Friday, September 2, 2011
Texas A&M - Kingsville took advantage of turnovers to score two short-field touchdowns and went on to defeat Central Washington 21-10 in a non-conference game Friday at Tomlinson Stadium. The game was the season opener for both teams.
The nationally seventh-ranked Javelinas put together a six-play, 41-yard drive in the first quarter following a fumble recovery, then scored the game's final touchdown in the fourth period driving 46 yards in eight plays after linebacker Jeremy Aguilar knocked down and then intercepted a pass near midfield.
Running back Jonathan Woodson, who finished with 90 yards on 25 carries, scored the visitor's first touchdown on a four-yard run, the same distance Robert Armstrong took the ball for the final six points.
TAMUK also scored in the second quarter to go up 14-0 as quarterback Daniel Ramirez completed consecutive passes of 26, 5, 25 and 15 yards. The final pass went to Armstrong.
CWU, which managed just one first down and 25 yards in the opening 15 minutes, got all 10 of its points in the second quarter on a six-yard pass from quarterback Ryan Robertson to Anthony Spain after Robertson had hooked up with Armahd Lewis on a 31-yard reception down to the three-yard line.
The Wildcats then had a pair of 52-yard interceptions in the final minute of the half. The first return by Dominique Gaisie set up a 34-yard field goal by Sean Davis to cut the Javelinas' lead to four points with 20 seconds left before the intermission.
Genesis Fonoimoana then returned a desperation heave to A&M's 43-yard line as time expired in the half.
The Wildcats were outgained 354-213, posting their lowest single-game offensive yardage total since being held to 166 yards by South Dakota in 2006.
Robertson accounted for 152 yards completing 16 of 35 passes including eight for 82 yards by wide receiver Justin Helwege.
Still the Wildcats, who came in ranked 22nd nationally, had a chance to go ahead midway through the fourth quarter, but Robertson overshot Helwege down the left sideline for what appeared to be a sure touchdown.
One play later Aguilar, who led the Texas team with nine tackles, got his interception to set up the clinching score.
Defensively, CWU was led by defensive backs Dominique Gaisie and Deionte Gordon with nine tackles each. Linebacker Stan Langlow had seven.
