Sloppy Aggies overwhelmed by Cornhuskers By CHARLES POLANSKY STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER LINCOLN, Neb. - Unseasonably warm weather greeted Texas A&M on Saturday. But the temperature, in the 80s by game's end, and clear skies didn't keep the Aggies from handling the ball as if they were playing 18th-ranked Nebraska in a raging blizzard. The Aggies turned the ball over eight times, which led to 35 points in Nebraska's 48-12 victory before a crowd of 77,604 at Memorial Stadium. "Offensively, we haven't had a day like this," Aggies coach Dennis Franchione said. "Today, it was like we were playing with a wet ball almost. It's not been like this offense to turn the ball over." Nebraska (6-1, 2-1 Big 12) returned two interceptions for touchdowns, one by Reggie McNeal and one by Dustin Long. "We didn't play good," McNeal said. "There's not much you can say about it." And the roller coaster that is Franchione's first season with the Aggies (3-4, 1-2) continues. Lose by 31, win by 63, lose by 36. "It's part of the challenge," Franchione said. The Aggies, who racked up nearly 1,800 yards total offense in their previous three games, took the opening kickoff and drove down the field. The Huskers' defense held its ground and took over on downs at its 25-yard line. The Aggies forced a three-and-out and drove to Nebraska's 13 but were forced to settle for a 35- yard field goal by Todd Pegram and an early 3-0 lead. A long return by Nebraska's Josh Davis on the ensuing kickoff gave the Cornhuskers the ball near midfield. Jammal Lord's 22-yard run around the corner put Nebraska in front to stay with 5:01 left in the first quarter. McNeal interceptions ended each of A&M's next two drives, and the Cornhuskers converted both into touchdowns. On the second interception, center Geoff Hangartner snapped the ball while McNeal was trying to make an offensive adjustment. Surprised by the snap, McNeal locked onto Terrence Murphy on the right side, but Barrett Ruud intercepted and rumbled 27 yards to give the Cornhuskers a 20-3 lead with 1:45 remaining in the first quarter. Early in the third, Ruud sacked McNeal and forced a Altruistic Aggies Against Nebraska, Texas A&M turned highest turnover total since committing Louisiana (now Louisiana-Lafayette) in turnovers into 35 points, including returning Turnover Quarter Reggie McNeal interception First McNeal interception First McNeal fumble Second McNeal interception Second McNeal fumble Third Derek Farmer fumble Third Dustin Long interception Fourth Long interception Fourth over the ball eight times, the Aggies' eight in a 29-22 loss to Southwestern 1996. The Cornhuskers converted the two interceptions for touchdowns. Field pos. How Nebraska drive ended A&M 46 Nebraska TD A&M 27 Nebraska TD* Nebraska 11 Nebraska punt A&M 48 Nebraska punt A&M 12 Nebraska TD Nebraska 10 Nebraska punt A&M 44 Nebraska TD A&M 3 Nebraska TD* * Interception returned for a touchdown Nebraska 48 The Aggies turn over Texas A&M 12 the ball eight times, including two interceptions returned for touchdowns. BREAKDOWN WHY NEBRASKA WON The Cornhuskers force a Nebraska school-record eight turnovers, turning them into 35 points. WHY TEXAS A&M LOST Sophomore quarterback Reggie McNeal, a week after accounting for five touchdowns against Baylor, is responsible for five turnovers. NOTABLE •A&M wide receiver Jamaar Taylor entered the game needing 36 yards receiving to set the school's career record but was shut out. Aggies punter Cody Scates did not make the trip and was replaced by Jacob Young. Scates, who missed the first two games of the season recovering from hernia surgery, was not healthy enough to practice this week. UP NEXT lowa State at Nebraska, TBA Saturday Oklahoma State at Texas A&M, TBA Saturday Texas A&M .......................3. 0 3 6-12 Nebraska .20 0 14 14-48 First Quarter A&M-FG Pegram 35, 6:21. Neb-Lord 22 run (kick failed), 5:01. Neb-Horne 1 run (Dyches kick), 3:14. Neb-Ruud 27 interception return (Dyches kick), 1:45. Third Quarter Neb-Davis 12 run (Dyches kick), 10:48. Neb-Lord 31 run (Dyches kick), 8:06. -FG Pegram 26, 3:35. Fourth Quarter Neb-Fluellen 29 pass from Dailey (Dyches 10:03. Neb-Adams 3 interception return (Dyches kick), 3:09. A&M-Carter 89 kickoff return (kick failed), 2:56. A-77,604. A&M Neb First downs. 15 21 Rushes yards 37-135 68-333 Passing.. 109 51 Com .9-27-5 3-9-0 Return Yards 41 55 Punts ... .....5-45.6 9-49.6 Fumbles -Lost 1-3 2-0 Penalties Yards 3-25 7-77 Time of 33:59 Individual statistics Rushing - Texas A&M, McNeal 13-69, Carter 2-49, Farmer 5-22, Lewis 9-21, Flemming 1, Team 1-(minus 1), Long 6-(minus 26). Nebraska, Lord 15-109, Horne 14- 86, Davis 14-63, Ross 7-22, Miller 6-21, Kriewald 1-16, Davies 3-11, Fluellen 1-6, Todd 1-2, Grixby 1-1, LeFlore 1-0, Wingender 1-(minus 1), Dailey 3-(minus 3). Passing - Texas A&M, McNeal 7-19-3-77, Long 2-8-2-32. Nebraska, Lord 2-7-0- 22, Dailey 1-1-0-29, team 0-1-0-0. Receiving - Texas A&M, Murphy 3-30, Carter 1-23, Riley 1-19, Germany 1-12, VanZant 1-9, Wright 1-9, Taylor 1-7. Nebraska, Fluellen 2-42, Keiser 1-9. fumble at A&M's 12-yard line. A touchdown run by Davis on the next play made the score 27-3. Trailing 6-3, the Aggies turned over the ball four times in five possessions in the first half and fell behind, 20-3. In the second half, a stretch of three turnovers in five possessions stretched Nebraska's lead to 41-6. "I don't know if we were ever in a situation when we weren't moving the ball," Aggies offensive tackle Alan Reuber said. "We had eight turnovers in crucial spots on the field and you can't beat anyone, let alone Nebraska, with that kind of performance." Charles Polansky, (817) 390-7760 cpolansky@star-telegram.com