Nice write up, Kay
Photo by Will Huffman, TexAgs
It’s a 6-0 start.
A feat only achieved once in the last eight seasons.
It’s been a long stretch of misery for Texas A&M fans during that time, but the unblemished stretch is a foolproof sign that the tide is turning under Mike Elko.
Rocking uniforms inspired by Emory Bellard’s 1975 team, the No. 5 Aggies remained undefeated with a 34-17 win over Florida.
The night in front of 105,086 at Kyle Field began as a first-quarter shootout.
Electing to receive the kickoff, Florida delivered a quick and efficient first punch. The Gators tested the Aggie defense early with tempo, propelling right into A&M territory with a handful of chunk plays through the air and on the ground. The 3:52-minute, 75-yard drive concluded with a touchdown pass from DJ Lagway to a wide-open Amir Jackson.
Yet, the Aggie offense delivered, perhaps, a more impactful response. Marcel Reed finally connected on the long-awaited deep ball, hitting Mario Craver for a 67-yarder. One play later, the quarterback walked it in himself, tying it up, 7-7.
Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
Mario Craver finished as Texas A&M’s leading receiver with 77 yards on just two catches.
A pair of no gains by the Gators to follow set up and third-and-long scenario, where the Ags' defense held them short of the sticks.
The Aggie offense continued to chomp. Le’Veon Moss’ first carry and a completion to KC Concepcion gained an initial first down before Nate Boerkircher fought to pick up 28 more. In Gator territory, freshman Jamarion Morrow flashed, running for another first. On the sixth play of the march, Reed connected with Morrow for his first touchdown of his young career.
On the ensuing possession, a heck of a grab from J. Michael Sturdivant allowed the visitors to cross midfield. Another incredible catch from a Florida wideout, this time from Vernell Brown III, placed the Gators inside the 10. Lagway and his receiving corps continued to target Dezz Ricks, as Dallas Wilson hauled in a 6-yard touchdown pass to even the score.
Theo Melin-Öhrström converted an early third down to set up another scoring drive. A balanced ground and air attack kept the chains moving to end the first quarter. Just outside the red zone, Moss bulldozed through defenders and sped away to score A&M’s third touchdown in three tries.
From there, Lagway began to feel the pressure of the Aggie defense and the 12th Man. A&M’s streak of near perfection on third down resumed as Albert Regis knocked out the ball, but Florida was able to recover the fumble and ultimately punted.
Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
Willis native DJ Lagway was 21-of-37 for 245 yards and two touchdowns.
From there, both offenses began to flutter as a punt-filled second quarter followed a thrilling first. After an Elko gamble gave A&M the ball on the Gators’ 43-yard line, the Aggies came up empty as Randy Bond missed a 43-yard field goal attempt wide left.
Another unsuccessful offensive drive for Florida gave the Ags the ball back with two minutes left in the half, but nothing came of it. The Aggies and Gators traded another pair of lackluster showings to conclude the first half with A&M in front, 21-14.
With Moss sidelined with an apparent leg injury in the second quarter, Rueben Owens II received the majority of the work in the second half. A drop and overthrow plagued the Ags’ opening possession, but the Wrecking Crew-esque defense got the ball back quick.
Cashius Howell tied with Ball State’s Nathan Voorhis as the NCAA sack leader, recording his eighth of the year. A play later, Daymion Sanford swarmed to the ball and forced a fumble, recovered by his fellow linebacker Taurean York. Still, A&M struggled offensively, kicking a 26-yard field goal to take a 10-point lead.
A few 15-plus-yard pickups allowed Florida to mosey right on into positive field position, and Trey Smack knocked a 45-yard field goal through the uprights as A&M’s lead shrank to 24-17.
Now a one-score ballgame, both defenses kept badgering. Concepcion’s 15-yard gain just before the fourth quarter was the biggest since Moss’ touchdown run early in the second, but the upset-minded Gators stayed in the fight. Reed threw an ill-advised interception in the end zone to Jordan Castell despite the Aggies already situated well inside Bond’s range.
Will Huffman, TexAgs
With Le’Veon Moss sidelined for much of the night, Rueben Owens II finished as Texas A&M’s leading rusher with 51 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown.
A 27-yard pass to Sturdivant brought Lagway & Co. to midfield, but the money downs came and went. A&M’s defense shut the Gators down on third and fourth down to end any threat.
A handful of rushes moved A&M into the redzone, draining plenty of clock with a 12-play march. After consuming eight minutes of the fourth quarter, Owens punched in the score to cap off the well-executed possession.
On first down, looking to respond, Lagway was sacked by Dayon Hayes, causing the ball to come out. From there, EJ Smith took the majority of the reps, working down to the 5-yard line. Bond put the cherry on top with a field goal to make it 34-17.
A last-ditch effort from Florida to make it interesting fell short.
RUMBLED: Although the 3-for-3 offensive start turned heads, A&M’s defensive performance kept them in this one. In the final three quarters, the Aggie defense held Florida to just three points, two turnovers and did not commit a single penalty until 19 seconds remaining in the game. Take a look at tonight’s key stat if you weren’t impressed enough by the...yes...it might be time...Wrecking Crew.
STUMBLED: Totaling 231 yards on A&M’s first three touchdown drives, the Aggie offense was putrid from there. In the following eight drives, A&M racked up just 103 yards of offense. Without Le’Veon Moss in the backfield, the rest of A&M’s stable posted 3.73 yards per attempt. The lack of a rushing attack short-circuited the offense through the second and third quarters.
TURNING POINT: Expect a four-quarter fight in the SEC. A&M did not put this one away until late, using a tactical eight-minute drive to wind down the clock. Dayon Hayes sealed the deal on his strip sack with 4:28 to go.
UNSUNG HERO: The tight ends had a couple of clutch grabs on Saturday night. Accounting for 78 of the offensive yards, Nate Boerkircher, Theo Melin-Öhrström and Amari Niblack all had chain-moving catches when A&M needed them most.
KEY STAT: Through three SEC games, A&M has let its opponents convert just six percent of third downs this season. That is two conversions on 33 attempts.
Will Huffman, TexAgs
Reminder: Defense rocks.
Scoring Summary
First-quarter
UF: 11:08 - DJ Lagway 1-yard touchdown pass to Amir Jackson. Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards. TOP 3:52. Florida 7, Texas A&M 0
A&M: 10:14 - Marcel Reed 8-yard rushing touchdown. Drive: 2 plays, 75 yards. TOP 0:54. Texas A&M 7, Florida 7
A&M: 6:19 - Marcel Reed 22-yard touchdown pass to Jamarion Morrow. Drive: 6 plays, 81 yards. TOP 2:31. Texas A&M 14, Florida 7
UF: 3:38 - DJ Lagway 6-yard touchdown pass to Dallas Wilson. Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards. TOP 2:41. Texas A&M 14, Florida 14
Second-quarter
A&M: 13:14 - Le’Veon Moss 22-yard rushing touchdown. Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards. TOP 5:34. Texas A&M 21, Florida 14
Third-quarter
A&M: 10:42 - Randy Bond 26-yard field goal. Drive: 5 plays, 21 yards. TOP 2:07. Texas A&M 24, Florida 14
UF: 7:08 - Trey Smack 45-yard field goal. Drive: 9 plays, 47 yards. TOP 3:29. Texas A&M 24, Florida 17
Fourth-quarter
A&M: 5:18 - Rueben Owens II 2-yard rushing touchdown. Drive: 12 plays, 50 yards. TOP 8:09. Texas A&M 31, Florida 17
A&M: 1:16 - Randy Bond 22-yard field goal. Drive: 8 plays, 18 yards. TOP 3:17. Texas A&M 34, Florida 17
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