CBS SportsLine wire reports
Sept. 12, 1998

COLLEGE STATION, Tex. -- Texas A&M used its "dime defense" to hold the nation's No. 2 offense to its lowest point total since 1995.

D'Andre

Related Links Game summary Week 2 with the Wiseguys Top 25 roundup From the Sidelines with Dennis Dodd Forum: Who will win the Big 12?

Hardeman scored three touchdowns Saturday night, just like he did in 1996, and No. 18 Texas A&M's quick defense cooled off Louisiana Tech's hot passing game Saturday night for a 28-7 victory at soggy Kyle Field.

A&M used one defensive lineman, four linebackers, and six defensive backs in a scheme that confused the Bulldogs, who hadn't score so few points since getting just six against Vanderbilt in 1995.

Hardeman scored on runs of 1, 10, and 9 yards as the Aggies (1-1) played keep-away from the pass-happy Bulldogs (0-3) in a light rain before 55,073 fans.

Troy Edwards, who set an NCAA record with 405 receiving yards against Nebraska, couldn't break deep against A&M although he did score on an 8-yard run from a spread formation in the third period. Edwards had 11 catches for only 67 yards, his first game under 100 since Oct. 11 last year against Auburn.

"A&M CAME UP WITH A great scheme," Tech coach Gary Crowton said. "They have great speed at every position and unlike Nebraska double-teamed Troy. They played a great game. Every time we caught a pass they hit us in the mouth."

Bobby Ray Tekk and Louisiana Tech had no place to run and no place to hide. (AP)

Hardeman scored twice in the third quarter as the Aggies drove 78 and 30 yards. His specialty is running on off tracks and he gained 79 yards in 14 carries on a field that had received 6 inches of rain in three days because of Tropical Storm Frances.

"I was pleased with the way the defense played and the way the offense controlled the ball," Texas A&M coach R.C. Slocum said. "The rain could have bothered play a little bit but the field held up pretty well."

Tim Rattay, who passed for 590 yards against the Cornhuskers, had two intercepted by Texas A&M safety Rich Coady, the last in the fourth quarter in the A&M end zone after a Tech march to the Aggies 3. Rattay hit 30-of-47 passes for 239 yards.

Coady said, "We shut down the most potent offense in the nation with just seven points. We'll take it."

"A&M did a good job against us," Rattay said. "We had to take what they gave us but they have great speed to the ball."

THE COMBINATION OF TWO long scoring drives, wet conditions, and the quick "Wrecking Crew" defense kept Rattay and Edwards under control in the first half and the Aggies took a 13-0 lead to the dressing room.

Branndon Stewart's 19-yard, fourth-down pass to Leroy Hodge to give A&M a first down at the 17 was the big play of a first-quarter drive that used 6 minutes, 51 seconds. It was fourth-and-10 when Hodge made the catch. The 56-yard drive was capped by Russell Bynum's first collegiate field goal, a 19-yarder.

The Aggies converted another fourth down during an 81-yard drive to make it 10-0 in the second period. Stewart hit Chris Cole with a 7-yard pass on fourth-and-5 at the Bulldogs 27. Six plays later Hardeman scored on a 1-yard run.

Bynum kicked a 23-yard field goal with nine seconds left in the half to give A&M a 13-0 lead. The drive was preserved when Louisiana Tech got a personal foul penalty for hitting Stewart when he was out of bounds. The penalty took the ball to the Tech 25.

Tech, the No. 2 offense in the nation, only got six first downs in the first half and just 94 yards passing.