SOUTHWEST ROUNDUP : Venetoulias Kick-Starts Texas A&M;, 19-17

All Terry Venetoulias wanted was a second chance. He got it and delivered.

Venetoulias, who missed an extra-point attempt that put No. 5 Texas A&M; in danger of losing for the first time this season, kicked a 21-yard field goal as time expired Saturday to keep the Aggies undefeated with a 19-17 Southwest Conference victory over Texas Tech Saturday at College Station, Tex.

“It was my redemption,” Venetoulias said. “I messed up on the extra point. I wanted to be in that position at the end. I love those situations. I prepared myself every day in practice for a kick like this.”

Texas A&M; improved to 5-0 overall and 1-0 in the SWC. Texas Tech is 2-3 and 1-1.

Jon Davis’ 30-yard field goal into a stiff wind with 5:19 left gave the 15-point underdog Red Raiders a 17-16 lead.

But quarterback Jeff Granger directed Texas A&M; on a 76-yard drive. The Aggies converted a fourth down on the drive and Granger escaped a sack on third down and passed to tight end Greg Schorp for 13 yards to get the Aggies into position.

Texas Tech twice called timeouts to rattle Venetoulias before his last-second field goal, but he drilled the kick and was mobbed by his teammates.

“They were trying to ice Terry, but it had no effect on him at all,” holder David Davis said. “He doesn’t let anything like that bother him. On the extra point we missed, the laces on the ball were just turned wrong.”

Venetoulias’ extra-point try after a 22-yard touchdown run by Rodney Thomas banged off the left upright, leaving A&M; ahead, 16-14.

A 41-yard touchdown pass from Robert Hall to Lloyd Hill gave Texas Tech a 14-10 lead after three quarters.

Thomas ran for a career-high 179 yards in 24 carries. Greg Hill, who carried 32 times for 141 yards, suffering a bruised groin in the fourth quarter, but is expected to be ready for A&M;’s next game in two weeks against Rice.

Texas A&M;, which has rallied in the second-half for three of its victories, led 10-7 at halftime.

Houston 63, Southwestern Louisiana 7--The Cougars rebounded from last week’s 61-7 loss to Michigan with the rout at Houston.

Jimmy Klingler passed for five touchdowns for Houston (2-2), three during a 49-point first half.

Southwestern Louisiana (2-3) suffered its worst defeat since last year’s 50-7 loss to Auburn.

Southwestern Louisiana’s downfall started with the opening kickoff when Tori Williams fumbled after a 24-yard gain and Brisket Howard recovered for the Cougars.

Texas 23, Rice 21--Peter Gardere passed for two touchdowns and Scott Szeredy kicked three field goals at Houston as the Longhorns extended their winning streak over the Owls to 27 games.

Texas (2-2) led 16-0 at halftime before Bert Emanuel passed for one touchdown and ran for another for Rice (1-3).

Texas Christian 13, Oklahoma State 11--Pat Sullivan got his first victory as coach of the Horned Frogs as freshman Max Knake passed for 155 yards at Ft. Worth.

Knake completed 16 of 25 passes and did not have a pass intercepted for TCU (1-2-1).

Oklahoma State is 2-2.

Baylor 49, Southern Methodist 7--Kendrick Bell ran for two touchdowns and backup quarterback Adrian Robinson added a pair of scores at Waco, Tex., as the Bears ended SMU’s three-game winning streak.

SMU, 3-2 and 1-1 in the SWC, had won three games in a row for the first time since 1986, but was depleted by the suspension of 12 players, including seven starters, who sold books paid for by the university.

Baylor (2-3, 1-1) led 35-0 at halftime.