Texas A&M
Colorado
Colorado 41, Texas A&M 20
Oct 08, 2005 | Football
October 08, 2005
Joel Klatt headlined a big night of offense for Colorado, throwing for 211 yards in the first quarter Saturday en route to a 398-yard, three-touchdown game and a 41-20 win over surprisingly overmatched Texas A&M.
Klatt connected with Hugh Charles for a 51-yard touchdown to open the scoring less than 2 minutes into the game. The Buffs (4-1, 2-0 Big 12) scored on their next two possessions and had a 21-0 lead after the first quarter.
Colorado finished with 559 yards against Texas A&M (3-2, 1-1), which came into the game ranked last in the Big 12 in passing yards allowed and 11th overall.
It was bad right from the start for the Aggies.
On their second play from scrimmage, Reggie McNeal connected with DeQawn Mobley, who slipped behind Buffs cornerback Lorenzo Sims. Mobley made the catch and looked like he'd score. Instead, he fumbled and the Buffs recovered. The turnover went down as a 60-yard gain, which helped make A&M's rough night on offense look a little better on the stats page.
McNeal, the multiple-threat quarterback the Buffs stressed about all week, didn't get the Aggies into the end zone. Their two touchdowns were purely cosmetic, both coming late with the second- and third-teamers on the field. McNeal finished with 146 yards passing and a minus-14 yards rushing after averaging 227 passing and 92 rushing over the first four games.
Adding this to their 34-0 win over Oklahoma State last week, the Buffs have won two straight against the Big 12 South after nine consecutive losses. The win might be enough to put CU in the top 25 for the first time since Sept. 7, 2003. Next week, the task gets much tougher -- a game at No. 2 Texas.
Before that, though, CU can enjoy this highlight-reel of a game.
Klatt, a senior, finished 28-for-36 with no interceptions. This was his third 300-yard game. He was well on the way to his third 400-yard performance, but coach Gary Barnett gave him the night off after he hit Quinn Sypniewski for a 36-yard score and a 41-6 lead midway through the third.
Charles added to his stellar start this season, finishing with 67 yards rushing, 85 receiving and a 4-yard touchdown run to go with his long scoring catch.
Lawrence Vickers had 48 yards and also scored twice. Tight end Joel Klopfenstein had five catches for 99 yards, including a one-handed grab on a pass thrown behind him for a seven-yard gain in the second quarter. Seven plays later, Vickers scored from a yard for a 28-3 lead.
Texas A&M Postgame Notes
CHAMBLESS MAKES BEST PITCH --- Redshirt freshman Jordan Chambless' 55-yard punt return was easily a career-long and also ranks as the longest by an Aggie returner in more than six seasons dating back to a 55-yarder by Jason Webster in 1998 against Oklahoma. Chambless, who is also a standout pitcher for Rob Childress' Aggie baseball team, had a long of seven yards coming into the game. Webster's return also ranks as A&M's most recent punt return touchdown.
BENNETTS MAKE HISTORY --- Brothers Michael and Martellus Bennett became the first true freshman brother tandem to start in the same game in Texas A&M history. Michael, the older of the brothers, started at defensive end in place of injured starter Jason Jack, while Martellus, who also started last week against Baylor, made his start in a two-tight end set.
BIG BOOT BY BRANTLY --- True freshman punter Justin Brantly booted an 80-yard punt, which was a career long and tied for the fourth-longest in school history. It was the longest punt by an Aggies since Todd Tschantz launched 80-yarder against Rice in 1985. It also marked the second-longest punt in Folsom Field history. Brantley, who fielded the snap in the end zone, turned the field around by pinning the Buffaloes at their 11-yard line. The Folsom Field record is an 83-yarder by former Supreme Court Justice and Buffalo Byron "Whizzer" White on Oct. 2, 1937.
The 80-yard boot highlighted a career-best day for the freshman, who finished with a career-best 48.1 average on seven punts.
FRESHMEN EFFECT --- Five freshmen, two true and three redshirts, started against Colorado.
- Redshirt freshman WR Pierre Brown returned a kickoff and had two catches for 16 yards, both career-bests.
- DB Jordan Chambless had the longest punt return (55 yards) in more than six years and posted two tackles.
- P Justin Brantly had the longest punt by an Aggie in 20 years and finished the day with a career-best 48.1 average.
- True freshman TE Martellus Bennett had four catches for 39 yards, both career highs
- Redshirt freshman RB Samson Taylor had 13 carries for 40 yards, both career highs.
- True freshman RB Jorvorskie Lane had six carries for 29 yards and a touchdown.
- True freshman defensive back Alton Dixon had a career-best four tackles.
- Redshirt freshman Stephen McGee passed for 112 yards on 9-of-15 passing, all career highs. He also rushed for 15 yards on two carries.
FIRSTS ---
- Redshirt freshman Samson Taylor made his first career start at RB.
- True freshman Michael Bennett made his first career start at DE.
- Redshirt freshman Pierre Brown logged the first kickoff of his career.
- Senior WR Michael "Utah" Corey saw his first career action.
FOR THE RECORD ---
- For the second straight game, the Aggies allowed opening drive scores on the initial possession of the game.
- Game captains for the Aggies were QB Reggie McNeal, OL Aldo De La Garza, DT Johnny Jolly and DB Jaxson Appel.
- The 12th Man for the fourth straight game was John Ray, a junior walk-on from Giddings, Texas. It is the 17th time that Ray has been the Aggies' 12th Man.
