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TEXAS A&M AGGIES
ANSAN
Freshman receiver scores four TDs for Texas A&M
By Chris Duncan Associated Press
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — True to his nickname, Uzoma Nwachukwu made it look easy against Utah State on Saturday.
The freshman receiver, called "Easy" by his coaches and teammates, caught three touchdown passes from Jerrod Johnson and also ran for a score, helping Texas A&M overcome injuries to two of its top playmakers in a 38-30 win.
"He's really impressed us all and he's really athletic, he goes up and gets the ball," said Johnson, who completed 21 of 41 passes for 322 yards. "The ball sort of bounced his way today."
Nwachukwu will have to become a primary target for Texas A&M (2-0) because sophomore receiver Jeff Fuller is out indefinitely with a cracked fibula in his right leg. Fuller suffered the injury in the first half after catching a 15-yard pass from Johnson in the open field.
But sophomore safety Trent Hunter says
Nwachukwu is Texas A&M's best receiver when it comes to catching high passes at their highest points.
Nwachukwu made two leaping TD catches in the first half to help A&M build a 24-14 lead at halftime.
"Leaping is one of my favorite things to do," Nwachukwu said. "I use my vertical a lot and Jerrod puts the ball up where the defender can't get it, and only I can get it. I appreciate him doing that."
Nwachukwu's teammate, freshman running back Christine Michael also left the game with a strained left calf, but A&M coach Mike Sherman said that injury wasn't serious.
Diondre Borel threw for 334 yards with a touchdown and also ran for two scores for Utah State (0-2), which has lost eight straight road games and its last 10 games against Big 12 opponents.
The visiting Aggies piled up 521 yards, but Borel was lamenting his team's missed opportunities. Utah State went 5-for-18 on third down and lost two fumbles.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Texas A&M wide receiver Uzoma Nwachukwu outruns Utah State cornerback Curtis Marsh (23) for a touchdown during the first quarter of their game on Saturday in College Station, Texas. Nwachukwu scored four touchdowns in the Aggies' 38-30 victory.
TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS
Potts, Red Raiders earn respect against Texas
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Texas Tech defenders Marlon Williams and Cody Davis hit Texas' Jordan Shipley during the first quarter of their game in Austin, Texas, Saturday. The Longhorns won the game, 34-24.
By Jim Vertuno Associated Press
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas fans will call it revenge. The Longhorns were more likely to describe it as relief.
Colt McCoy threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Dan Buckner in the fourth quarter that gave the Longhorns some room and No.2 Texas beat feisty Texas Tech and their prolific new passer 34-24 Saturday night.
McCoy finished with 205 yards and two interceptions on 24 of 34 passing for the Longhorns (3-0, 1-0 Big 12). After the game, the senior revealed he missed practice on Tuesday because of flu-like symptoms that he was dealing with most of the week.
The pass to Buckner with nine minutes left put Texas ahead 31-17,but it was an otherwise shaky outing for last season's runner-up for the Heisman Trophy.
"We had to keep fighting as a team. Not everything is going to go our way," said McCoy, who completed 15 of 18 in the second half, but also threw an interception in the red zone.
After Texas Tech (2-1, 0-1) spoiled the Longhorns' national title hopes with a 39-33 win in Lubbock last season — on a touchdown with 1 second to play — a record crowd of 101,297 was looking to whoop it
up for a 4-hour blowout behind McCoy & Co.
What they got was a hard-hitting first half in which neither team scored an offensive touchdown. When the fireworks finally cranked up in the second half, they watched as Red Raiders quarterback Taylor Potts would not let the Longhorns pull away.
"Survival," Texas coach Mack Brown said. "I'm proud of the way our guys grew up, the way they worked, and fought and hit."
Pott's, the latest gunlinging quarterback to guide Texas Tech's passing wizardry, finished with 420 yards and three touchdowns. But he also had two fourth quarter turnovers, including a fumble on a sack by Sergio Kindle to set up McCoy's TD pass.
"I just speed rushed him," Kindle said. "I timed up the snap well and the quarterback was there for the taking."
Even after the big hit, Potts' led a touchdown drive to keep the Red Raiders in the game.
"He's really tough, and he didn't let the hit affect him," Texas Tech coach Mike Leach said. "Not many QBs can get hit really hard and come in the next series and not flinch."
"It was one of the harder hitting games I've been around," Brown said.
After picking apart the Texas defense, Potts gave up two turnovers in the fourth that swung the game.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE WAVE SEPTEMBER 25,2009