Texas A&M Crashes Back to Reality

ARLINGTON, Texas -- It might have seemed like the Texas A&M Aggies had come a long way in their first three games this season against a mediocre group.

Well, facing a middle-of-the-pact SEC team in Arkansas, the Aggies found out how far they still have to go to return to respectability as the Razorbacks ran away with a 47-19 win in front of 71,872 fans at the Cowboys Stadium on Saturday night.

After jumping out to a surprising 10-0 lead in the first quarter, the Aggies received a reality check as quarterback Ryan Mallett and the Razorbacks scored the next 30 points in the opening half and never looked back.

"We jumped ahead of them and really had an opportunity to take a significant lead, which we didn't do," said second-year A&M coach Mike Sherman, whose team dropped to 3-1 as it heads into Big 12 play next week against Oklahoma State. "Good teams take that lead and don't relinquish it."

Good football also don't show the characteristics the Aggies showed errors such as receiver Ryan Tannehill's dropped touchdown pass in the first quarter and quarterback Jerrod Johnson's fumble that turned into an 85-yard touchdown return for Arkansas. There were also the costly eight penalties for minus 87 yards and two poor punts by Ken Wood that also did in the Aggies.

Defensively, A&M started out putting great pressure on Mallett in the opening quarter. but with sack master Von Miller neutralized, Mallett was eventually able to settle his feet and find open receivers to the tune of 271 yard and four touchdowns on 17 of 27 passing.

Johnson wasn't as fortunate against weak offensive line that allowed the Razorbacks to chase and hit him all night. Johnson finished with 345 yards passing and two touchdowns on 30-of-58 passing.

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Miami's Joel Figueroa (61) and Travis Benjamin celebrate after Benjamin scored the second touchdown of the third quarter against Oklahoma during NCAA college football action Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009 in Miami. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

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