{{pageModel.leagueAbbr}} {{pageModel.subtitle}} | Las Vegas Review-Journal
College Football
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Texas A&M 67, Prairie View A&M 0
When: 12:00 PM ET, Saturday, September 10, 2016
Where: Kyle Field, College Station, Texas
Temperature: 80°
Head Official: David Smith
Attendance: 96412

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- No. 20 Texas A&M tuned up for its SEC opener by demolishing Prairie View A&M 67-0 on Saturday afternoon at Kyle Field.

Aggies senior quarterback Trevor Knight accounted for four touchdowns -- three passing and another running -- while piling up 422 yards of total offense. Knight, a graduate transfer from Oklahoma, has seven touchdowns on his ledger through two games.

"The guy hasn't played in the last 19 months until the last two weeks of games, so he's nervous," Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin said. "We are learning more about him and he's learning more about us. We are anxious to see SEC play and get on the road a little bit."

The Aggies will have a much tougher test next week at Auburn.

Unlike last week's 31-24 overtime win over then-No. 16 UCLA, the Aggies (2-0) had no trouble with the FCS Panthers (1-1) in the first meeting between the system schools located 50 miles apart.

Texas A&M jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter and had Prairie View buried by halftime. Knight had 323 yards passing and three touchdowns in the first half.

"I liked the tempo we had going today, especially when we were going real fast driving up and down the field," Knight said. "Our identity so far as an offense has been tempo and finding that rhythm."

Two scores went to wide receiver Christian Kirk, including a 64-yarder in the final minute of the half as the Aggies led 38-0 going into the locker room. Kirk finished with five catches for 106 yards.

Texas A&M rolled up 675 yards of offense in its highest-scoring game since beating Lamar 73-3 in 2014. It was also the largest margin in a shutout since a 77-0 rout of Sam Houston in 1925.

"They don't happen every day, so we are feeling great right now," Aggies defensive back Nick Harvey said of the shutout. "We made some mistakes today, but we got to get back to work on Monday and just be ready for Auburn."

Knight's day was done after the first series of the third quarter, which resulted in running back Keith Ford's 4-yard touchdown. Ford had two rushing scores and 62 yards on the ground.

Knight completed 21 of 37, with an interception, and used nine different receivers. He also ran for 78 yards, including a 32-yard touchdown in the first quarter.

Texas A&M receiver Speedy Noil returned from a two-game suspension with four catches and an 8-yard touchdown.

Harvey added a 73-yard punt return touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Reserve running back Kendall Bussey had a 15-yard TD late in the fourth and a safety on a sack by defensive lineman Jarrett Johnson closed out the scoring.

Prairie View had its seven-game winning streak dating to last season snapped. The Panthers, the FCS scoring leaders last season, hadn't been shut out since losing 31-0 to Lamar in 2012.

"It was a tough game," Prairie View A&M coach Willie Simmons said. "We knew going into it that we were going to have to play above ourselves to have a chance against a top-20 SEC program. I'm proud of our guys though. I thought they competed for 60 minutes. They didn't quit. We gave them our best punch and that's all you can ask for."

Panthers quarterback Trey Green, under attack throughout the game, was 13-of-39 passing for 160 yards and an interception. The senior left the game for a series in the second quarter after a hard hit but returned.

The Panthers finished with only 205 yards of offense.

Prairie View had two field goal tries in the first half. Aggies safety Justin Evans blocked the first attempt on the Panthers' second possession. Owen Hoolihan missed a 42-yarder early in the second quarter.

Prairie View opens up Southwestern Athletic Conference play next Saturday at Alabama A&M.

"All of the goals we set at the beginning of the season are still there," Simmons said. "Beating Texas A&M was never a goal of ours. Of course we wanted to, but win our conference, win all our home games, win all of our natural rivalries, win the SWAC, and win the Black College National Championship were our five goals.

"I'm proud of the guys. We'll get better, and we'll come back ready to go next week."

NOTES: Texas A&M has won 23 consecutive home games against nonconference opponents. ... The Aggies have started 2-0 for the fourth consecutive season. ... Texas A&M kicker Dan LaCamera had a career-high three field goals. ... Texas A&M played a school from Texas for the first time since SMU early in the 2014 season. ... The Aggies wore special helmets with an American flag-inspired logo in remembrance of the 15th anniversary of 9/11.
Top Game Performances
Rushing
Prairie View A&M   Texas A&M
Darius Floyd Player Kendall Bussey
10 Attempts 7
28 Yards 79
2.8 Avg Yards 11.3
0 Touchdowns 0
0 Long 0
Receiving
Prairie View A&M   Texas A&M
Demarquo Lastrappe Player Christian Kirk
6 Receptions 5
88 Yards 106
14.7 Avg Yards 21.2
0 Touchdowns 2
0 Long 0
Team Stats Summary
 
  Yards Scoring Defense
Team Tot Rus Pas TD FG INT Sck FF
Prairie View A&M 205 32 173 0 0 0 0 0
Texas A&M 672 277 395 8 3 1 2.0 1