Post Game Review: Florida 41, Texas A&M 24

For the first time since 1980, Texas A&M has lost five consecutive games as the Aggies fell to Florida at Kyle Field, 41-24. Another lackluster defensive effort was done in as the Gators pitched a second-half shutout.

Texas A&M and McKinnley Jackson punched first defensively with tackle-for-loss. However, a 17-yard completion by Anthony Richardson moved the chains downfield. Passes of 23 and 17 yards extended Florida’s offensive drive, yet the Gators settled for a 50-yard field goal, 3-0.

Due to a flu outbreak among the team, Haynes King took the field as Conner Weigman was unavailable. To start the game, Devon Achane adjusted as he broke out to his right, then saw nothing but green in front of him as he speeded 65 yards down the left side of the field. The star tailback nearly escaped the Florida defender but was caught at the five-yard line. Achane capped off the under two-minute drive with a walk-in touchdown, 7-3.

Despite being dressed out, Edgerrin Cooper appeared to be missing from A&M’s starting defensive lineup, but the linebacker saw action during the second drive. Florida’s first three plays were stopped by freshman defensive back Jacoby Mathews as the Gators compiled a couple of first downs. As if the Aggies weren’t already lacking depth in the backfield, Jaylon Jones was ejected for targeting, thrusting Smoke Bouie into action. A&M’s secondary was exposed as Anthony Richardson closed out the 75-yard march with a 10-yard run for the score, 10-7.

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Once again, Devon Achane was one of the very few bright spots for the Aggies, scoring three times. Achane finished with 122 yards rushing.

A&M’s offense showed additional promise outside of Achane. King’s first completion to Evan Stewart went for a first down, followed up by an 8-yard pass to Max Wright. The chains moved due to a shovel pass to Achane, and Moose Muhammad reeled in a 28-yard catch. Two no-gainers brought up third down, but Muhammad converted. Facing another third-down situation, Achane strutted past the goal line for his second score of the day, 14-10.

The action in the first quarter did not stop there as the Gators exploited A&M’s weak point — rushing defense. Anthony Richardson displayed his mobility as a quarterback by housing a 60-yard run, 17-14. A&M gave up 140 rushing yards in the first quarter alone.

A&M’s offense has seen its fair share of freshman rise to the occasion, but two additional freshmen stepped up in the backfield as Jacoby Mathews (6) and Jarred Kerr (4) led the team in tackles at the break.

Le’Veon Moss saw his first carry as he broke a tackle to rush for 12 yards. King found Wright again as the Aggies passed midfield and headed into the second quarter. The drive extended with a pair of catches for Muhammad, and Moss showed his brute force by rushing for a pair of short gains toward the goal line. The Aggies sent out Randy Bond to nail the 24-yard field goal and tie up the game, 17-17.

Richardson & Co. took the field but were quickly set up on a third-down situation due to A&M’s defensive stops. The Gators converted, yet Mathews was there with the stop once again. Florida proceed to move the ball downfield right into A&M’s red zone, where at one point, eight A&M defensive freshmen were on the field. Mathews defended a shot to the endzone, and a false start penalty pushed the Gators back. Running back Trevor Etienne was unable to find the endzone, and the Gators kicked it through the uprights to conclude the 15-play drive, 20-17.

On the ensuing drive, the Aggies kicked things off with a 15-yard grab by Stewart, however, a holding call and negative yardage paused any offensive momentum. Stewart made up for a lack of yardage with another 10-plus yard catch, but it was not enough to keep the offense on the field, sending out the punt unit — the first punt of the game for either team.

The Aggies’ defense and four-man front started to settle in as they pressured Richardson and forced their first three-and-out of the game. Florida’s punt team saw the field following A&M’s stop.

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In perhaps his best showing since the opener, Richardson finished with 279 yards of offense and four scores.

A&M utilized Achane as he returned to the field with a 21-yard rush. Muhammad made up for a drop by Stewart, and two plays later, Stewart found his way down the sideline to set up Achane for his third touchdown of the day. Achane hustled up the middle for the score, totaling 10 carries for 103 yards in the first half.

After the offenses rolled in the first half, A&M struggled to start strong in the second. Yet, Richardson and the Gators wasted no time. Richardson found Ja’Quavion Fraziars to cap off Florida’s two-play, 40-yard drive, 27-24.

A duo of short rushes by Achane didn't move the Aggies much, and on third down, King was pressured, throwing the ball incomplete.

The Maroon & White’s defensive line badgered Richardson as the Gators were unable to gather any positive yardage, and Enai White sealed the drive as he emerged with a sack — the first of his young career. 

Stewart attempted to rev up the offense as the Aggies moved into Florida’s territory until three incomplete passes shorted out the drive. The Gators rushed the ball on every play of the drive, except the touchdown pass to Caleb Douglas, blowing past A&M’s lacking run defense and consuming possession of the third quarter.

And just like a broken record, A&M’s offense went on the field and came off three plays later, showing no sense of urgency while down two scores.

The Gators went on to compile more offensive yardage and roll right into A&M territory. The Aggies rose up with a handful of crucial stops in the red zone and held the Gators to a field goal attempt, which Mihalek missed.

With the game still within reach, A&M began to find its offense again as they advanced due to multiple first downs. Past midfield, the Aggies needed a gain of seven to keep the drive alive, but Princely Umanmielen stripped the ball from King. The Gators did not capitalize off the turnover, stalling out and giving the ball back to a wobbly A&M offense. 

To follow, Florida’s defensive line hounded King, causing another fumble and giving the Gators great field position to score. However, the Aggies held firm and got a stop on fourth-and-goal at the 2-yard line to maintain the 10-point deficit. After a short A&M drive, the Gators found the endzone again to put the Ags to bed. To close the game, Jimbo Fisher tabbed Eli Stowers to lead the Aggies’ final offensive drive.

Now sitting at 3-6, Texas A&M must win out to become bowl eligible.

RUMBLED: Devon Achane was brilliant in the first half, rushing for over 100 yards on 10 carries in the opening 30 minutes. He scored three touchdowns — two on the ground, one receiving — in the first half. It begs the question of why he only had six carries after halftime.

STUMBLED: Another game, another surplus amount of rushing yards given up. A&M’s rushing defense continued to struggle as they gave up 492 total yards. In the first half, Florida’s 172 first-half rushing yards assisted in scoring two touchdowns for the Gators, and the second half was not any prettier. The Gators stomped all over D.J. Durkin’s flawed defensive stop-the-run scheme, totaling 291 rushing yards, 78 of which were Richardson’s.

TURNING POINT: Texas A&M led 24-20 at the half and had the ball first after the break. However, the Aggies promptly went three-and-out, setting the stage for a completely anemic final 30 minutes.

UNSUNG HERO: Jacoby Mathews. The Aggies needed a defensive back to intensify his play, and it seemed as if #14’s jersey was spotted doing just that. Props to Mathews for rising up the occasion and topping the stat charts with a team-high 15 tackles, including nine solo stops. He has a very promising future.

KEY STAT: Speaking of the anemic second half, Florida outscored A&M 21-0 after halftime, and the Gators outgained the Aggies 179-29 in the third quarter alone. To make matters worse, Florida had 14 second-half first downs compared to A&M’s seven.

Scoring Summary

First-quarter

FLA: 10:41 - Adam Mihalek 50-yard field goal. Drive: 9 plays, 42 yards. TOP: 4:19. Florida 3, Texas A&M 0

A&M: 9:21 - Devon Achane 5-yard touchdown run. Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards. TOP: 1:20. Texas A&M 7 Florida 3

FLA: 6:01 - Anthony Richardson 10-yard field goal. Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards. TOP: 3:20. Florida 10, Texas A&M 7

A&M: 1:47 - Haynes King 5-yard touchdown pass to Devon Achane. Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards. TOP: 4:14. Texas A&M 14, Florida 10

FLA: 0:33 - Anthony Richardson 60-yard touchdown run. Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards. TOP: 1:14. Florida 17, Texas A&M

Second-quarter

A&M: 11:58 - Randy Bond 24-yard field goal. Drive: 10 plays, 68 yards. TOP: 3:35. Florida 17, Texas A&M 17

FLA: 4:49 - Adam Mihalek 24-yard field goal. Drive: 15 plays, 68 yards. TOP: 7:09. Florida 20, Texas A&M 17

A&M: 1:00 - Devon Achane 2-yard touchdown run. Drive: 6 plays, 74 yards. TOP: 1:04. Texas A&M 24 Florida 20

Third-quarter

FLA: 13:32 - Anthony Richardson 19-yard touchdown pass to Ja’Quavion Fraziars. Drive: 2 plays, 40 yards. TOP: 0:32. Florida 27, Texas A&M 24

FLA: 3:58 - Anthony Richardson 12-yard touchdown pass to Caleb Douglas. Drive: 10 plays, 81 yards. TOP: 5:06. Florida 34, Texas A&M 24

Fourth-quarter

FLA: 1:21 - Montrell Johnson 5-yard touchdown run. Drive: 4 plays, 24 yards. TOP: 2:15. Florida 41, Texas A&M 24.