Post-Game Review: Missouri 34, Texas A&M 27

This time it was Texas A&M that couldn’t make the key play on its opponent’s goal line.

Tight end Cam Clear was stopped short of a first down on fourth-and-two from the Missouri three-yard line late in the fourth quarter and the Aggies fell, 34-27, in a Southeastern Conference football game before 104,756 at Kyle Field on Saturday night.

That futile play was in stark contrast to last week when the Aggies (7-4, 3-4 in the SEC) upset Auburn, 41-38, after the Tigers fumbled at the A&M one-yard line.

All the momentum that A&M had amassed from that victory vanished in the third quarter as Missouri (8-2, 5-1) rolled up more than 300 yards of offense and scored four touchdowns to take a 34-20 lead.

A&M freshman quarterback Kyle Allen, who threw three touchdown passes, completed a four-yard scoring toss to Malcome Kennedy with 11:04 remaining in the game to bring the Aggies within a touchdown. The Aggie defense then mounted its only stop of the second half as a 49-yard field goal attempt by Missouri’s Andrew Baggett bounced off the right upright.

The Aggies responded to that break by advancing to the Missouri two-yard line. But on third-and-one, Brandon Williams was thrown for a yard loss.

After a timeout, Allen rolled right, turned and threw back to Clear, who made the catch but was hit almost immediately and stopped at the two-yard line.

Josh Reynolds had two touchdown catches for A&M and Josh Lambo kicked a pair of field goals. But the A&M offense could not keep up with Missouri, which amassed 335 rushing yards — 199 by Russell Hansbrough — and converted 13 of 21 third downs.

Rising: Number of injuries is climbing. Defensive end Myles Garrett and defensive tackle Ivan Robinson did not play because of unspecified injuries incurred in last week’s victory over Auburn. Further, linebackers Josh Walker and Otaro Alaka left the game in the first quarter and never returned. Nose guard Alonzo Williams and linebacker Shaan Washington left the game momentarily, but did return.

Falling: A&M’s national ranking in rushing defense is going from bad to worse. The Aggies entered Saturday’s game ranked 98th in the nation in run D, allowing an average of 196.3 rushing yards per game. Missouri had more than that through three quarters. The Aggies gave up 335 rushing yards, which raised their season average to 208.9. That figures to drop A&M to about 106th in rushing defense.

Best hit: Early in the third quarter safety Howard Matthews wrapped up and body slammed Missouri running back Marcus Murphy for no gain on second-and-nine. However, the Tigers picked up the first down on third-and-nine and went on to post a game-tying touchdown.

Best hands: Just seconds before halftime Reynolds beat Missouri cornerback Kenya Dennis deep and made an over-the-left-shoulder grab of an Allen pass for 34 yards to the Missouri 11-yard line. The play set up a 31-yard Lambo field goal on the final play of the first half.

Turning point: A&M held a 13-6 lead at halftime, but the defense collapsed in the third quarter. Missouri rolled up 308 yards of total offense, converted six-of-six third downs and scored 28 points in the third alone. Mizzou accumulated 320 yards or less in four of its previous five games. A&M could not generate enough offense to keep up.

Standing ‘O’: Reynolds caught touchdown passes of 24 and 56 yards. That raised his season total of touchdown catches to 12, which equals the A&M single-season record previously set by Jeff Fuller and Mike Evans. Reynolds figures to break the record. He still has the Thanksgiving Day game against LSU and the bowl game to go.

Scoring summary

First quarter
MIZZ: Andrew Baggett 38 FG. Key play: consecutive pass interference penalties on A&M. MIZZ 3, A&M 0

A&M: Josh Lambo 49 FG. Key play: Speedy Noil 70 kickoff return. A&M 3, MIZZ 3

Second quarter
A&M: Josh Reynolds 24 pass from Kyle Allen (Lambo kick). Key play: Missouri roughing the punter. A&M 10, MIZZ 3

MIZZ: Baggett 35 FG. Key play: Offensive pass interference nullifies touchdown pass. A&M 10, MIZZ 6

A&M: Lambo 31 FG. Key play: Reynolds 34 pass from Allen. A&M 13, MIZZ 6

Third quarter
MIZZ: Darius White 16 pass from Maty Mauk. (Baggett kick). Key play: Jimmie Hunt 15 pass from Mauk on third-and-nine. A&M 13, MIZZ 13

A&M: Reynolds 56 pass from Allen (Lambo kick). A&M 20, MIZZ 13

MIZZ: Russell Hansbrough 49 run (Baggett kick). Key play: Jimmie Hunt 7 yard pass from Mauk on third-and-six. A&M 20, MIZZ 20

MIZZ: Hansbrough 45 run (Baggett kick). Key play: White 21 pass from Mauk. Mo. 27, A&M 20

MIZZ: Ish Witter 16 run (Baggett kick). Key play: Bud Sasser 18 pass from Mauk. MIZZ 34, A&M 20

Fourth quarter
A&M: Malcome Kennedy 4 yard pass from Allen (Lambo kick). Key play: Noil 6 yard catch on fourth-and-six. MIZZ 34, A&M 27