Texas A&M’s keys to victory against Kansas State

By John Onan  |   Thursday, October 20, 2005  |  Comments( 0 )

College Football
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Fresh off an impressive 62-23 rout of the Oklahoma State Cowboys a week ago, in which they exploded for 694 yards of total offense, the Texas A&M Aggies hit the road for a battle in Manhattan against the Kansas State Wildcats on Saturday afternoon. If they are to pick up their first road win of the year, here are a few keys to the game.

1- Reggie McNeal must set the tone. McNeal rebounded from two awful games in a row, against Baylor and Colorado, with a huge outing last Saturday. He was unstoppable, passing for 263 yards, while also rushing for 150 and accounting for four Texas A&M touchdowns. He must once again set the tone early for the offense with his playmaking and leadership abilities.

The Wildcats defense is one of the toughest and hard hitting in the Big 12, but the linebackers that will spying on the Texas A&M signal caller aren't the most athletic. If McNeal and receiver Jason Carter can hit some pass plays early and get the defense spread out, he and running back Jovorskie Lane could once again have a big day on the ground. Lane, who ran for 139 yards and three scores substituting for the injured Courtney Lewis, gets the start again this weekend.

2- When the offense is moving the ball, the defense rests. The Aggies controlled the time of possession against Oklahoma State, and because of that, the much maligned stop unit was much fresher when they were out on the field. The end result was better play from the defense as a whole, especially the secondary, which picked off Oklahoma State quarterback Al Pena four times.

The Wildcats running game has struggled in conference play, but coach Bill Snyder will not abandon his game plan. The Aggies will want to stop the run and force quarterback Allen Evridge to make plays on third and long,
When McNeal and Co. are on offense, it's imperative for them to control the ball, move the chains, and not put the defense in a position where they have to win the game.

3- The first 15 minutes. Texas A&M has shown the past two games that it can jump on an opponent in the first quarter or get behind early with no chance to come back.

It is especially vital on the road in front of a very hostile crowd that they get off to a strong start. Texas A&M has played poorly in both their outings away from College Station this season, and Manhattan is one of the most difficult places to play in the Big 12. They are facing a team that is undefeated there this year, and may be in a nasty mood after being blown out at Texas Tech.
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