Solomon: Aggies freshman QB survives first encounter with top defense

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COLLEGE STATION — Years from now when you think back to the early days of the legendary time of the wondrous Johnny Manziel, you might have difficulty remembering this gorgeous Saturday afternoon.

It'll be easier to recall the time he led A&M back from a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit on the road at Ole Miss. Or the nights he abused poor SMU, ran and threw circles around hapless Arkansas or was splendid in a spectacular shootout victory at Louisiana Tech.

You'll probably call to mind the youngster, who by then might be known only by his alter ego "Johnny Football," scored touchdowns when desired, set Southeastern Conference records at will and leapt tall defensive ends in a single bound.

There isn't likely to be room for what Manziel did, or actually didn't do, in mid-October 2012 against LSU. He didn't score a touchdown, something he had done in every other game this season. He didn't bring LSU, which has one of the country's best defenses, to its knees. He didn't deliver a magical performance of which legends are made.

Manziel played more like a freshman than a legend. That's OK; he is a freshman, not yet a legend.

A&M's QB Johnny Manziel (2) gets the ball during the first half of a college football game at Kyle Stadium, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012, in College Station. A&M's QB Johnny Manziel (2) gets the ball during the first half of a college football game at Kyle Stadium, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012, in College Station. Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Solomon: Aggies freshman QB survives first encounter with top defense 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Legendary status and Heisman Trophy talk have been thrust upon him too soon. He might be well on his way to greatness, but let's step back a bit and enjoy the journey. A passage that in a single play can go up and back, side to side and round and round.

Ask the sixth-ranked LSU Tigers, who left Kyle Field on Saturday with a 24-19 victory over Manziel.

"It wasn't fun chasing Manziel all day," said LSU defensive end Barkevious Mingo, who had one of the Tigers' three sacks. "We did a good job of it, but it wasn't fun."

It shouldn't be fun for any opponents going forward. Manziel, who completed 29 of 56 pass attempts for 276 yards, will get better, as should these Aggies, who are getting their first taste of the difficult SEC.

Slim margin for error

Despite three interceptions and a season-low 27 rushing yards on 17 carries, it was not Manziel's fault the Aggies couldn't pull off the upset.

A lot of credit for that goes to some suspect play-calling, a disastrous day by a freshman field-goal kicker and a defensive unit that broke down at the worst times. Oh, and LSU, which played in the national championship game last season, is pretty darn good.

"Against a very talented team, the margin for error is really, really small," A&M coach Kevin Sumlin said. "We made too many (errors) today."

When there is a 5-to-0 turnover situation, the team with the zero is almost always on the winning end of the score.

But A&M could have overcome those miscues had it capitalized on more opportunities.

Even in jumping out to a 12-0 lead midway through the second quarter, the Aggies left too many points on the field.

Through three quarters, the Aggies moved into LSU territory seven times but had only 12 points. And that was before Taylor Bertolet, who banged an extra point off the upright, missed two fourth-quarter field goals.

Offensive woes

The latter miss came after former Dekaney High School sensation Trey Williams returned a kickoff to the LSU 14. Needing a touchdown to take the lead in the fourth quarter, A&M managed 2 yards on three plays, then missed the kick.

"That was deflating," senior receiver Uzoma Nwachukwu said.

With LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger's play settling in somewhere between really bad and terrible, the Tigers were ripe for the picking. At times it appeared his goal was to give souvenir footballs to coeds in the stands.

The legend-in-the-making didn't have to be all that to be the best quarterback on the field. But he needed to be more of what he has been this season for A&M to win.

Near the end, the tale begging for a miracle finish, Manziel got his hands on the ball after it had been pitched and pitched and pitched and pitched, from Aggie to Aggie to Aggie to Aggie.

What would he do? Could one of the most entertaining quarterbacks in the country deliver a play that would be remembered for ages?

To be continued

Alas, he threw a lateral to a teammate, and the Aggies fumbled the ball away.

So we will have to wait at least a week for the next legendary story.

Listen to "The Rush" with Jerome Solomon and Dave Tepper weekdays from noon-2 p.m. on 97.5 FM.

jerome.solomon@chron.com

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