Learned, Loved, Loathed: Ole Miss 31, Texas A&M 28

Looking back on what was learned, loved and loathed in Texas A&M’s 31-28 college football loss to Ole Miss:

Learned

Conner Weigman is ready. The true freshman stepped in and appeared to solve A&M’s quarterback problems. In his first career start, he passed for 338 yards and four touchdowns. That’s the Aggies’ most passing yardage and touchdowns against an FBS opponent this season. 

A&M can be explosive. Though the offense has been stuck in neutral most of the season, the Aggies can make big plays with sound quarterbacking. A&M had 15 plays that gained between 15 and 36 yards.

The offensive line improved. Really. The insertion of Kam Dewberry into the starting lineup has certainly helped. Weigman was sacked only twice for 9 yards in losses. He was “officially” hurried on just two other plays. The running game produced 142 yards — A&M’s second-highest rushing output of the season. Overall, A&M had 480 total yards, its most production against an opponent other than Sam Houston. The line has to be given some credit.

Loved

Evan Stewart’s one-handed grab on a 15-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter was a work of art. It was the high point of an impressive night for the true freshman receiver. Stewart had six catches for 88 yards. He made another circus catch for a 36-yard gain in the fourth quarter that set up a touchdown.

Jamie Maury, TexAgs

Evan Stewart’s one-handed grab in the end zone gave Texas A&M its only lead of the night in the first quarter. 

Devon Achane excels on a weekly basis. The junior running back rushed for 138 yards and was oh so close to many more. On the first play of the second quarter, Achane broke away for a 31-yard gain down the A&M sideline. Only a diving stop by Ole Miss safety Isheem Young, who barely clipped Achane’s heels, prevented an 82-yard touchdown run. Achane also caught seven passes for 41 yards and a touchdown.

The emergence of Moose Muhammad as a consistent receiving threat can’t be overlooked. He’s softened the blow of the season-ending injury to Ainias Smith. Muhammad had eight catches for 112 yards and scored a touchdown. In the four games since Smith's injury, Muhammad has 22 receptions for 326 yards and 3 TDs.

Loathed

Officiating was suspect. You don’t want to be reduced to blaming officials for a loss, but … Pass interference penalties on consecutive third downs on a third-quarter Ole Miss drive were certainly debatable. That drive resulted in an Ole Miss touchdown. Later, in the fourth quarter, an Ole Miss defender appeared to interfere with Muhammad on a fourth-and-10 pass. No flag was dropped. 

Defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin’s scheme was … questionable. Although Ole Miss entered the game ranked third in the nation in rushing offense, Durkin started with a three-man front. The Rebels swiftly drove downfield for an easy touchdown. Durkin quickly abandoned the three-man front but frequently used just one linebacker. The results were painfully obvious. Ole Miss rushed for a startling 390 yards. To be fair, injuries severely limited linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and prevented linebacker Tarian Lee from playing. But then, if few linebackers are available, why go to a three-man front to begin with?

Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin was more aggressive than A&M coach Jimbo Fisher. Kiffin called a fake punt from his own 16-yard line. The aggressive play netted a first down. The Rebels went on to get a field goal. On A&M’s previous possession, the Aggies needed less than a yard to pick up a first down at their own 44-yard line. Fisher opted to punt. On an earlier series, the Aggies faced fourth-and-3 at the Ole Miss 34-yard line. Fisher called a pass into the left flat that resulted in a two-yard loss. Why not throw downfield, so the receiver gets the required yardage if he makes the catch? To be fair, on A&M’s first series Fisher went for it on fourth-and-1 at the Ole Miss 3-yard line. Weigman then threw a touchdown pass to Muhammad.