Aggies get first home win over Army
COLLEGE STATION, Texas(AP) Jerrod Johnson threw a touchdown pass after Stephen McGee re-injured his shoulder and Texas A&M stopped Army on a late fourth down in a 21-17 win over the Black Knights on Saturday.
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McGee started at quarterback and threw a touchdown pass to Jeff Fuller before leaving in the second quarter. The senior first sprained the shoulder against New Mexico on Sept. 6 and sat out last week's 41-23 loss to Miami.
Army's triple-option offense flustered A&M all day, but the Aggies stopped Collin Mooney on a fourth-and-3 from the Army 47 with 3:58 left. A&M (2-2) ran out the clock from there to win for the first time in three home games this season.
Tony Dace and Patrick Mealy had touchdown runs for the Black Knights (0-4), who've lost 10 straight games and 12 in a row on the road. Quarterback Chip Bowden rushed 34 times for 128 yards. Army ran for 280 yards and converted 10 of 17 third downs.
The Aggies looked sloppy and sluggish until defensive end Paul Freeney returned Bowden's fumble 58 yards for a touchdown in the closing seconds of the first half to break a 7-7 tie.
Freshman Cyrus Gray broke a 60-yard run on A&M's first play after halftime to set up Johnson's 11-yard touchdown pass to Jamie McCoy.
Army chewed up more than eight minutes on its ensuing drive, but settled for Matthew Campbell's 24-yard field goal to make it 21-10. The Black Knights then mounted a 13-play drive and Mealy leaped over A&M safety Trent Hunter for a touchdown with 8:46 left in the game.
The Black Knights got the ball back with 6:55 remaining. Army coach Stan Brock challenged the spot after the Aggies stopped Mooney on fourth down, but referees upheld the call after checking a replay.
The Aggies rushed for minus-4 yards in the first quarter and got their initial first down on McGee's scramble with 9:14 left in the half.
McCoy caught a 25-yard pass across the middle that got A&M into Army territory for the first time. On the next play, McGee found Fuller open behind the defense for a 42-yard touchdown.
The Black Knights were aided by three personal fouls on A&M on their answering drive. Dace took a pitch and scored on a 9-yard run with 3:09 left in the half, Army's first touchdown in nine quarters.
McGee took a hard hit from Army defensive end Fritz Bentler on A&M's next series. McGee's right arm hung limp as he trotted off the field. Johnson replaced him and threw an interception to Frank Scappaticci near midfield with 1:01 left.
Three plays later, A&M linebacker Matt Featherston stripped the ball from Bowden on a run to the left. Freeney picked up the ball and ran untouched to the end zone. Army leads the nation with 11 lost fumbles.
McGee was out of uniform and wearing a sling on his right arm when he returned to the sideline for the second half.