SOUTHWEST ROUNDUP : No. 5 Texas A&M; Goes to the Air, Beats Rice, 35-9

While it’s not exactly “Air A&M;” yet, No. 5 Texas A&M; used pass plays to score three touchdowns in a 35-9 Southwest Conference victory over Rice Saturday at College Station, Tex.

Halfback Rodney Thomas and backup quarterback Corey Pullig threw their first college touchdown passes as the Aggies improved to 6-0 overall and 2-0 in the SWC.

The Aggies’ 12th consecutive victory at Kyle Field dropped Rice to 2-4 and 1-2.

It had been almost a year since A&M; had three touchdown passes in a game.

Thomas, throwing his first collegiate pass, connected with Ryan Matthews for a 50-yard scoring play. Matthews didn’t have anyone within 15 yards of him as he caught the ball at the 23 and ran into the end zone with 10:39 left in the fourth quarter.

Pullig, a freshman, then passed to Tony Harrison for a 58-yard scoring play on A&M;’s next possession as the Aggies broke the game open.

Texas A&M;’s Trevor Cobb, the nation’s No. 4 runner, broke the SWC career all-purpose yardage record set by Houston’s Chuck Weatherspoon in 1990. Cobb gained 84 yards in 18 carries and caught two passes for 21 yards against Rice and has 5,741 all-purpose yards, 26 over Weatherspoon’s mark.

Cobb moved ahead of Auburn’s Bo Jackson into 21st position on the NCAA’s rushing list with 4,312 yards.

Baylor 29, Houston 23--Reggie Miller ran for two touchdowns on reverses and the Bears stopped the Cougars in key situations for an SWC victory at Waco, Tex.

Miller scored two third-quarter touchdowns of 14 and nine yards. Before the game, he rushed only once this year for a six-yard loss.

Baylor improved to 4-3 and 3-1. Houston is 2-3 and 0-1.