Moss, No. 14 Ags look to pick up where they left off vs. Mississippi State
The interrupted winning streak 14th-ranked Texas A&M is on can continue like an 8-track if the Aggies’ “8” stays on track.
A&M running back Le’Veon Moss, who wears jersey No. 8, has rushed for 455 yards in consecutive victories over Florida, Bowling Green, Arkansas and Missouri. That includes back-to-back career-high rushing totals vs. Arkansas (117) and Missouri (138).
Moss seemingly has a golden opportunity to establish another career-high on Saturday.
The Aggies (5-1, 3-0) return to action after an open week for a 3:15 p.m. Southeastern Conference football clash at Mississippi State (1-5, 0-3), which has struggled mightily in run defense.
The Bulldogs rank 120th in the nation in rushing defense, as they allow an average of 201.8 rushing yards per game. Florida pounded out 226 rushing yards against them. Texas had 198. Arizona State exploded for 346.
Those numbers should whet the appetite for the Aggies, who coach Mike Elko said are getting stronger.
“We are continuing to get stronger throughout the season,” Elko said. “Le’Veon Moss will tell you he feels stronger and fresher than he has so far this season. That is a testament to (strength & conditioning coach) Tommy Moffitt and his staff but (also) how we practice, how we manage them and how they manage themselves.”
The Aggies managed to bounce back from a disappointing season-opening loss to Notre Dame with a five-game winning streak. They most recently posted an impressive 41-10 blowout of then-No. 9 Missouri.
Perhaps they would rather not have had an open week because they’ve been playing so well. But they aim to pick up where they left off, just like an old 8-track tape, in which a song would abruptly stop and then resume after a brief delay.
Of course, Elko isn’t taking anything for granted. He reminded the Aggies that A&M is just 2-4 in Starkville. The Aggies were ranked higher than Mississippi State in all four losses there.
He said the Bulldogs are showing improvement every week under first-year head coach Jeff Lebby. Two weeks ago, they trailed Texas 14-6 at halftime before falling 35-13. Last week, they fell at Georgia, 41-31.
“Mississippi State, obviously, I think this is a team that’s getting better every single time they go out on the field,” Elko said. “I know the results aren’t exactly what they wanted them to be.
“But if you look at the way they’re still competing, if you look at the way they’re still improving, I think it’s an extremely dangerous football team. I think it’s a very talented football team.”
Elko is impressed with receivers Kevin Coleman Jr. and Mario Craver, who have big-play ability. Coleman has 36 catches for 447 yards and caught an 80-yard touchdown pass against Arizona State.
Craver averages 28.5 yards on 11 receptions. He had a 72-yard catch vs. Georgia and a 46-yard catch vs. Texas.
The Bulldogs’ offense is led by true freshman quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr., who was thrust into the starting role after original starter Blake Shapen was injured.
Van Buren completed 20-of-37 passes for 306 yards and three touchdowns against Georgia.
“He’s got great arm talent,” Elko said. “He can throw the ball a mile. I think he’s getting more comfortable with the rhythm and talent with his wide-outs.
“The explosive passing game is really, really scary when you watch the tape, and certainly, you see what they did last week at Georgia.”
A&M has had impressive quarterback play, too, though.
Conner Weigman returned from a shoulder injury, which kept him sidelined for three weeks, to complete 18-of-22 passes for 276 yards in the victory over Missouri.
His passing gives the Aggies a dangerous complement to Moss and the running game. He poses problems for Mississippi State, which is also ranked last in the SEC in pass defense.
Last week, Mississippi State allowed 459 passing yards to Georgia. The previous week, the Bulldogs gave up 324 passing yards to Texas.
However, Weigman said the Aggies aren’t concerned with what other teams have done against Mississippi State.
“Like coach Elko always says: It’s about us,” Weigman said. “If we go out there and play our game, our brand of football and focus on us, it’s all going to play out how it’s supposed to.”
