By ROBERT CESSNAThe Texas A&M football team had gaudy offensive numbers early this season, but that was in part because the Aggies rolled over New Mexico, Utah State and UAB -- teams currently combining for a 4-17 record.
A&M then struggled to move the football against teams with winning records. In a three-game losing streak to Arkansas, Oklahoma State and Kansas State, the Aggies scored on only 11 of 46 possessions. A&M had 18 fruitless drives of three plays or less and answered scores by the opposition only five times in getting outscored 145-64.
The offensive line, a weak link on last year's 4-8 team, took the brunt of the blame which was supported by statistics. A&M had little success running the football in its losses, gaining only 209 yards on 99 carries (2.1 average). The Aggies also allowed 12 sacks.
That all computed into what most expected would be another long night in Lubbock against 21st-ranked Texas Tech, which hadn't lost at home to the Aggies since 1993.
Instead, the offensive line made it a most enjoyable night on the South Plains. A&M ran over, around and through a defense that came in allowing only 101.9 yards rushing per game, which was 24th in the country.
A&M didn't have a 100-yard rusher; it had two. Running backs Cyrus Gray and Christine Michael combined for 47 carries for 252 yards and five touchdowns. The only time either was caught behind the line was because it was a designed pass and the receiver was covered.
Overall, A&M rushed for 321 yards on 59 carries and allowed only one sack behind the team's seventh different starting offensive line. Three seniors -- left tackle Michael Shumard, center Kevin Matthews and right tackle Lee Grimes -- were complemented by sophomore Evan Eike at right guard and true freshman Patrick Lewis at left guard. It was the third start of the season for Lewis and the second for Eike, who started every game last year.
"They'll continue to get better," A&M head coach Mike Sherman said. "They are a work in progress, and there still are a lot of things we need to fix. I thought they gave really good effort and they matched up well against Texas Tech."
The dominating effort was a long time coming for Sherman and offensive line coach Jim Turner who have been overhauling a running game that averaged only 88.5 yards per game last year, which ranked 114th nationally.
Even though the Aggies returned four starters on the offensive line, the starting unit became a revolving door even before fall camp started. Lucas Patterson was moved from the defensive unit to left offensive tackle, but he was returned late in fall camp to shore up defensive tackle. Sophomore Danny Baker and true freshman Stephen Berrera earned starts at left tackle, but Shumard eventually returned to the spot he played last year, even though Sherman and Turner believe Shumard is better suited for guard.
Lewis started against Oklahoma State and Kansas State, but each time he was replaced by Eike. Junior transfer Matt Allen started the first six games at the other guard spot.
"I made a promise to myself that if I started this game, I'm going to try my best to stay in," Lewis said. "I'm going to give me team all I got."
Lewis got that chance, while Eike's strong play against OSU and KSU earned him a start.
"Coach Sherman and Coach Turner had been hard on us during the week about playing physical and moving people off the line, so we could move the ball better and bring our offense to a new level," Lewis said. "I think we really took that in as an offensive line and came together."
Tech scored first, but A&M bounced back for a 28-14 halftime lead and scored on the first drive of the third quarter. And the Aggies kept the pressure on, scoring on their next-to-last possession before taking a knee to end the game. All five of A&M's first five touchdown drives covered at least 70 yards as A&M's offensive line won the line of scrimmage.
"I'm going to remember when the clock hit zero and celebrating with all my teammates," Lewis said. "It was just an awesome feeling."
He'll certainly remember his first win as a starter.
"I'm from Louisiana, so I wasn't really a Big 12 guy. I was an SEC guy," Lewis said. "But when I saw the fight in all my teammates eyes to beat Tech, it was awesome. I just loved sharing that experience with them. I'm looking forward to going on and playing other rivalries."
It's been quite a start for Lewis, who grew up in La Place, La., which has a population of about 30,000.
"I was real nervous coming in here as a freshman," Lewis said. "A lot of people told me, 'Oh, you can go in and play right away.' Me, myself, I'm not all about Patrick. I'm about the team. I personally thought I'd come here and redshirt."
But at the start of fall camp, Turner told the 312-pounder the plan was getting him ready to play.
"All of a sudden it became reality -- a dream come true," Lewis said. "I had no idea I'd come here and be able to play in the Big 12, starting some games as a true freshman."
He's playing because he's been a good pupil.
"I just took in all the coaching by Coach Turner and the older guys like Lee Grimes, Matthew Allen, Kevin Matthews, Evan Eike, Shumard. I took in all the lessons they taught me and applied that to the field, and that helped me a lot."
He also knows what the lesson is this week against vastly improved Iowa State.
"We need to put [the Tech] game behind us. It's time to move on," Lewis said Monday. "We're just going to get better and better by watching this film and looking at Iowa State and figuring out ways to beat them."
Lewis doesn't expect another 300-yard rushing game will be a given just because the Aggies are at home.
"It's going to be hard," Lewis said. "Iowa State is a good team. They just beat a good team in Nebraska. They have a chance to win their division. We're just going to have to come out and work a whole lot harder."
*
The A&M-Colorado game Nov. 7 at Folsom Field in Boulder will start at 12:30 p.m. and will be televised by FOX College Sports.
TEXAS A&M FOOTBALL
* Saturday's game: Iowa State (5-3, 2-2 Big 12) at Texas A&M (4-3, 1-2), 2:30 p.m.
* TV/radio: None/WTAW, 1620 AM and Sirius Ch. 154
* Tickets: $60-$65 (half-price tickets available for veterans, active duty personnel and reservists for Military Appreciation Day; half-price tickets in the end zone also available).
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