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Hurricanes' defense puts clamps on Aggies

Sep 21, 2007 - 5:09 AM MIAMI (Ticker) -- Miami's first foray against a Big 12 opponent did not go so well. On Thursday night, they made amends.

The Hurricanes' defense allowed just 240 total yards - including only 119 through three quarters - and Kyle Wright threw for a season-high 275 yards, leading Miami to a convincing 34-17 victory over No. 20 Texas A&M in front of a national television audience on Thursday night.

Just 12 days earlier against Big 12 favorite and national championship contender Oklahoma, Miami managed just seven first downs and 139 total yards against the Sooners in a 51-13 pummeling in Norman.

The Hurricanes (3-1) looked like a much different team on Thursday against the Aggies, who possessed the nation's fifth-best rushing attack at 296.3 yards per game entering the contest. Texas A&M (3-1) gained only 116 yards on the ground against Miami's stout run defense.

The win was just Miami's second in its last nine games against a ranked opponent dating back to the 2005 season. It also was the Hurricanes' last Thursday night game at the Orange Bowl, as they move into Dolphin Stadium in 2008.

"Knowing this is the last year in the Orange Bowl, we want to make history here," Hurricanes defensive end Calais Campbell said.

"It was a Thursday night game - prime time - so the nation got to come out and see what we really have as a University of Miami football team," Hurricanes coach Randy Shannon said. "I'm pleased with the victory, but I just said in the locker room, 'We'll come back Sunday and get ready for our next opponent,' which is Duke."

Wright, who took over in the second quarter of the contest against Oklahoma, had little trouble dissecting the Aggies' defense, leading Miami to scoring drives on four of its first six possessions. He went 21-of-26 overall.

The senior found Graig Cooper from 12 yards out with 24 seconds remaining in the first half to put the Hurricanes ahead, 21-0. His seven-yard touchdown pass to Chris Zellner with 46 seconds left in the third quarter made it 31-0 at the end of the period.

"We just got beat, got beat by a better team," Texas A&M coach Dennis Franchione said.

Texas A&M made the game appear much closer than it actually was with three fourth-quarter scores, including Martellus Bennett's 33-yard TD reception from Jerrod Johnson with five seconds remaining in the contest.

"We just never got comfortable out there until real late," Aggie quarterback Stephen McGee said. "Of course by then, it was just too little."

McGee finished 11-of-20 for 110 yards with one rushing score and one interception for the Aggies.