Funkerstation » s had, which is just control what you can control, Pet

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- When Mississippi coach Hugh Freeze saw Shea Patterson win a state championship as a high school junior he walked away with a man crush on the quarterback.Safe to say hes still crushing on Patterson after his performance Saturday night.Patterson threw for 338 yards and two touchdowns in his debut and Gary Wunderlich made a 39-yard field goal with 37 seconds left to lift Mississippi past No. 8 Texas A&M, 29-28 on Saturday night.The Rebels pulled the redshirt off Patterson, the highly regarded recruit, to start in place of Chad Kelly, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last week.Ive recruited this kid since he was a ninth-grader and Ive kind of always known that he has that `it quality, Freeze said. The guy just makes plays. He doesnt get rattled a lot.Mississippi (5-5, 2-4 Southeastern Conference) trailed by 15 entering the fourth quarter before Patterson got going.A 13-yard touchdown reception by Josh Reynolds put A&M up 28-19. Patterson then connected with Van Jefferson on a 32-yard reception for his second TD pass of the quarter to cut the lead to 28-26 with 5:17 remaining.A&M (7-3, 4-3) had to punt and Patterson moved the offense into position for Wunderlichs winner.The Aggies had a chance to win it late, but Jake Hubenak had a pass intercepted by Deontay Anderson to secure the victory. Hubenak was making his first start this season in place of Trevor Knight, who injured his shoulder last week.I put it on me, Hubenak said. I think it didnt do a good enough job in the second half.Early in the fourth quarter Patterson looked like he was channeling A&M Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel when he scrambled to one side, avoided the rush and ran the other way before launching a 6-yard touchdown pass to Damoreea Stringfellow to get Ole Miss within 21-13.Its crazy, my first start -- Johnny Manziel was my favorite player growing up, Patterson said. Its ironic that I get my first start at Kyle Field. Its awesome.On their next drive Stringfellow reached out with his right hand and tipped the ball with his fingertips before reeling it in with one hand for an eye-popping 40-yard reception.There were several key points but that was certainly one, Freeze said. Hes one of the most talented kids Ive ever coached ... it was a phenomenal catch.Akeem Judds 21-yard run made it 21-19, but the two-point conversion failed.The Aggies led 21-6 at halftime thanks to two touchdown runs by Keith Ford.The Rebels had turnovers on their first two possessions of the second half, but Texas A&M couldnt convert either of them into points. Patterson threw an interception on the first one and Jason Pellerin was sacked and fumbled after that.They just made some great plays at crucial times and they got one over on us, Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett said.THE TAKEAWAYMISSISSIPPI: Patterson showed why he was the No. 1 rated dual-threat quarterback recruit by Rivals last year, and should make Ole Miss fans excited about his potential for next season. But first hell look to get the Rebels a win over Vanderbilt next week to make them bowl eligible for the fifth straight season.TEXAS A&M: Hubenak couldnt make plays in the second half and the Aggie struggled with tackling yet again. Hell have to improve if Texas A&M hopes to beat LSU in two weeks and salvage this season that started out with six straight wins before the Aggies dropped three of their last four games.INJURY REPORTTEXAS A&M: LB Armani Watts was injured in the first quarter and didnt return. Watts had to be helped off the field and wasnt able to put any pressure on his right leg. Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin did not give an update on his condition.KEY NUMBERSOle Miss outgained A&M 490 to 342 yards and piled up 30 first downs to just 13 by the Aggies. Texas A&M converted just six of its 14 third-down attempts and was 0 for 2 on fourth-down tries.Those two fourth down opportunities ended up costing us, Sumlin said. The ability to get either three points on either one of those, or a touchdown, in a game like that is a big deal.POLL IMPLICATIONSTEXAS A&M: The Aggies will certainly fall a few spots after losing to an unranked opponent. However they might not tumble that far since three teams ahead of them in the poll also lost on Saturday as well as a handful of teams below them.UP NEXTMISSISSIPPI : The Rebels visit Vanderbilt next Saturday.TEXAS A&M : The Aggies take a break from SEC play by hosting Texas-San Antonio next Saturday before wrapping up the regular season against LSU on Thanksgiving night.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-Top25 FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Chan Gailey has been busy developing Bryce Petty from the moment the quarterback came to the New York Jets last year as a fourth-round draft pick.The offensive coordinator had to start from scratch, though, right down to the basics.When he came here, coming from (Baylors) offense, where they never even huddled, he had to learn huddling, Gailey said Thursday.He had to learn calling out the Mike (linebacker). He had to learn protections. He had to learn everything. Hes come an extremely long way since he got here, but there was a long way to go.Theres still some more hes got to do that I think, as time goes on, hell get better at.Petty will start the final four games for the Jets in what essentially is an audition for next season. With New York in a four-game skid and out of the playoff hunt, Petty is replacing Ryan Fitzpatrick and hoping to provide a spark.The first real test begins Sunday at San Francisco. The previous time he was a teams unquestioned starting quarterback was in the Cotton Bowl in 2015, when Petty threw for a game-record 550 yards in Baylors 42-41 loss to Michigan State.Im sure there will be some nerves, but hes been in big games before, Gailey said. But this is a different scenario and hes done it once before. I think hell go out there and handle the emotional part fine.The Jets biggest uncertainty heading into next year is at quarterback, with Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith scheduled to be free agents, and Petty and second-rounder Christian Hackenberg inexperienced.Petty could help ease those concerns with a solid finish.You always expect the best, Gailey said. You expect a guy to go out and play extremely well. I think we all realize there will be some bumps in the road, but you expect the best.Its debatable whether Petty is truly ready to assume a starting role in the NFL, considering all the factors that went into him getting to this point.Fitzpatrick was benched twice after being re-signed for one year and $12 million, failing to live up to his big performance last season when he threw a franchise-record 31 touchdown passes.Smiths chance to reclaim the starting job lasted less than two quarters when he suffered a season-ending knee injury against Baltimore on Oct. 23.With Hackenberg still considered a major project, Petty was the last man standing. But, Gailey always believed Petty would reach this point, where hes a starting quarterback -- despite all the work to get here.He made a statement when we were talking oone time, Gailey recalled.dddddddddddd The question came up, `Youve been in that offense. Can you learn what we need you to do? He said, `I learned Baylors offense and learned how to go play in it. I can learn this offense.So the confidence factor led you to believe that he would be able to do it, yes.Gailey said the Jets offense wont change significantly with Petty running it, aside from a few things that will be slightly different.He wouldnt reveal those, of course, knowing that the 49ers will try to make things difficult on the young quarterback.They can rush on the outside, they create problems with outside edge rushers, Gailey said. Theyre good at it, and third down is where they really create their exotics, and bring a lot of exotics -- which I assume theyll do again, making Bryce figure out what all he needs to do to get it protected. So, that will be one of the big issues.Petty already has one NFL start under his belt after filling in for an injured Fitzpatrick against Los Angeles on Nov. 13. He was still just the backup then, with some fans and media clamoring for him to get a full shot at the starting gig.Well, here it is. And, hes trying to take his new role in stride.I think its just trying to take the same mentality Ive always had, which is just control what you can control, Petty said. Thats my preparation and my work coming in every day, who I am in this locker room and as a teammate. I know I sound like a broken record, but the rest really will take care of itself.Game notes S Antonio Allen (concussion), RT Breno Giacomini (back, calf shoulder), WR Jalin Marshall (concussion), DT Steve McLendon (hamstring) and RB Khiry Robinson (lower leg) all didnt practice. Robinson was ruled out for the game by coach Todd Bowles. ... DE Muhammad Wilkerson on the Jets lack of sacks: Maybe a little tighter coverage and we get those sacks. He insisted he wasnt taking a shot at the secondary, but added: It works hand-in-hand. We can get to the quarterback, but if (the secondary) isnt holding them for that 1 second, the balls out. The Jets have 20 sacks, tying them with the 49ers for 30th in the league. ... Bowles said theres a good chance WR Devin Smith will be active this week. He hasnt played since tearing a knee ligament in a game last December.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '