Surprising Aggies meet up with Cardinals

[coachacola]

College Station, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - After registering a huge season- opening win last week, the ninth-ranked Texas A&M Aggies will attempt to keep their momentum rolling in their home opener against the Lamar Cardinals at Kyle Field on Saturday night.

 

Lamar, which was just 5-7 overall in 2013 (2-5 in the Southland Conference), opened the new campaign on a high note last weekend with a 42-27 home win over Grambling State.

 

Texas A&M carried plenty of uncertainty into the 2014 season, especially considering the departure of former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Johnny Manziel in the offseason, but it made an emphatic statement on a primetime stage last Thursday night. In hostile territory at No. 9 South Carolina, the Aggies came away with a dominating 52-28 victory to get off to a 1-0 start in the SEC.

 

"There was a confidence about this team you could see coming into this year, and quite frankly a little chip on (our) shoulder," Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin said. "Basically no one gave us a chance to be close in (the South Carolina) game. What we did kind of showed that we're not a one-trick pony. We're not going anywhere any time soon."

 

These two Texas programs have never before played one another.

 

Lamar's offense got off to a strong start last weekend, as the unit racked up 525 yards.

 

Most of the damage came through the air. Caleb Berry was busy under center and finished with 389 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions, completing 27- of-45 attempts.

 

Mark Roberts hauled in just three passes from Berry but they resulted in 139 yards and two touchdowns. Reggie Begelton was the most trusted pass-catcher with 12 receptions for 119 yards and a score.

 

The rushing game was largely an afterthought (3.3 ypc), but Kad Harrington (65 yards, TD) and Carl Harris (55 yards) were both solid.

 

Defensively, the Cardinals held Grambling State to under 300 total yards and forced five turnovers.

 

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