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Texas A&M rallies over Florida International 27-20

Sep 19, 2010 - 2:59 AM By KRISTIE RIEKEN AP Sports Writer

COLLEGE STATION, Texas(AP) -- Cyrus Gray scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 40-yard run with about 4 1/2 minutes remaining and Texas A&M rallied to escape with a 27-20 win over Florida International on Saturday night.

The Panthers (0-2) drove to the Texas A&M 7-yard line after Gray's TD, but the Aggies held them on fourth down to get the victory.

The Aggies (3-0) were down 20-6 entering the fourth quarter after Johnson threw interceptions on A&M's first four possessions of the second half.

Christine Michael, who had 21 carries for 119 yards, shed a tackler and ran 37 yards up the middle to get the Aggies within 20-13 early in the fourth quarter. Johnson found Terrence McCoy in double coverage on a 33-yard touchdown pass that tied it at 20 with about seven minutes left.

The Aggies forced the Panthers to punt and Gray gave A&M its first lead of the game with his scoring run that made it 27-20. Gray finished with 85 yards rushing.

Florida International's defense hurried and harassed Johnson from the start. He was sacked six times and was 11 of 31 for 194 yards.

Ashlyn Parker grabbed Johnson's first interception and the Panthers took a 13-6 lead when Darriet Perry scored three plays later on a 1 yard run. Florida International didn't take advantage of its second interception and had to punt it away.

Anthony Gaitor intercepted Johnson on A&M's next series and took it 54 yards for a touchdown to push the lead to 20-6 with about seven minutes left in the third quarter.

The Panthers' fourth interception came on the next drive, but they couldn't get anything going on offense and had to punt again.

Jeremiah Harden had 11 carries for 57 yards for the Panthers and Wesley Carroll was 14 of 33 for 117 yards and an interception.

Gaitor sacked Johnson on A&M's third drive of the game and caused a fumble which Jarvis Wilson recovered. The Panthers capitalized on the error with a 33-yard field goal that made it 3-0 in the first quarter.

Randy Bullock tied it at 3-all with a 23-yard field goal early in the second quarter.

Jack Griffin hit a 40-yard field goal in the second quarter to put the Panthers ahead 6-3.

The Aggies intercepted Carroll later in the second quarter and tied it at 6-6 on a 39-yard field goal by Bullock.

Texas A&M punted the ball out of bounds on a play that started with seven seconds remaining before halftime. The clock ran down to zero and the Aggies were halfway to the tunnel when officials put two seconds back on the clock and they had to come back on the field.

Florida International had time for one play but didn't score on it.

Panthers' receiver Ariel Martinez injured his lower left leg in the first quarter and had to be carted off the field. There was no immediate update on his condition.