Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - Minus QB, Javs halt long slide

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Sunday, October 24, 1999

Minus QB, Javs halt long slide
Despite loss of Gonzalez, A&M-K triumphs, 35-14
By Javier Becerra
Caller-Times

CANYON - Texas A&M-Kingsville's bus ride home won't be as somber as last week.
   Playing without starting quarterback Abel Gonzalez, A&M-Kingsville pounded West Texas A&M for 369 yards rushing in a 35-14 win at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium Saturday night - the Javelinas' first win in four weeks and just their second of the season.
   A&M-Kingsville tailback Derrick Foster had his best game of the season, rushing for 188 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries before sitting out the majority of the second half with a knee injury. The Javelinas allowed 163 total yards and held the Buffaloes to just 12 yards in the second half.
   "The kids showed a lot of character out there tonight," said A&M-Kingsville head coach Ron Harms, whose Javelinas improved to 2-4 in the Lone Star Conference and 2-6 overall. "We were short players that we didn't know were going to be out until Wednesday or Thursday. We overcame the loss of players and were able to come from behind in the first half. I'm proud of the way they performed."
   Gonzalez practiced Monday and Tuesday before leaving the team because of a death in the family. Harms said Gonzalez attened the funeral of his cousin Friday afternoon, and informed Harms that he would be available for Saturday's game if needed. Harms excused Gonzalez until next week.
   "I felt that he had other obligations that he needed to attend to," said Harms, who also lost four players last week for violating NCAA eligibility requirements.
   The loss of Gonzalez moved fullback Mack Pittman into the starting spot at quarterback. Both Pittman and backup quarterback Lamar Amos spent the week working at the position, focusing mostly on the option attack.
   "My job is to do what it takes to win the game," said Pittman, who alternated at quarterback with Amos throughout the game. "Having played both fullback and tailback this season, I already knew the plays. It was just a matter of executing."
   The Javelinas had 226 yards rushing by halftime and continued to exploit West Texas' defense in the second half. Offensive lineman Jody Cantu said the Javelinas' resurgence was fueled by a change in attitude.
   "Everybody was tired of losing," Cantu said. "The offensive line finally lived up to its reputation. Now we have to play our last three games like the way we did tonight."
   Saturday night's aggressive play almost never materialized.
   The Javelinas lost two of their four fumbles in the first half and overcame a 14-7 deficit with a 1-yard touchdown run by Amos with 4:38 left in the second to tie the game at 14-14 headed into halftime.
   West Texas had outgained A&M-Kingsville, 110-88, in the first quarter, and the Javelinas' mistakes and penalties had Harms thinking the game would be another let down.
   "We were making the same mistake at the beginning of the game that have been hurting us the last few weeks," Harms said. "But in the second half we dominated the time of possession and were pretty much mistake free. The defense did a bang-up job even though they were shorthanded in the secondary."
   After being stopped on its first two possessions of the second half, A&M-Kingsville closed out the third quarter with a six-play, 43-yard scoring drive that was topped by a 2-yard touchdown run by Ahmad Carter. Gregg Johnson's extra point gave the Javelinas a 21-14 lead.
   The Javelinas stopped West Texas after just three plays on its ensuing drive, forcing the Buffaloes to punt. The snap to kicker Kevin Brinkley sailed over his head and had to scramble to recover the ball. Brinkley got off a 5-yard punt just as he was being hit by several A&M-Kingsville defenders. Richard Ball scooped up the short kick and ran it 50 yards down the middle of the field for a touchdown. Johnson added the extra point, giving the Javelinas a 28-14 lead with 13:39 left to play.
   A&M-Kingsville's final score came on a 3-yard run by Amos with 1:27 left, capping a 12-play, 70-yard drive.
   Staff writer Javier Becerra can be reached at 886-3734 or by e-mail at becerraj@caller.com

   A&M-Kingsville 35, West Texas A&M 14
   TAMUK WTAMFirst Downs 21 10
   Rushes-Yards 63-369 28-133
   Passes 2-5-0 5-23-3
   Passing Yards 18 30
   Punts-Avg. 3-40 6-38
   Fumbles-Lost 4-2 0-0
   Penalties-Yards 7-56 8-73
   Time of Poss. 34:15 25:45
   A&M-Kingsville -- 7 7 7 14--35
   West Texas A&M -- 7 7 0 0--14
   TAMUK -- Derrick Foster 19 run (Gregg Johnson kick)
   WTAMU -- DeWayne Miles 65 run (Kyle Duncan kick)
   WTAMU -- Patrick Strambler 23 run (Duncan kick)
   TAMUK -- Lamar Amos 1 run (Johnson kick)
   TAMUK -- Ahmad Carter 2 run (Johnson kick)
   TAMUK -- Richard Ball 50 punt return (Johnson kick)
   TAMUK -- Amos 3 run (Johnson kick
   Individual Statistics
   Rushing -- TAMUK, Foster 19-188, Carter 12-81, Mack Pittman 16-59, Darrell White 7-29, Amos 9-12; WTAMU, Miles 16-126, Strambler 7-29, Jason Hernandez 1-4, Chris Harbin 1-(-6), Jud Moller 3-(-20).
   Passing -- TAMUK, Amos 2-5-0-18; WTAMU, Moller 4-15-2-24, Rick Leach 1-6-1-6, Harbin 0-2-0-0.
   Receiving -- TAMUK, Derrick Barnes 1-9, Foster 1-9; WTAMU, Justin Schantz 1-9, Glenn Pope 1-9, Antonio Harrison 1-7, Nick Pasquale 1-6, Strambler 1-(-1).

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