Third Quarter

It’s getting ugly for Northwestern after three quarters as Texas A&M has opened up a 30-7 lead in the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas.

The Aggies’ offense has continued to fire on all cylinders, adding 10 points to their halftime lead. Texas A&M marched 93 yards down the field on just seven plays, capped off when running back Ben Malena raced up the middle 19 yards for a touchdown. Kicker Randy Bullock booted a 47-yard field goal to increase the Aggies’ lead to 23.

NU’s offense has struggled to get any momentum going due to a brutal pass rush from Texas A&M that has broken through and around the Wildcats’ line. Senior quarterback Dan Persa has been sacked seven times, including four times in the quarter.

The Cats have unraveled as the Aggies continue to pile onto their sizable lead, committing four penalties for 30 yards in the third quarter. NU stalled on its third drive of the quarter after committing three false starts in four plays.

Second Quarter

By halftime, the offense had come alive at the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas — at least on one side of the field. Texas A&M leads Northwestern 20-7 at halftime, furnished by 17 points in the final eight minutes of the half.

It was the Wildcats that began the second quarter scoring as they picked up 77 yards en route to a two-yard touchdown run by sophomore wide receiver Venric Mark.

NU’s lead didn’t last long as Texas A&M marched 60 yards on six plays to take a 10-7 lead on a one-yard touchdown plunge by running back Ben Malena. Malena’s touchdown was set up by a 37-yard catch and run by wide receiver Ryan Swope, who shook off several tacklers before he was brought down at the goal line.

Swope has been quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s favorite target, catching seven balls in the first half for 98 yards.

The Aggies struck again on their next drive, as wide receiver Jeff Fuller burned Mike Bolden on a streak route for a 26-yard touchdown catch.

Following another failed NU drive, Texas A&M needed just 28 seconds to set up a 40-yard boot from kicker Randy Bullock as time expired.

Tannehill has dominated the Cats’ vulnerable secondary, completing 17-of-24 passes for 195 yards.

Senior quarterback Dan Persa has not been nearly as efficient or effective, throwing for 93 yards on 11-of-18 passing. NU has also gained just 2.3 yards per carry due in large part to three sacks of Persa that set the Cats back a combined 24 yards.

First Quarter

What was billed as an offensive shootout has gotten off to a slow start as Texas A&M leads the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas, 3-0, after one quarter.

Northwestern punted on its two drives of the quarter while Texas A&M settled for a red zone field goal sandwiched between two punts of its own.

After both offenses stalled on their opening drives, Texas A&M got on the board first with a 24-yard field goal from kicker Randy Bullock. Bullock’s field goal gave him the Aggies’ record for points in a season, a record that had stood since 1927.

Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw for 88 yards in the quarter, the majority of them to wide receiver Ryan Swope, who caught four balls for 54 yards.

The Wildcats gained just 48 yards with four rushing yards.