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Manziel leads Aggies in rout of Tigers

Oct 28, 2012 - 5:29 AM Auburn, AL (Sports Network) - Johnny Manziel rushed for three touchdowns and threw for two more as No. 22 Texas A&M hammered Auburn, 63-21, at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday.

Manziel completed 16-of-23 passes for 260 yards and added 90 yards on nine carries for the Aggies (6-2, 3-2 SEC), who were coming off a 24-19 defeat to LSU.

"I think coming off last week, which was really taxing for us physically and mentally, to come out and play with that kind of energy and excitement on the road is extremely important," Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin said.

Ryan Swope had 140 yards and two touchdowns on six receptions, while Trey Williams added 109 yards and a score on 19 carries for Texas A&M.

Jonathan Wallace completed 6-of-9 passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns for Auburn (1-7, 0-6), which dropped its fifth straight.

Emory Blake caught five balls for 106 yards and a touchdown in defeat.

Texas A&M controlled the game from the start by scoring 28 straight points while holding Auburn without a first down.

The Aggies received the ball first and marched right down the field as Manziel completed all three of his passes on the 9-play, 70-yard drive, including Swope's 16-yard touchdown grab in the right side of the end zone.

After forcing an Auburn three-and-out, the Aggies added to their advantage with an 11-play, 67-yard trek. Faced with a 4th-and-1 at the Auburn 6-yard line, Manziel took the snap, raced to the right on an option and picked his way across the goal line for a 14-0 lead.

Texas A&M scored on its third straight touch following another Auburn punt as Manziel found Mike Evans for a 22-yard gain before hitting Swope for a 19-yard score with 2:02 left in the first quarter.

The Aggies had their next drive kept alive by an offside penalty during an incomplete third-down pass, and after Manziel capitalized on the second chance with a 17-yard scramble, Christine Michael reeled off a 34-yard run up the middle for a 28-0 lead a little over a minute into the second quarter.

The Tigers were able to put an end to the streak on their next possession, as Frazier connected with C.J. Uzomah on a 38-yard gain to move the ball across midfield before Tre Mason finished off the 9-play, 82-yard drive with a 1-yard run off the left side.

Texas A&M, though, answered with another score on the ensuing drive. After Manziel converted a 2nd-and-26 at the Tigers' 44 with a 36-yard run, he was able to stretch the ball just over the right pylon during a 2-yard scramble on the ninth play of a 75-yard trek for a 35-7 advantage with 5:22 remaining in the half.

Swope's 50-yard catch-and-run on the first play of Texas A&M's next drive set up Ben Malena's 7-yard scoring run, and Taylor Bertolet missed a 48-yard field goal wide left as time expired in the second quarter to keep it a 42-7 game at the break.

The Aggies added to their lead on their first touch of the second half with a 20-yard rushing touchdown by Manziel, but the Tigers answered with Uzomah's 27-yard score with just under 10 minutes left in the third quarter.

Jameill Showers then replaced Manziel under center and led a 12-play, 71-yard drive Williams capped with a 1-yard push across the goal line.

Blake's 27-yard touchdown reception late in the third quarter brought the Tigers within 56-21, but after Cody Parker missed a 48-yard field goal on Auburn's next possession, Showers' 2-yard touchdown throw to Malcome Kennedy finalized the scoring.

"It was a very poor performance defensively," Auburn coach Gene Chizik said. "You have to be able to move the football some and take a little bit of pressure off the defense, but early on, we certainly weren't able to do that either. So, it is pretty evident why we got beat."

Game Notes

Swope's receiving touchdowns were the 20th and 21st of his career, making him just the second Texas A&M player all time to surpass 20 TD receptions. Jeff Fuller had 34 TD catches from 2008-11 ... The victory made Texas A&M bowl eligible for the fourth straight season ... The Aggies have won all three meetings between the teams ... Texas A&M racked up 671 yards of total offense, while Auburn finished with 335.