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Texas A&M 36, Nebraska 14 (Final) Save Email Print
Posted: 1:55 PM Oct 20, 2007
Last Updated: 11:46 PM Oct 21, 2007

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Marlon Lucky broke his own Nebraska running back record by hauling in 13 receptions for 125 yards, but it was not enough to offset a powerful Texas A&M running game, as the Huskers fell to the Aggies, 36-14, at Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Playing in front of an NCAA-record 288th consecutive sellout at Memorial Stadium on a perfect day for football, the Huskers trailed 16-14 at the half, before Texas A&M took control of the game in the third quarter.

Nebraska, which slipped to 4-4 overall and 1-3 in the Big 12 with the loss, watched Texas A&M produce three long scoring drives to consume most of the second-half clock. The Aggies, who improved to 6-2 overall and 3-1 in the conference, scored on drives of 80, 80 and 76 yards in the second half, eating up 15:40 on 34 plays on those drives.

Texas A&M's Jorvorskie Lane capped all three drives with short touchdown runs, as he finished the day with 15 carries for 130 yards and four scores. Lane wasn't the only Aggie to put up big numbers on the ground. A&M quarterback Stephen McGee carried a career-high 35 times for 167 yards.

As a team, the Aggies rushed for 344 yards, while adding 100 yards through the air to finish the day with 444 yards of total offense. The Huskers also amassed more than 400 yards of total offense, led by Sam Keller's 275 passing yards. NU added 130 yards on the ground, including 60 yards and one touchdown on just nine carries from freshman I-back Quentin Castille.

Although the total offense numbers were similar, Nebraska was victimized by three fumbles, while Texas A&M did not commit a turnover on the afternoon.

Texas A&M struck first, as McGee capped the Aggies' first drive with a two-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Earvin Taylor with 9:17 left in the opening quarter. However, Ndamukong Suh blocked Matt Szymanski's extra-point attempt and Nebraska's offense provided an answer to the Aggies' first score.

The Huskers marched 80 yards on their second drive of the day, capped by Castille's three-yard touchdown run with 6:32 left in the first quarter. Alex Henery's extra point gave NU a 7-6 lead.

A&M regained the lead on its second drive on a 39-yard Szymanski field goal with 1:35 remaining in the opening quarter, after the Aggies marched 59 yards on 17 plays. Texas A&M had driven to the NU 6, before linebacker Corey McKeon nearly picked off a McGee pass in the end zone. On the following play, the Aggies were called for offensive pass interference to push the ball back to the NU 21. The Huskers stopped A&M's hopes for a touchdown as Barry Turner pressured McGee into a dangerous pass across the field that fell incomplete.

In the second quarter, Nebraska's defense continued to play well, despite battling to overcome a fumble by the Husker offense and a muffed punt by the NU special teams. Although the Blackshirts squelched an Aggie drive following a Castille fumble near midfield, A&M cashed in with a touchdown after Nate Swift mishandled a punt to give the Aggies possession at the NU 28. Lane rumbled 27 yards to the NU 1, before barreling into the end zone on the next play to give A&M a 16-7 lead with 10:38 left in the half.

Nebraska responded later in the quarter, as Keller hit Maurice Purify with a 10-yard touchdown pass to cap a nine-play, 79-yard drive to pull the Huskers within 16-14 with 2:26 left in the half.

After the NU score, the Blackshirts continued to gain confidence, quickly shutting down A&M's next drive to force a punt with one minute left in the half. Keller and the NU offense went to work to move within field goal range. The Huskers, who started at their own 20, ended the half at the A&M 38 after a spectacular catch and 20-yard gain by Lucky.

Although NU ran out of time in the first half, Lucky's final catch capped a tremendous first half by the junior I-back from North Hollywood, Calif. Lucky hauled in eight catches for 88 yards and added seven carries for 21 yards in the opening half.

Lucky's productive first half helped NU roll up 284 total yards in the half, while the Blackshirts contained A&M's offense for 210 yards. Nebraska's first-half offensive balance included 178 passing yards and 106 yards on 18 carries on the ground. The Aggies pounded their way for 152 yards on 30 carries, but managed just 58 yards through the air.

But in the second half, it was all Aggies. Lane capped a nine-play, 80-yard opening drive with a two-yard scoring run to put A&M up 23-14 with 11:05 left in the third. After the Aggie defense held the Huskers on their opening possession, Lane capped an 11-play, 80-yard drive with a four-yard run to put A&M up 30-14 with 4:29 left in the quarter.

Lane then closed the scoring late in the fourth quarter with his second one-yard touchdown run of the day, putting the exclamation point on a 14-play, 76-yard drive that chewed up 7:09 on the clock.

The Huskers leave Lincoln for the first of back-to-back road games next week, when they clash with the Texas Longhorns on Saturday, Oct. 27. Kickoff in Austin is set for 2:30 p.m. with live regional television coverage provided by ABC.

Courtesy: Nebraska Media Relations

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Posted by: Val Location: Lincoln on Oct 24, 2007 at 10:17 PM
We need to stop dwelling on how they are doing now & cheer them on even when they're in a rut. People need to stay Huskers & stay till the final whistle, & cheer them on no matter what. What happened to the best fans in the nation?

Posted by: matt Location: osceola on Oct 22, 2007 at 11:27 AM
Go longhorns. nebraska football is done for good the players don't care about wining i'm tired of sticking by this team. why should the fans care when the players and coaches don't even care. next home game the nebraska fans should boycott the game.

Posted by: Courtney Location: Lincoln on Oct 22, 2007 at 09:08 AM
I am concerned. Your morning news showed fans leaving the stadium that were expecting a win now that Dr. Tom is the AD but we still had the same team and coach as the week before. This is the type of behavior that got us here in the first place. There were boosters and fans alike that were so concerned that we were not winning enough, not passing enough and so they bring in Mr. Peterson and company. Coach Solich and staff were canned and we gravitated to "mediocraty". Now those same boosters and fans are again clammering for another change. Steve Sipple in the JS hinted at ex-players and boosters calling Pelini and that is probably exactly what's happening. My suggestion is for the boosters and the fans to zip it and let TO do his job. TO knows where to look for a coach IF he feels it is needed. It may be Pelini or it may be a coach in some backwater college in Minnesota or a little tweaking of current coaches. Whomever it is, it should be TO's decision not the boosters or the fans.

Posted by: Dan Location: North Platte Ne. on Oct 22, 2007 at 12:16 AM
It doesn't make a bit of difference who's at the helm in any position at this point and time..At A.D. the coach, offense or at defense..Some coaching skills are better than other coaches, other players 1 star or 5 stars can play better than other players..So what's the problem with the Big Red. This team is just not that good! I don't like what I'm seeing either, but what else can we do but watch and be just a bit upset with this year and the rest of the season..We can only hope for the best with what we have this year, then move on to the next game, then on to the next year. It's been a rough build for the last 5-7 years. With Solich or Callahan. It will take more than T.O. to get it back..It will take more than firing coaches, or even the college politics of big donors, alum and the good old Nebraska Fan..The white flag is up! This program needs help and needed it years ago..It turns like all the rest of life does. It has now turned on the Big Red..Go Huskers!!!

Posted by: John Location: Lincoln on Oct 21, 2007 at 12:21 PM
When do we get an honest press conf from Callahan after a loss? We've heard the same old crap each of the last 3 weeks and things don't change.Time to cut Callahan loose and let the asst's finish the year out.Callahan does not care about NU and he has helped Pederson kill our beloved team.

Posted by: Doug Location: Atkinson on Oct 21, 2007 at 10:05 AM
To Bob in Lincoln: Everyone did "not" THINK TO would change things overnight. That is the talking heads on the radio and tv, not the smart fans! These kids had a chance to win this game. Play calling hurt. No consistent offense hurt. Poor offensive decisions/calls have made Cosgrove look worse than he is. Sometimes I think Callahan is interfering with our defensive and O-line coaches. Pressure in the 3rd worked with McKeon coming but we then went back to being tentative. Just because a guy is at a class "A" school, college or NFL level does not mean he can coach! It will take time but we should trust T.O.! No matter what--at least he will have the feelings of all the Husker Fans in his heart. That is what matters most! I wonder what a staff of Bo, Ron Brown, and Turner Gill could do?(coaching experience recruiting contacts Husker hearts (not natives but hearts) passion discipline=SUCCESS)

Posted by: melanie Location: lincoln on Oct 21, 2007 at 08:12 AM
we need Bo Pelini back ASAP

Posted by: Tommy Location: Aurora on Oct 21, 2007 at 06:44 AM
Why don't Callahan stick in the back up quarterback. Need to get of KELLER ALSO!!! Stop and think our problem got worse when KELLER show up in the picture. How can one transfer from a different college and be the starter. Don' you have to earn the respect. Stop think how AZ. State is doing this year?Why don't Callahan give Ganz a try? I think the whole Nebraska Volleyball team could beat the Nebraska Football team!!!!! I think it time I starting going for OU team at least they are in the top 10...

Posted by: Doc Location: York on Oct 21, 2007 at 12:53 AM
ANOTHER game where THEY make adjustments and we are pathetic in the 2nd half. Let's see - offense that can't score, defense that can't stop the other team from scoring. This is the heralded west coast offense. Callahan may be a recruiter, but he and his staff are lousy coaches. We are consistantly being outcoached as well as outplayed. We've been patient - for what? Let him go back to the Raiders if they'll have him. Maybe his coaching staff can get jobs in Nebraska D-2 schools. We will not win again this year.

Posted by: Bob Location: Lincoln on Oct 21, 2007 at 12:50 AM
Why don't we change quarterbacks?? At least when we are down give Gans some experience. What a deal Calahan must have made with Keller's daddy to not let someone else play. Keller gets sacked and its all over. Calahan, Gosgrove goodby with no golden parachute

Posted by: M Location: beatrice on Oct 20, 2007 at 11:27 PM
Callahan needs to learn that he plays for us. This buddy system he has with Keller's dad and such does not work. He should have put Ganz in. Keller was terrible in the 2nd half. Why not run from the 6 on 3rd and 4th down? Keller lost yardage when he rolled out.Castille should have been in there and so should have Lawson. We had too many empty backfields so the aggies knew we going to throw. Keller was not into it today. He has not looked good the last 3-4 games. Overthrows, behind, low. He is not that good of a QB. Hey Cosgrove- YOU HAVE TO ADJUST TO WHAT THE OFFENSE IS DOING!!! WHY DID THEY HAVE HOLES IN THE MIDDLE ALL DAY LONG COSGROVE??!! The refs were not much better than they were last weekend. OSU was getting away with ALOT of holding last week and the Aggies did too. Callahan owns the 2 WORST seasons that we have had in the last 40 years!!!!! Way to go "coach"??????

Posted by: Nathan Location: Seward on Oct 20, 2007 at 10:20 PM
T.O will do all he can to help out the Husker program. As for this season, I bet if we end the season on a 4-8 record its bye bye Callahan. The West Coast offense doesn't work. We need to run the ball more, just like the good old days before Callahan. This loss marks the 10th lost for Callahan where we lost over 17 points.

Posted by: Crystal Location: Lincoln on Oct 20, 2007 at 10:14 PM
It would be nice to see T.O. back as coach. Or at least keep him as A.D.

Posted by: Crystal Location: Lincoln on Oct 20, 2007 at 10:09 PM
I think we need to clean house, after the season is over with. It would be nice to see Tom O. back as coach.

Posted by: Randy Location: Bremerton Washington on Oct 20, 2007 at 08:24 PM
Callahan and his staff are getting out coached. College Football is less about talent on the field and more about coaching adjustments. NFL games are about getting matchups with better athletes and Callahan has just not figured that out yet. With parody comes more pressure to outfox the guy on the other sideline by using what you have to your advantage. He seems to be just putting the best athletes out there and expecting them to take care of the win. It just doesn't happen that way in college. Everyone has weaknesses and it is up to the coaches to find those and exploit them. Good coaches at good programs do that. We have lost that at Nebraska and until they figure that out we will continue to experience the same results we have seen every week. Ball State nearly beat NU by finding the weaknesses and exposing them. Callahan does not seem to be able to do that.

Posted by: t.o. fan Location: lincoln on Oct 20, 2007 at 08:08 PM
This west coast offense obviously isn't working here in Nebraska, So why not try something different. Through in some option plays and let guys like castile, & helu show us what they can do. They are the future of this program, let's get them some playing time so they don't decide to head elsewhere. I mean what do we have to lose except more games!

Posted by: Mary Location: Lincoln on Oct 20, 2007 at 07:34 PM
They came into our house sporting the option, it was like a laugh in our face. They terrorized us with a game plan that we once tortured our opponets with back in the day when the Huskers played traditional Husker football. Cosgrove and Callihan had no answer to the option play, we use to be the best option team out there! Send the west coast plan along with their coaches back to Cali and bring back tradition to NU, then we will make the first step to making a comeback!

Posted by: ronda Location: lincoln on Oct 20, 2007 at 05:44 PM
Sounds like the offense needs to do just as much learning as the defense. We have trouble on both sides of the ball, looks like the west coast offense needs to go back to the west coast and stay there. We don't have the people for that type and never have. By the way take Callahan and Cosgrove with the west coast offense.

Posted by: Melissa Location: North Platte on Oct 20, 2007 at 05:31 PM
Pederson should be fined for damages, not rewarded for being unsuccessful and making such a huge mess in NE. Now I just feel badly for the team that has to endure the rest of this season with this substandard leadership. Dr. Tom will hopefully clean out the rest of the Pederson regime and there will be some hope for next season.

Posted by: Adam Brady Location: Lincoln on Oct 20, 2007 at 04:51 PM
WE NEED A NEW COACH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Rob Location: Fallbrook, CA on Oct 20, 2007 at 04:50 PM
Dan, I appreciate the the summary since the game wasn't on TV here. Thanks!

Posted by: Bob Location: Lincoln on Oct 20, 2007 at 04:25 PM
Wow was anyone surprised? Everyone thought T.O. was going to change it over night. Not a chance and there is nothing he can do until the end of the season and then we will see a new coaching staff. So Lets start the count down. T minus 54 days and counting

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