Associated Press
A&M (6-5, 3-4 Big 12) rushed for a season-high 375 yards against the Big 12’s worst run defense. Michael ran for 116 yards and Cyrus Gray ran for 107, the second time this season both backs have topped 100 yards in a game.
Jerrod Johnson threw for 153 yards to set a single-season school record (2,875 yards). He threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score as the Aggies beat Baylor for the ninth straight time at Kyle Field.
Nick Florence completed 21 of 31 passes for 177 yards with two interceptions for the Bears (4-7, 1-6 Big 12), guaranteed a losing record for the 14th consecutive season.
Michael’s big run followed a goal-line stand by the Aggies’ defense early in the second quarter.
The Bears drove to the A&M 8-yard line with the Aggies leading 14-3. On third-and-goal, receiver Kendall Wright took the ball from Florence and threw to the end zone, but A&M cornerback Terrence Frederick intercepted.
On second down, Michael burst through a hole and outran Baylor safety Jeremy Williams down the sideline to the end zone. The previous longest rush in school history was D’Andre Hardeman’s 95-yarder against Baylor in 1996. Randy McCown’s 96-yard pass to Chris Taylor against Tulsa in 1999 had been A&M’s longest play from scrimmage.
The Bears threatened again late in the half, but A&M linebacker Kyle Mangan intercepted a Florence pass at the 2 with 24 seconds left.
The Aggies rushed for 287 yards in the first half after breaking several big runs.
Gray had gains of 17 and 42 yards on A&M’s first series, and Johnson threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Brown less than four minutes into the game.
Baylor linebacker Logan Lanier blocked a punt later in the quarter, leading to Dary Stone’s 31-yard field goal that cut A&M’s lead to 7-3.
On A&M’s ensuing possession, Gray had another 17-yard run and freshman receiver Uzoma Nwachukwu gained 35 yards on a reverse. Johnson finished the drive with a 1-yard sneak. It was Johnson’s 60th career touchdown, either running or passing, an A&M record for TD responsibility.
Randy Bullock’s 48-yard field goal early in the third quarter stretched A&M’s lead to 24-3. Later in the third, Johnson passed Reggie McNeal’s 2004 record for pass yards (2,791).
Michael tacked on a 2-yard touchdown run in the first minute of the fourth quarter. Johnson threw a 7-yard TD pass to Ryan Tannehill with 6:55 left. Johnson has 24 touchdown passes this season.
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