Post Game Review: Texas A&M 30, South Carolina 17

Needed it. Got it.

A dominant second quarter from Texas A&M spurred the Aggies to a 30-17 win over South Carolina at Kyle Field. A&M is now 5-3 overall and 3-2 in conference.

Following the bye week, a rejuvenated Texas A&M took the field on Saturday, looking for a fiery offensive performance with a clip full of healthy wideouts.

The home squad took the field after two weeks away from Kyle Field to face Shane Beamer & Co., yet the offense couldn’t kick off the game with a spark. A three-and-out and a head-scratching 34-yard punt allowed for an auspicious beginning.

However, South Carolina also went three-and-out to give Max Johnson the ball back. An ugly start.

Offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino put Ainias Smith in the backfield for a one-yard gain, yet a sack for an eight-yard loss set the Aggies back. On third-and-17, Evan Stewart made a leaping grab and set up fourth-and-1. With the offense on the field, a simple quarterback sneak moved the sticks.

A powerful rush by Amari Daniels earned the last first down of the drive before a crippling pair of sacks. A&M allowed three sacks on its first 11 offensive snaps. Brutal.

Defensively, Edgerrin Cooper imposed his will, as he has down all season, on Mario Anderson to force an incomplete pass before the injury-riddled offense started marching. Yet back-to-back first downs moved the Gamecocks into A&M territory.

A&M’s rush defense held strong with two tackles for loss, but the secondary gave up a 17-yard pass right after. Another chunk play through the air put the Gamecocks in the redzone. On fourth-and-goal at the 2, Beamer elected to go for it and running back Dakereon Joyner easily stepped in for six, 7-0.

A&M gave up FIVE rushing yards and 60 passing yards on South Carolina’s touchdown drive.

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Ainias Smith had a team-high 118 receiving yards on six catches. “Sub Zero” hauled in a 42-yard touchdown late in the first half to give A&M a comfortable lead.

The first 15 minutes of football finished up with a couple of short-yardage plays for A&M and another successful fourth-down conversation. Yet the drive would be short-lived.

A&M’s defense stepped up as a healthy Bryce Anderson pressured Spencer Rattler, who threw it away for a clear intentional grounding penalty. With South Carolina backed up 24 yards, the visitors garnered no momentum and went three-and-out.

The Ags finally took advantage of the Gamecocks’ unsuccessful drive by doing the opposite. Stewart converted A&M’s first third down on six attempts, and a personal foul gifted the Aggies another chunk of yardage. Inside the 15, Owens moved untouched to find the end zone to tie the game.

That positive energy rolled over to defensive as D.J. Durkin’s crew took care of business. On third down, Rattler was penalized for another intentional grounding call, and A&M’s offense stepped back out.

A pair of quick passes to Stewart and Smith set up another fourth-down attempt. Again on fourth-and-1, a quarterback sneak gained the needed yard. A false start was A&M’s first penalty, but the ground was made up by Jake Johnson. The reliable Smith provided an answer on third down with a 26-yard gain before Daniels punched it in for the score, 14-7.

A&M’s defensive front kept the pressure on Rattler as he picked up his third intentional grounding penalty of the day. The drive was further spoiled by a Fadil Diggs sack, and Fisher called a timeout to set up one last march of the half.

However, that suggested “march” was taken care of by one guy: “Sub Zero.”

With 1:05 on the clock and 42 yards to go, Smith needed one play. #0 caught a pass from Max Johnson and strutted past a handful of Gamecock defenders for an electric touchdown to put the Aggies up two scores at the half, 21-7.

A&M gave up an 11-yard pass after the break, and a share of short-yardage rushes as South Carolina moved the ball downfield. An 18-yard pickup set up a 49-yard field goal for the Gamecocks, 21-10.

A&M’s first offensive drive of the half started with a deep shot downfield to Stewart, who couldn't haul it in. Owens ran for two was A&M’s only production of the possession as the Ags punted again.

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Although not game-breaking, Max Johnson played a very solid game, completing 20 of his 30 attempts for 249 yards and a score. His rating finished at 147.4.

On first down, Rattler tried to hit Trey Knox in stride. However, the tight end was injured on the play. With a key part of their offense sidelined, the Gamecocks went three-and-out.

Noah Thomas reeled in his first completion with a third-down conversion, and Jake Johnson moved the sticks again with a 12-yard pickup. Owens displayed power and speed for a pair of gains until Thomas was hit again in mid-air. Max Wright continued the drive with a sideline snag, and the offense kept rolling thanks to a first down from Stewart. More yardage was given to the Aggies on a targeting penalty. 

What seemed to be a certain out-of-bounds touchdown catch by Wright was reviewed and revealed an incredible toe-dragging play by #42. However, the play stood as called — incomplete. The next play, Thomas was targeted but could not hold onto the ball. Randy Bond kicked a 26-yard field goal to give A&M a 14-point lead.

Still, South Carolina responded.

The Gamecocks executed two 10-plus-yard plays and found another first down with a breakout run from Mario Anderson. A 29-yard gainer finally gave the Gamecocks a positive rushing total. The drive was capped off with a touchdown pass to Joshua Simon to put the visitors within reach, 24-17.

Fortunately for A&M, that was as close as it got.

With Thomas sidelined, Jahdae Walker saw some action, with his first catch going down the sideline for 26 yards. Another big play came from Daniels as he sped away for a gain of 29. The eight-play drive ended with another Bond kick through the uprights, 27-17.

Things stayed in A&M's favor as Rattler could not spark any momentum, and the Aggie defense kept the pressure on. A fourth-down stop handed A&M the ball on South Carolina’s 35-yard line. 

However, A&M failed to find the endzone again as the Ags settled for a 52-yard field goal from Bond.

After a short South Carolina drive sputtered, Smith got the Aggies 33 yards and moved across midfield. Another catch by #0 sent Bond onto the field to attempt a 35-yarder, but he missed wide left.

Another display of superb defense from Cooper & Co. came in the final minutes as #45 forced a fumble, and McKinnley Jackson fell on it.

Texas A&M ran the ball and ran the clock down to win the game 30-17.

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More love for Mr. Smith, who moved into Texas A&M’s top 10 for career all-purpose yardage. He is now over 3,600 career yards. SHOOZ!

RUMBLED: Ainias Smith and A&M’s defense are both worthy of receiving praise in Texas A&M’s win over South Carolina. The veteran wideout posted 118 yards of offense, including 68 yards after the catch and one touchdown. Shooz. Mr. Reliable. Sub Zero. Whatever you want to call him, Smith is showing out in his last year in Aggieland.

STUMBLED: Spencer Rattler never provided the heroics South Carolina needed late in the game despite multiple opportunities. After A&M settled for two field goals in the fourth quarter, the quarterback was handed the ball in crucial situations and failed to get it done. Rattler threw for 34 yards in the fourth quarter.

Additionally, it is the unfortunate truth that Nik Constantinou has been heavily underperforming this season. The Aussie averaged just 33.8 yards on four punts.

TURNING POINT: Texas A&M’s three touchdowns in the second quarter, including Ainias Smith’s electric play, gave the Aggies needed positive momentum heading into halftime. The 21-point stanza ended up being too much for South Carolina to overcome.

UNSUNG HERO: Can we talk about the year Edgerrin Cooper is having? It’s All-American level. Cooper posted seven tackles, one sack, two TFLs, a pass breakup, FOUR quarterback hurries and a forced fumble. Not only does he light up a stat line, but he affects almost every defensive snap as a leader. Following a year with shaky linebacker play, Cooper and Taurean York stand as one of the more trusted position groups for the Aggies.

KEY STAT: Texas A&M has now gone four straight games without scoring an offensive touchdown in the second half. This mind-boggling skid dates back to Daniels’ 4-yard run in the closing minutes of A&M’s win over Auburn.

Scoring Summary

First-quarter

SC: 2:04 - Dakereon Joyner 1-yard rushing touchdown. Drive: 13 plays, 65 yards. TOP 6:41. Texas A&M 0, South Carolina 7.

Second-quarter

A&M: 9:00 - Rueben Owens 14-yard rushing touchdown. Drive: 6 plays, 55 yards. TOP 3:03. Texas A&M 7, South Carolina 7.

A&M: 1:44 - Amari Daniels 1-yard rushing touchdown. Drive: 10 plays, 48 yards. TOP 6:19. Texas A&M 14, South Carolina 7.

A&M: 1:05 - Max Johnson 42-yard touchdown pass to Ainias Smith. Drive: 1 play, 42 yards. TOP 0:13. Texas A&M 21, South Carolina 7.

Third-quarter

SC: 10:48 - Mitch Jeter 49-yard field goal. Drive: 10 plays, 43 yards. TOP: 3:58. Texas A&M 21, South Carolina 10.

A&M: 2:46 - Randy Bond 26-yard field goal. Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards. TOP: 6:26. Texas A&M 24, South Carolina 10.

Fourth-quarter

SC: 14:56 - Spencer Rattler 2-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Simon. Drive: 7 plays, 77 yards. TOP 2:44. Texas A&M 24, South Carolina 17.

A&M: 11:00 - Randy Bond 24-yard field goal. Drive: 8 plays, 69 yards. TOP: 3:56. Texas A&M 27, South Carolina 10.

A&M: 7:39 - Randy Bond 52-yard field goal. Drive: 4 plays, -2 yards. TOP: 2:04. Texas A&M 30, South Carolina 10.