Texas A&M Football
Post-Game Review: Texas A&M 42, SMU 13
September 21, 2013
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The Aggies weren’t particularly sharp, but still shook off any hangover effects from last week’s loss to Alabama to post a 42-13 college football victory over SMU on Saturday night at Kyle Field.
QB Johnny Manziel accounted for three touchdowns, Ben Malena had two and the A&M defense allowed just one touchdown and scored one as the Aggies improved to 3-1.
Here’s a look at the highlights and lowlights of the Aggies’ victory.
Rising: Manziel’s Heisman campaign should have gotten a boost with another stellar showing. He failed to post his third consecutive 400-yard passing outing but accumulated 346 yards of total offense. The Aggie quarterback completed 14 of 21 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 102 yards and two touchdowns.
He did that while playing in just one series of the second half.
Brandon Jones, TexAgs.com
Toney Hurd and the Aggie defense had an improved showing after the first three games' struggles, allowing only one touchdown and forcing three turnovers.
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Falling: Sophomore Taylor Bertolet’s status as the Aggies' No. 1 place kicker took a hit when he missed two consecutive extra points in the second quarter. That was Bertolet’s third missed extra point of the season and the 10th of his career. The next time A&M scored a touchdown, junior Josh Lambo was sent in to attempt the extra point and promptly missed.
But at least that miss could be blamed on holder Drew Kaser, who bobbled the snap and placed the ball awkwardly on the turf. Later, Lambo converted a 27-yard field goal — but SMU was offsides. A&M opted to take the penalty rather than the points.
Lambo came back to convert a 40-yard field goal in the third quarter.
Best hit: Midway through the second quarter A&M safety Toney Hurd unloaded on SMU receiver Jeremiah Gaines and forced a fumble at the SMU 12-yard line. Deshazor Everett scooped up the loose ball and raced into the end zone to give the Aggies a 32-3 lead.
Best hands: Junior WR Malcome Kennedy didn’t really make a spectacular catch. He just had a spectacular performance. Kennedy had six catches for 83 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown grab. He’s scored four touchdowns in the past two games.
Turning point: Facing third-and-two at the SMU 16-yard line, Manziel threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Kennedy with 10:29 left in the second quarter. That was the first of three touchdowns the Aggies scored in the next three-and-a-half minutes to turn a relatively close game into a blowout.
Standing 'O': The Aggie defense wasn’t overpowering, but for a unit that was ranked 111th in the nation its showing was somewhat encouraging.
True, the Aggies gave up 434 yards — which was unsettling to some degree — but they only allowed one touchdown, which didn’t come until the fourth quarter. For a defense that allowed six touchdowns a week ago and at least 28 points in each of the three previous games, that represented much-needed progress.
QB Johnny Manziel accounted for three touchdowns, Ben Malena had two and the A&M defense allowed just one touchdown and scored one as the Aggies improved to 3-1.
Here’s a look at the highlights and lowlights of the Aggies’ victory.
Rising: Manziel’s Heisman campaign should have gotten a boost with another stellar showing. He failed to post his third consecutive 400-yard passing outing but accumulated 346 yards of total offense. The Aggie quarterback completed 14 of 21 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 102 yards and two touchdowns.
He did that while playing in just one series of the second half.
Brandon Jones, TexAgs.com
Toney Hurd and the Aggie defense had an improved showing after the first three games' struggles, allowing only one touchdown and forcing three turnovers.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"right","Size":"large","Caption":"Toney Hurd and the Aggie defense had an improved showing after the first three games\u0027 struggles, allowing only one touchdown and forcing three turnovers.","MediaItemID":34909}
But at least that miss could be blamed on holder Drew Kaser, who bobbled the snap and placed the ball awkwardly on the turf. Later, Lambo converted a 27-yard field goal — but SMU was offsides. A&M opted to take the penalty rather than the points.
Lambo came back to convert a 40-yard field goal in the third quarter.
Best hit: Midway through the second quarter A&M safety Toney Hurd unloaded on SMU receiver Jeremiah Gaines and forced a fumble at the SMU 12-yard line. Deshazor Everett scooped up the loose ball and raced into the end zone to give the Aggies a 32-3 lead.
Best hands: Junior WR Malcome Kennedy didn’t really make a spectacular catch. He just had a spectacular performance. Kennedy had six catches for 83 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown grab. He’s scored four touchdowns in the past two games.
Turning point: Facing third-and-two at the SMU 16-yard line, Manziel threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Kennedy with 10:29 left in the second quarter. That was the first of three touchdowns the Aggies scored in the next three-and-a-half minutes to turn a relatively close game into a blowout.
Standing 'O': The Aggie defense wasn’t overpowering, but for a unit that was ranked 111th in the nation its showing was somewhat encouraging.
True, the Aggies gave up 434 yards — which was unsettling to some degree — but they only allowed one touchdown, which didn’t come until the fourth quarter. For a defense that allowed six touchdowns a week ago and at least 28 points in each of the three previous games, that represented much-needed progress.
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