Cowboys Gig the Aggies

Friday, November 1st 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) -- Tatum Bell is stringing together big rushing games just as Oklahoma State is collecting big wins. Bell rushed for 143 yards and three touchdowns, and Vernon Grant intercepted a pass in the end zone with a minute remaining as Oklahoma State beat Texas A&M 28-23 Saturday.

Bell followed his career-best performance against Nebraska two weeks ago by scoring from 64, 5 and 2 yards as the Cowboys (4-4, 2-2 Big 12) defeated a conference power for the second time in as many games.
"Tatum has obviously given us a great spark in the running game," Oklahoma State coach Les Miles said. "He has great speed, which is why it will be hard for people to catch him. I like the fact that he runs through tackles as hard as he does."

Grant's interception of Dustin Long's pass ended a late Aggies rally as the Cowboys beat Texas A&M (5-4, 2-3) for the first time since 1988, a span of six straight losses.

Long finished 25-for-43 passing for 332 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Aggies. Tight end Greg Porter added nine catches for 154 yards and a touchdown for Texas A&M.

Bethel Johnson caught 6 passes for 107 yards, becoming the Aggies' career leader in receiving yards with 1,592. Bell rushed for 182 yards in the Cowboys' 24-21 victory over Nebraska two weeks ago. Oklahoma State must win two more games --with Kansas and Baylor on the schedule -- to be eligible for a bowl.

"When you win games you get ambitious," Miles said. "This football team has players on offense, defense and special teams."

Texas A&M, meanwhile, faces the possibility of its worst record since going 6-6 in 1996 with No. 2 Oklahoma, Missouri and No. 7 Texas remaining.

"The season isn't over yet," said Aggies defensive lineman Ty Warren. "We've got three games left. We're still focused on trying to get to a bowl and winning out."

Oklahoma State dominated the first half of this homecoming game, gaining 273 yards against the Aggies' vaunted Wrecking Crew defense en route to a 28-14 halftime lead.

It was the second straight week the Aggies' defense has been shredded. Nebraska rushed for 381 yards a week earlier.

Texas A&M scored first on Joe Weber's 1-yard run, but Bell ran 64 yards -- his career-longest touchdown run -- on the next play to tie the score at 7 in the first quarter.

Bell added two more scores, and Josh Fields connected with John Lewis for a 42-yard touchdown as the Cowboys pulled away in the second quarter and held on in the second half.

The Aggies pulled within five points on Johnson's 23-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter, which A&M controlled. But Porter was stopped short of the end zone on the 2-point try.

Texas A&M drove to the Cowboys' 31 with under 2 minutes to play, converting on two fourth downs in the drive. But Grant picked off the first pass of his career, and the Cowboys ran out the clock.