McCown to Hall, who raced 38 yards for a score. Then midway through the second quarter, McCown kept on the option as he dove into the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown to give the Aggies a 14-0 lead at the half.
"Randy is really playing very well right now," A&M senior safety Rich Coady said. "He's such a gamer that you can always count on him to make a play when you need it. He's throwing the ball well, his running gives another dimension to our offense. and he's installed a lot of confidence to our team. He's playing as well right now as any quarterback we've seen."
Said Hall: "I don't know where he's getting some of those moves when he takes off and runs, but I like what I'm seeing."
With McCown composed and in complete control, the Aggies were able to open their offense, up more than they have at any other time this year, implementing a few extremely creative plays that broke Baylor's back in the second half.
Early in the third quarter, for example, Hall took a pitch from McCown and headed to his right. Sophomore wide receiver Chris Taylor then took a reverse handoff from Hall, picked up a key block from left guard Cameron Spikes and turned on the afterburners en route to a 61-yard touchdown. On the play, two defenders appeared to have the angle to prevent a touchdown, but Taylor displayed sprinter's speed that probably has not been seen at Baylor since Michael Johnson was in school in Waco.
Then in the fourth quarter, senior tailback Sirr Parker took a pitch to his right, pulled up and hit a wide-open Derrick Spiller in the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown on the halfback pass.
"To be honest, some of the plays we called (Saturday night) even surprised me," said Taylor. "Obviously, they surprised Baylor, too."
The Bears may have been surprised. But more than anything, they were out-manned and outclassed. And if not for some questionable calls and spots by the officials, this easily could have been a 28- or 35-point margin of victory for A&M.
Regardless, it's on to bigger and better teams for the Aggies, who are now 3-0 in conference play for the first time since 1994. Texas Tech, which lost 19-17 to Colorado on Saturday, comes to Kyle Field this weekend for a game that could eventually determine the Big 12 South champion.
"That's going to be a big game for us," Hall said of the 6-1 Red Raiders. "It always seems like it's a war against Texas Tech. I'm glad we'll be back at home."
And glad to be out of Waco with yet another win.
