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COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) - Reggie McNeal set a school record with 449 total yards, throwing for 349 yards and running for 100 in just three quarters to lead Texas A&M to a 66-8 win over SMU on Saturday.
McNeal threw five touchdown passes and ran for another score, while surpassing the Aggies' yardage by a quarterback record of 418, set by Edd Hargett against SMU (1-2) in 1968.
It was also the first time a Texas A&M player has thrown for more than 300 yards and ran for more than 100 in a game, and McNeal's first 300-yard passing game.
The Aggies (1-1) led 24-8 at halftime and scored on six consecutive possessions in the second half to stretch the lead. The victory extends Texas A&M's streak of wins in home openers to 18.
A week after SMU upset TCU, the Mustangs managed to stay with the Aggies for one half.
McNeal was 15-of-24 with no interceptions and threw four touchdown passes in the third quarter before leaving with 2:41 remaining in the quarter.
Texas A&M took advantage of four SMU turnovers, a struggling running game and consistently poor tackling, which turned several short passes into big gains.
McNeal had touchdown passes of 80, 68, 32 and 47 yards in the third quarter. He also threw a 15-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter.
It was McNeal's first five-touchdown pass game. His previous high was four in 2002.
Perhaps the most dazzling touchdown of the afternoon came after Earvin Taylor caught a short pass from McNeal and shed a trio of defenders and before dashing for the 80-yard score.
Jason Carter caught five balls for 143 yards and two touchdowns of Texas A&M, and Chad Schroeder also caught two TD passes, giving him TDs each of his three catches this season.
Texas A&M's offense started slowly, with the special teams putting the first points on the board. Amos Gbunblee blocked an SMU punt midway through the first quarter, and Jaxson Appel recovered for a touchdown.
SMU's only touchdown came at the end of the first quarter when Jerad Romo found Bobby Chase down the sideline for a 67-yard score on third-and-19. The extra point failed, and the Aggies maintained their lead.
Romo finished 18-of-31 with one interception for a career-high 243 yards. A week after running for 118 yards and two touchdowns in his college debut against TCU, DeMyron Martin was a non-factor, gaining 8 yards on as many carries.
SMU managed just 39 yards rushing and 14 first downs to 309 yards rushing and 31 first downs for Texas A&M.
After SMU's touchdown, McNeal spun away from an SMU defender and coasted 63 yards for the longest run of his career and the score.
SMU at Texas A&M Post-Game Notes
Ryan Mentzel's 61-yard punt in the first quarter was SMU's first 60+yard punt since Nov. 1, 2003 (Mentzel, 71 yards vs. Fresno St.).
The 67-yard touchdown pass from Jerad Romo to Bobby Chase set a number of marks - it was Romo's longest career completion, Chase's longest career reception and the first 60+yard pass play for SMU since Nov. 1, 2003 (Tate Wallis to Chris Cunningham, 61 yards vs. Fresno St.).
The 40-yard kickoff return in the second quarter by Jessie Henderson was the longest of his carer.
The second-quarter safety recorded by SMU was the first for the Mustangs since Justin Rogers notched a two-pointer against Tulsa last season.
The interception thrown by Jerad Romo in the second quarter was the first thrown by an SMU quarterback this season.
Romo's 243 yards passing is a career high.
WR Zack Sledge got his first career start and caught five passes for 73 yards.
Jessie Henderson's 143 kickoff return yards ranks as the ninth-best single-game total in school history.