Disappointment to disaster: Gamecocks hand Aggies third-straight loss

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Disappointment gave way to disaster for Texas A&M on yet another error-prone Saturday night.

A football season that began with so much hope spiraled down the drain that is Williams-Brice Stadium in a 30-24 Southeastern Conference loss to South Carolina.

The Aggies (3-4, 1-3) opened the season ranked No. 6 in the nation. Now, they will be lucky to manage the six victories required to qualify for a bowl game.

That's no exaggeration. If the Aggies can't beat South Carolina (5-2, 2-2) — even on the road — why assume there are three more victories in the remaining five games?

This exercise in futility would probably put coach Jimbo Fisher's job in jeopardy if not for what would be owed on his enormous contract.

Fisher should be on the proverbial "hot seat." But an approximately $80 million buyout would cool off the electric chair.

Still, there's been one exceptional season — 2020 — in Fisher's five-year tenure. It's hard to argue that the program is not in decline. Wins in recruiting are not translating to wins on Saturday.

Those wins are certainly coming. That's what we're told.

In yet another postgame press conference, Fisher repeat promises of impending improvement.

"The solutions are there," Fisher said. "We know how to do it. We know what to do. We've just got to keep our poise and keep practicing the way we're doing. And get guys healthy. We had two linemen missing this week. We've got to get consistency and get a consistent lineup.

"They're not major things that go on. They're little things that cause big things to happen."

True, center Bryce Foster and guard Jordan Moko are sidelined. But A&M's offense struggled when they were playing.

"We've just got to execute better in the beginning," Fisher said. "Do the things we need to do. Pick up some self-inflicted wounds with what we're doing and get better."

Execution has been a common theme. Each week, Fisher stresses the need for execution. They need to execute a search warrant to locate an offense that has not managed more than two touchdowns in five of the last six games.

That offense — or lack thereof — made the game feel like a lost cause when the Aggies fell behind 17-0 barely five minutes into the game.

Jamie Maury, TexAgs

With Saturday's loss, the Aggies have dipped below .500 for the first time in the Jimbo Fisher era. 

Console yourself, if you must, with reminders of how the Aggies gamely rallied to come tantalizingly close to taking a third-quarter lead. But then revel in the amnesia of how the Aggies fell into that hole in the first place.

South Carolina returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown.

Quarterback Haynes King threw an interception that led to a point-blank field goal. 

Then, center Matthew Wykoff's errant snap resulted in a fumble that put South Carolina at A&M's 19-yard line. A touchdown soon followed.

A&M had run six plays and was down three scores. South Carolina had 17 points and 24 yards of offense.

Those were the lowlights of a litany of A&M gaffes that included penalties — all on false starts.

The Aggies did scratch their way back into contention. Randy Bond kicked a couple of field goals. King hit Max Wright for a 9-yard touchdown pass. He then hit Evan Stewart for a two-point conversion.

A&M trailed just 17-14 at halftime. The Aggies took the second-half kickoff and advanced to the South Carolina 39-yard line.

But the drive ended with three consecutive King incompletions. Indeed, King passed on all seven plays of the possession. Running back Devon Achane, who rushed for 75 yards in the first half, was seemingly ignored on the drive.

Apparently, that wasn't the case. Fisher said he called Run/Pass Options. South Carolina's defense dictated the Aggies would pass.

Jamie Maury, TexAgs

Devon Achane continues to lead A&M's offensive efforts, totaling 156 all-purpose yards and one touchdown. 

"We were calling runs," Fisher said. "They were stacking the box and bringing an extra guy in the box. That's why we were able to hit the RPOs. We hit the slant the first play for 15 or 20. We had a run-on. We had about three runs on. They were RPOs. They had an extra guy in the box. That's why we threw it. They were run RPOs."

The Aggies fell behind 24-14 late in the third quarter.

But defensive end Fadil Diggs sacked South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler and forced a fumble. Safety Bryce Anderson recovered at the Gamecocks' 24-yard line.

Three plays later, Achane raced 15 yards for a touchdown to cut the deficit to 24-21 going into the fourth quarter.

A&M had two chances to take the lead. In the first series, King hurt his shoulder and was replaced by highly-touted freshman Conner Weigman. That drive stalled at midfield.

The Aggies managed just five yards and punted on the next series.

South Carolina then marched 80 yards for a clinching score.

The Aggies managed another Bond field goal, recovered an onside kick and got two chances at a "Hail Mary" pass to pull out a victory.

Of course, those passes failed.

There is little chance of the miraculous in a season so disastrous.