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Texas A&M wide receiver Ryan Swope (25) leaps into the end zone for a touchdown as Idaho safety Quin Ashley (12) defends during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, in College Station, Texas. ...
Texas A&M wide receiver Ryan Swope (25) leaps into the end zone for a touchdown as Idaho safety Quin Ashley (12) defends during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)Photo:
Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) throws a pass to wide receiver Jeff Fuller (8) during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Idaho, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)Photo:
Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) throws a pass during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against Idaho Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)Photo:
Idaho quarterback Brian Reader (14) is sacked by Texas A&M's Sean Porter (10), Ben Bass (90) and Coryell Judie, bottom left, during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)Photo:
Texas A&M running back Cyrus Gray (32) crosses the goal line for a touchdown as wide receiver Uzoma Nwachukwu, right, blocks Idaho cornerback Matthew Harvey (29) during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)Photo:
Texas A&M running back Cyrus Gray (32) rushes for a first down as Idaho cornerback Dion Bass (8) and linebacker Tre'Shawn Robinson (51) defend during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)Photo:
Texas A&M running back Cyrus Gray (32) rushes for a touchdown as Idaho linebacker Tre'Shawn Robinson (51) and cornerback Kenneth Patten (2) defend during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)Photo:
Texas A&M running back Christine Michael (33) is forced out-of-bounds by Idaho linebacker Homer Mauga (19) during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)Photo:
Idaho running back Princeton McCarty (20) is tackled by Texas A&M defensive back Toney Hurd (4) and defensive back Floyd Raven (14) during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)Photo:
Texas A&M running back Cyrus Gray (32) is forced out-of-bounds by Idaho cornerback Dion Bass (8) during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)Photo:
Texas A&M running back Cyrus Gray (32) breaks away from Idaho cornerback Dion Bass (8) during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)Photo:
Texas A&M wide receiver Ryan Swope (25) catches a pass as Idaho safety Quin Ashley (12) defends during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)Photo:
Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) throws a pass as Idaho linebacker Tre'Shawn Robinson (51) defends during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)Photo:
Texas A&M defensive back Terrence Frederick (7) breaks up a pass intended for Idaho wide receiver Justin Veltung (1) during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)Photo:
Texas A&M running back Cyrus Gray (32) rushes for a first down as Idaho cornerback Aaron Grymes (6) and safety Quin Ashley (12) defend during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)Photo:
COLLEGE STATION ? Texas A&M's offense, highlighted by the mobile Cyrus Gray and muscular Jeff Fuller, has earned the brunt of headlines early in the Aggies' most anticipated season in a dozen years.
"We wanted to make a point that we're a very good defense," said linebacker Sean Porter, a former Clemens star. "And that people need to pay attention to that."
Point taken, following the Aggies' 37-7 thumping of the Vandals before 86,623, the seventh-largest crowd in Kyle history. Porter and his teammates know more people will pay attention this coming Saturday when? No. 9 A&M plays host to No. 8 Oklahoma State at 2:30 p.m.
That would be 2-0 against SMU and Idaho, with Big 12 play looming against the Cowboys. The Aggies allowed the Vandals 187 yards of offense, least by an opponent since 2004, when Wyoming finished with 181. Idaho scored with about two minutes remaining in the game against a slew of A&M backups.
"Overall, we had a great defensive effort," A&M coach Mike Sherman said. "We're going to need a great one against this team coming to town (this) ? week."
"Terrence is a pretty good friend of mine, and I've learned a lot from him," said Fuller, who nearly declared himself eligible for the NFL draft last spring before returning for his senior season. "It was a lot of fun out there."
The Vandals had stacked the line early and dared the Aggies to pass, and Gray normally wouldn't have played so much in the second half of the blowout. He was still shy of the 100-yard mark late.
"I told him he had that one play, and fortunately he got it," Sherman said. "It's probably not the smartest thing I've ever done, but he's such a good kid, and it was important to him. I held my breath, said my prayers, and thankfully nothing happened."
Gray earned 3 yards on the carry and exited with 101. He's one shy of the school record of 10 consecutive 100-yard games, set by Darren Lewis in 1988.
"I was waiting for Christine Michael to get in, and they told me I was one yard short of 100," Gray said. "I wasn't really worried about that. We were winning, and that was the main thing."
Backup quarterback Jameill Showers earned his first action, completing all four of his passes for 40 yards. None of A&M's reserve quarterbacks had any game experience before Showers' debut.
"We didn't want to throw the ball a whole lot (late), because the situation didn't warrant it," Sherman said. "But when we asked him to, he made some pretty good throws."
Sherman also pulled the redshirt off of freshman punter Drew Kaser, who dropped his first snap then quickly booted a wobbly 23-yard punt. Kaser closed out the game strong, however, with a 68-yard punt as time ran out in the 30-point victory.
"A&M is a good football team from top to bottom," Idaho coach Robb Akey said. "They're deserving of a top 10 ranking, and you'll probably see them climb as they go through the season. Their quarterback is a hell of a player, and their defense is very good."
Texas A&M's offense, highlighted by the mobile Cyrus Gray and muscular Jeff Fuller, has earned the brunt of headlines early in the Aggies' most anticipated season in a dozen years.