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Updated 2:08 AM on Sunday, October 14, 2007

Ags can't deliver on guarantee

By RICHARD CROOME
Eagle Columnist

LUBBOCK - And the beat goes on in Lubbock. Only this was such a sound, methodical, workmanlike victory by the Texas Tech Red Raiders it was almost mundane.

There were no extra activities, at least not any detected. In fact, the Tech fans were so content with the victory, their chants at the end were rated G.

"Guarantee! Guarantee! Guarantee!"

A&M running back Jorvorskie Lane had guaranteed an Aggie victory at the midweek press conference. Jorvorskie's no Joe Namath, and the Aggies aren't the Jets.

They are the Aggies, though, and for the seventh straight time they left Lubbock with their heads down.

Lane had his moments, knocking back defenders with his usual punishing running style.

He didn't have enough though, and his last act at Jones Stadium will be playing to the crowd, that was mocking his prognosis, by waving his arms for more as he walked toward the visitor's ramp.

This loss wasn't about Lane; he was just easy pickings for the Texas Tech student body.

This was about an Aggie team that failed to capitalize when it had things going its way and had no answers when they weren't.

A&M couldn't have asked for a better start. With help from a Tech team that seemed content to run the ball against the wind, A&M had the momentum and, more importantly, the pace of the game on its side.

Lane's buddies in the stands were even riding the Red Raiders, booing after having to punt on consecutive possessions.

But if the Aggies were to win this game they were going to have to turn nothing into field goals and field goals into touchdowns. It's supposed to be their strength. The red zone.

It turned out to be the red-faced zone.

The Aggies had three drives go for a total of 17 minutes, 34 seconds but scored no points. Their opening drive for their only score took up 5:01.

Tech had five touchdowns in 13:32.

The Aggies talked about being one play away here, one play way there or a penalty hurting them. They made it sound as if it could be a quick fix.

That may have been the case on three of their first four drives. But the Tech defense stoned A&M the remainder of the game, especially in the third quarter when leading 21-7.

That's when Tech coach Mike Leach elected to kick off into the wind, essentially saying if you are going to catch up with us, you better do it quickly.

A&M could not respond, getting one first down and only 32 yards in the third quarter.

It got so bad offensively for the Aggies that Tech scored four touchdowns between times the Aggies crossed midfield.

A&M's defense performed admirably. But they contributed to the third-quarter failure by not forcing a turnover one of the few times Tech quarterback Graham Harrell was off target.

They kept freshman phenom Mike Crabtree in check except for two plays. Twice he appeared to have every Aggie defender in tow on a simple receiver screen.

The Aggies held Tech nearly 75 yards below and, more importantly, 20 points off their nationally ranked average. But Aggie linebacker Mark Dodge said it best when asked if the defense could hang its hat on those statistics.

"Coach [defensive coordinator Gary] Darnell said we've got to outplay the other defense on the field and we didn't," Dodge said.

The Aggies hit the practice field on Sunday tied for first in the Big 12 South at 2-1. That's the good news. It means very little though when you consider they've been outscored 69-24 on the road, which is where three of their next four games are.

To a man they said they'll put this one behind them.

It's the right attitude, but you can only put so much behind you before there is no more room back there.