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College football: A&M; survives Fresno State with Lane's overtime TDs

Web Posted: 09/09/2007 12:30 AM CDT

Brent Zwerneman
San Antonio Express-News

COLLEGE STATION — Late in a crazy game featuring more twists than a tornado, teetering Texas A&M turned to its 275-pound monster known for rumbling straight ahead.

The man dubbed J-Train lived up to his tout.

Jorvorskie Lane rushed for four touchdowns, including two in overtime, in the Aggies' grueling 47-45 victory over Fresno State at Kyle Field on Saturday.

The Aggies played their first triple overtime game in history, and avoided an upset that would've immediately intensified calls for coach Dennis Franchione's job.

In doing so, they turned to their hefty tailback, Lane, who garnered nine carries in overtime, including on the Aggies' final five plays. Lane scored the winning touchdown on a 3-yard rumble, and added a two-point conversion straight up the middle.

Fatigued, Lane dropped to a knee in the end zone after the final score. Before lumbering to the sidelines, he played to an ecstatic and exhausted crowd by raising his arms in triumph.

"When they went to pounding the big guy on us, I knew we were in trouble," Bulldogs coach Pat Hill said.

The teams clashed in 92-degree heat in the middle of the afternoon before 75,922 fans. Because of his size, Lane's stamina late in games has been in question. Not anymore.

"Everybody says Jorvorskie is overweight, or that fat people in the heat start to wear down," tight end Martellus Bennett said. "This shows you that Jorvorskie isn't fat. A regular fat guy running the ball probably would've fainted."

Said Lane: "People can say what they want to. You can put eight or nine men in the box and I'm still going to get my yards. You can't stop me."

Lane had 23 carries for 121 yards, while fellow tailback Mike Goodson also carried 23 times for 69 yards. Quarterback Stephen McGee, in directing an option-heavy offense, posted a game-high 124 yards on 16 carries.

Incredibly, A&M attempted only one pass on its final four possessions, rushing the ball 27 times in that span. In all, the Aggies rushed for 318 yards but threw for only 79, including 19 after halftime.

"I'm so tired of hearing about run game, pass game and all of this bull crap," McGee said. "We're going to do whatever it takes to win. We ran the ball every freaking time (late) and they did not stop it."

The Aggies (2-0) blew a 19-0 halftime lead, and were close to losing at the end of the first overtime before a convoluted string of events proved otherwise.

A&M led 32-29 on a Matt Szymanski field goal in the first overtime when Bulldogs quarterback Tom Brandstater completed a pass to Marlon Moore to the A&M 1-yard line. But Moore fumbled while trying to get into the end zone, and the Aggies' Devin Gregg recovered.

Officials originally ruled the play not a fumble, meaning Fresno State would've had the ball on the A&M 1 and in position for the victory. But the Aggies challenged the call and the referee overturned it after a video review.

Officials, however, also whistled A&M's Henry Smith for a late hit on Brandstater on the same play. After lots of discussion, they finally awarded Fresno State the ball on the A&M 12.

The Aggies held the Bulldogs to a field goal, setting the stage for the teams to pound away at each other with their running games.

"You can't look at the game today and talk about X's and O's," McGee said. "It came down to who wanted it."

After holding Fresno State scoreless in the first half, A&M's defense allowed 29 points in the second half. In all, the Bulldogs outgained the Aggies 399-397 in total offense, meaning A&M has allowed 802 yards of offense in two games against Montana State and Fresno State.

After Saturday's wild affair, however, A&M defensive coordinator Gary Darnell was just relieved the Aggies escaped with a victory.

"I (feel like) I just won a golf tournament," Darnell said, "and bogeyed the last five holes."


bzwerneman@express-news.net