Power of Lane puts Fresno to rest, 47-45

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Texas A&M; turned to its powerful running back to stave off Fresno State on Saturday.

Jorvorskie Lane rushed for two of his four touchdowns in the second and third overtimes as the 23rd-ranked Aggies beat the feisty Bulldogs, 47-45, in the first three-OT game in A&M; history.

The 6-foot, 268-pound Lane barreled for his final touchdown from three yards, then charged into the end zone again for the winning two-point conversion.

“I knew what the situation was,” said Lane, who rushed for 121 yards. “They couldn’t stop us in the running game.”

The Aggies (2-0) rushed on 18 of their 19 plays in the three overtimes. Ten of them were handoffs to Lane, who’s heavier than three of Fresno State’s four starting defensive linemen.

“When they went to pound the big guy on us, I knew we were in trouble,” said Fresno State Coach Pat Hill.

The temperature was 90 degrees at kickoff, and the humidity made it feel hotter. By the third overtime -- more than four hours later -- players on both sides were on their knees, exhausted and fighting off cramps.

But Lane, often chided for his weight, was still running over tacklers at the end.

“People can say what they want to say,” Lane said. “Put eight or nine guys in the box, I’m going to still get my yards. You can’t stop me.”

The Bulldogs still had a chance to tie the score after Lane’s final touchdown, but Fresno State quarterback Tom Brandstater overthrew Marlon Moore in the corner of the end zone on a two-point conversion.