Canada’s Chuba Hubbard chugs along to rushing records in Texas Bowl
Canada’s Chuba Hubbard became the second player in school history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season when he went over the mark in the first half of Friday’s 24-21 loss against Texas A&M in the Texas Bowl.
Hubbard, a third-year sophomore, rushed for 158 yards on 19 carries to raise his total to 2,094 yards and join the legendary Barry Sanders, who rushed for an NCAA-record 2,628 yards in 1988.
Sanders did it in 1988 when he won the Heisman Trophy. Sanders tweeted congratulations to Hubbard after he reached the mark and said: «I know the effort it takes to get there.»
WATCH | Hubbard matches Barry Sanders milestone:
Hubbard completes his season as the nation’s rushing leader.
Hubbard was asked what eclipsing 2,000 yards meant to him.
«I made a lot of bonds with these guys,» he said. «Relationships last a lifetime. 2,000 yards is just a number, but those friendships and bonds I’ve made will last forever.»
The Cowboys will wait to see if Hubbard will return for his junior season or enter the NFL draft. He has said he’ll make his decision sometime after the bowl game.
Congrats to <a href=»https://twitter.com/Hubbard_RMN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw»>@Hubbard_RMN</a> and <a href=»https://twitter.com/CowboyFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw»>@CowboyFB</a> on reaching the <a href=»https://twitter.com/hashtag/2000YardClub?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw»>#2000YardClub</a> – I know the team effort it takes to get there. <a href=»https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoPokes?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw»>#GoPokes</a> <a href=»https://twitter.com/espn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw»>@espn</a>
—@BarrySanders
«There’s a lot that factors into it,» Hubbard said. «I’ll have to talk with my family and friends and get all the resources. In two weeks, you guys will find out.»
Aggies QB Kellen Mond ran for a career-high 117 yards and threw a touchdown pass as Texas A&M scored 24 straight points to overcome an early deficit.
Mond ran 67 yards to give the Aggies (8-5) a 21-14 lead early in the fourth quarter. Mond cut to the right to avoid a couple of defenders and outran everyone else. Tre Sterling had a shot to tackle him around the 25, but Mond ran away from his diving attempt.
Chuba Hubbard of <a href=»https://twitter.com/CowboyFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw»>@CowboyFB</a> has set a Big 12 single-season record with his 12th 100-yard rushing game tonight. <a href=»https://t.co/vEKSi9jlU8″>pic.twitter.com/vEKSi9jlU8</a>
—@ESPNStatsInfo
The Cowboys (8-5) went for it on fourth-and-1 from the Texas A&M 34 on their next possession, but Spencer Sanders was stopped for no gain.
The Aggies added a 24-yard field goal to make it 24-14 with about three minutes to go.
37-yard scamper sparks offence
Oklahoma State cut the lead to three on a touchdown reception by Braydon Johnson with about a minute left. The Cowboys attempted an onside kick, but A&M recovered it to secure the victory.
Mond, who threw for 95 yards, fumbled twice early and the Aggies trailed 14-0 after the first quarter and were down by seven at halftime.
He had just 35 yards passing in the first half, but got going on Texas A&M’s first possession of the second half. He had a 28-yard completion on a drive that ended with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Jhamon Ausbon which tied it at 14-14 early in the third.
Mond fumbled on A&M’s first drive and it was recovered by Oklahoma State. But the Cowboys came away empty when Matt Ammendola missed a 53-yard field goal.
The Cowboys took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter when they capped a 97-yard drive with a 42-yard touchdown reception by Johnson. Hubbard had a 37-yard run to power that drive.
Dru Brown connected with Johnson on a 57-yard pass later in the first quarter to give Oklahoma State a first down at the 9. The Cowboys pushed the lead to 14-0 when Brown dashed into the end zone on the next play.
Brown threw for 184 yards and two touchdowns.
Mond fumbled again early in the second quarter, but once again the Cowboys couldn’t turn the mistake into points and they had to punt it away.
The Aggies cut the lead to 14-7 on the next drive on a 1-yard touchdown run by Isaiah Spiller.
Oklahoma State had a chance to pad the lead just before halftime, but Ammendola’s 46-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left.
