September 18, 2003
BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Kevin Jones rushed for 188 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries as eighth-ranked Virginia Tech defeated No. 20 Texas A&M, 35-19, in a driving rainstorm spawned by Hurricane Isabel.
Knocked out of a win over James Madison on September 6 due to two sprained wrists, the junior running back helped the Hokies defeat the Aggies for the second straight year.
Last season, Virginia Tech (3-0) ended Texas A&M's 29-game home winning streak against non-conference opponents.
In the rematch, the teams had to deal with wind gusts exceeding 30 miles per hour. By halftime, nearly 1? inches of rain had fallen at Lane Stadium.
In the first half, the contest was well-played despite the conditions, with neither team turning over the ball. Turnovers became a factor in the second half as each team committed two.
Virginia Tech's DeAngelo Hall provided an opening for Texas A&M late in the third quarter, fumbling a punt at his 24-yard line. Defensive back Byron Jones recovered and the Aggies closed within 21-18 in the opening minute of the final period on Reggie McNeal's 15-yard TD pass to former walk-on Tim Van Zant.
But Kevin Jones broke of a 27-yard run on the next play, igniting an 80-yard, six-minute drive for Virginia Tech that quarterback Bryan Randall capped with a 12-yard run.
Texas A&M's first turnover was a backbreaker as Byron Jones fumbled the ensuing kickoff, with cornerback Brian McPherson recovering for the Hokies at the 35-yard line.
Virginia Tech put away the contest on Kevin Jones' third TD, an 11-yard burst with 5:33 to go. He also scored on runs of one yard in the first quarter and two yards in the third. The Hokies have won 28 straight games in August and September.
TEXAS A&M POSTGAME NOTES
VAN ZANT SHINES IN FIRST ACTION WITH SCHOLARSHIP --- Senior wide receiver Tim Van Zant celebrated receiving a scholarship last week by making his first career start, scoring his first career touchdown and grabbing his first reception of the year. He scored his touchdown on a 15-yard blast pass from Reggie McNeal early in the fourth quarter. He ended the game with team-high and career-best 7 catches for 103 yards. In fact, Van Zant bettered his career receptions and receiving yards totals (6 for 67) against VT.
REGGIE, REGGIE, REGGIE --- Sophomore quarterback Reggie McNeal, making just his fourth career start and first-ever on the road, responded with a strong game. McNeal passed for 133 yards on 11-of 21 passing and had a team-high 47 rushing yards on 12 carries.
TIME OF POSSESSION TURNAROUND --- After losing the time of possession battle by an average of 10:01 minutes in the first two games, the Aggies responded by dominating the football in the first half against Virginia Tech. The Aggies held the ball for 19:59 while scoring on three of four first-half drives. In the Aggies' most recent game against Utah, A&M held the football for just 22:37 for the entire game. VT rebounded with a strong second half, but A&M still managed to hold the ball for 30:40 for the game.
LONG DRIVE FOR THE AGGIES --- The Aggies drew within two points going into intermission after a 12 play, 98-yard drive that culminated with a 2-yard Courtney Lewis plunge. The drive drained 5:37 off the clock. It was the longest drive by A&M since 1999 when the Aggies had a 99-yard drive (two plays) against Tulsa. The drive was A&M's third double-digit play scoring drive of the first half.
RUDE RETURN --- Senior Cody Scates, who missed the first two games of the season due to hernia surgery, had a rude return to action. Facing a stiff Hurricane Isabel-spawned breeze early in the first quarter, Scates' first attempt traveled 15 yards. The next punt for Scates likely would have been blocked but he tucked it and scrambled for a first down on the first rush of his career. On four punts, all against the substantial wind, Scates averaged 26.8 yards.
FOR THE RECORD --- Junior linebacker Blake Kendrick (Willis, Texas / Willis HS) was the Aggies' 12th Man Kickoff Team representative against Virginia Tech ... game captains were: senior Linnis Smith, sophomore Archie McDaniel, senior Alan Reuber and junior Dustin Long. ... For the second straight game, the 12th Man Kickoff team representative saw action in the Aggies' defensive rotation. Against the Hokies,. Kendrick saw action at strong side linebacker, while 12th Man Anthony Squillante saw extended action against Utah ... the loss lowered A&M's record on ESPN Thursday night games to 11-2 ... Van Zant started the game in place of senior Jamaar Taylor, who did not make the trip to Blacksburg. ... the Aggies, who had not allowed a sack in the two previous games, gave up four sacks to Virginia Tech's defense ... seeing his first action of the 2003 season was junior college transfer defensive lineman Mike Montgomery ... Twelve Aggies made the first road starts of their careers against Virginia Tech --- five on offense (QB Reggie McNeal, SG Aldo De La Garza, QG John Kirk, QT Alex Kotzur and WR Tim Van Zant) and seven on defense (DE David Ross, DT Johnny Jolly, DT Brian Patrick, SLB Everett Smith, MLB Scott Stickane, Rover Justin Warren and SS Ronald Jones).