SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 3, 2012
No. 16 Texas A&M 38, No. 18 Mississippi State 13: Johnny Manziel completed 30 of 36 passes for 311 yards and rushed for 129 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the visiting Aggies dominated the Bulldogs.
Ben Malena rushed for 112 yards and a touchdown and Christine Michael rolled up 50 yards and two scores on the ground for Texas A&M (7-2, 4-2 SEC), which gets a crack at No. 1 Alabama on the road next week.
The Aggies moved the ball with ease in the first half, collecting 22 first downs and 386 total yards to take a 24-0 lead into the break. Manziel handed off to Malena for a 1-yard touchdown on the first possession and Michael ran in from 22 yards out later in the first quarter before Manziel broke free for a 37-yard rushing score early in the second.
Mississippi State (7-2, 3-2) finally got on the board in the third quarter but could not close the gap, suffering its first home loss and second straight setback after a loss to the Crimson Tide last week.
Manziel put the game away with a 5:59 left in the fourth quarter, capping a nine-play, 65-yard drive with an 8-yard rushing score before being lifted.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin has won 11 straight road games, dating back to his time as head coach of Houston. … The Aggies finished with 693 yards total yards. Ryan Swope had 121 receiving yards while Mike Evans added 97. … Bulldogs QB Tyler Russell went 19-of-30 for 212 yards, one touchdown and one interception and added a rushing score.