Post Game Review: No. 25 Texas A&M 26, Bowling Green 20

It wasn’t pretty.

On a warm Saturday evening at Kyle Field, Mike Elko’s Aggies improved to 3-1 despite a sputtering offensive showing as No. 25 Texas A&M beat Bowling Green, 26-20.

As Conner Weigman watched from the sideline in street clothes, Marcel Reed remained under center for the second consecutive week and led a successful opening drive. The Aggies found an initial first down on completion to Jabre Barber but were pushed back by a false start penalty, one of six penalties seen in Saturday night’s clash. Tre Watson caught a 15-yard pass to extend the march on third down before Reed used his legs to find another seven. A pass to Terry Bussey converted the fourth down, setting up another set of downs. Reed only needed one, finding Theo Melin Öhrström for a 27-yard touchdown.

After quickly moving across midfield with 33 yards on four plays, Bowling Green’s opening march slowed as A&M’s defense found its groove. Both squads traded wasted possessions as the first quarter ticked away.

In the second frame, backed up on their own 10, A&M failed to find another set of downs as Le’Veon Moss fought for five on one carry. After a 43-yard punt from Tyler White, the Falcons moved into A&M territory and earned a first on a gain of 13, but did not advance as Shemar Stewart sacked Connor Bazelak for a loss of nine, giving the ball right back to Reed on the 4-yard line. With bad field position, A&M's offense short-circuited again.

A pass interference call against Will Lee III pushed the Falcons inside the 25-yard line, but the Aggies prevented any action in the end zone, holding Bowling Green to a 33-yard field goal.

A failed onside kick attempt gifted prime field position to the Aggies, but after a handful of short rushes could not ignite the drive. A&M settled for a Randy Bond 28-yard field goal.

Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

Marcel Reed finished 16-for-29 for 173 yards and two passing touchdowns. The redshirt freshman also rushed for 91 yards.

Bowling Green began moving the rock again with back-to-back gains of 10-plus yards, but a short rush and consecutive incompletions stalled the Falcons’ pursuit.

Despite a couple of chunk plays, the Aggies' ensuing 18-play drive looked uninspiring. Reed rushed for 12 and nine but missed a wide-open Noah Thomas downfield the next play. The tandem of backs EJ Smith and Amari Daniels worked to move the sticks, but a holding call and a sack for a loss of three set the Aggies back. Moss’ 20-yard reception gave the drive life just a yard short of the line to gain, where a reception from Thomas punched it across the 36-yard line on fourth down. After two shots to the endzone, the Aggies added another field goal as the first half expired.

The ballgame resumed with a bang as Bazelak aired it out to Harold Fannin Jr. for a 65-yard touchdown to make things interesting, 13-10.

However, A&M responded fairly quickly. 

Large gains from Reed on the ground and Jahdae Walker in the passing game propelled the Aggies downhill. To put A&M up 10, #10 connected with #9 in the end zone to add some positivity to a patchy offensive night.

A big-time sack from Shemar Turner looked to be the play the Aggies needed to keep momentum on their side until woes on the backend flipped the script. Fannin Jr. eclipsed the 100-yard plateau on a 14-yard grab before another explosive play exposed the secondary. Rahkeem Smith took it himself 40 yards to the house to make it a one-score game. 

Back on offense, a trio of bland rushes led to another three-and-out, and the trouble continued as the Falcons blocked a punt to put Bowling Green on the 12-yard line. Still, A&M’s defense held strong. The visitors could not find the end zone and missed a field goal wide right to keep the Maroon & White on top.

Needing a score, Walker fought for a first down, and Moss scampered for another just before the final frame. The Aggies continued to move the ball with a pickup of 17 from Thomas and a pair of rushes for nine. Once in the redzone, A&M failed to capitalize and sent out Bond for yet another field goal.

A&M’s defense came up big, as Daymion Sanford provided a massive tackle for loss, leading the Falcons to go three and out. 

Zoe Kelton, TexAgs

Scooby Williams led the Aggie defense with seven total tackles and four solo stops. He also added a pass breakup.

A&M began draining some clock with a rush-heavy attack midway through the fourth to move all the way down to the 25-yard line, where Bond came in clutch again, providing the offense with points via field goal.

A pick by Marcus Ratcliffe looked to spoil a 14-play march by Bowling Green. However, A&M handed the ball right on a Moss fumble. The Falcons kicked a 23-yard field goal with 43 seconds to go, but Donovan Green recovered the ensuing on-side kick to ice the Aggie victory.

RUMBLED: Down the stretch, A&M needed stops, and the Aggies’ defense provided them. It was far from pretty, but A&M’s defense, specifically the front seven, made plays to prevent any further damage as they barely grasped a one-score lead. Without a TFL from Daymion Sanford on a drive that the Falcons went three-and-out, this one could have turned out a lot differently.

Additional shoutout to Randy Bond, who went a career-high 4-for-4 and provided the Aggie offense with points when needed.

STUMBLED: Explosive plays gashed A&M. The Aggies gave up 14 points on just two plays. The scouting report told the Aggies about tight end Harold Fannin Jr., who leads the Falcons’ attack through the air. Connor Bazelak’s connection to Fannin for a 65-yard touchdown exploited weaknesses on the backend. A 40-yard rushing touchdown from Rahkeem Smith was the second massive play given up. Prevent those two, and this is also a way different ballgame.

TURNING POINT: This one wasn't over until the fourth quarter. The Aggies’ grasp on the win grew tighter with each field goal Randy Bond kicked, but Bowling Green’s pursuit did not cease. With 7:15 in the final quarter, Bond’s 42-yarder put Texas A&M by two scores.

UNSUNG HERO: Let’s give this one to the Shemars. Both Shemar Stewart and Shemar Turner recorded a sack and did their part in holding Bowling Green to just 89 yards on the ground. Take away Smith’s 40-yard scoring play? 49 yards on the ground will do.

KEY STAT: Texas A&M converted at a 40 percent clip on third down. The Aggies severely struggled to finish drives on Saturday, going 6-for-15 on third down.

Scoring Summary

First-quarter

A&M: 10:33 - Marcel Reed 27-yard touchdown pass to Theo Melin Öhrström. Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards. TOP: 4:56. Texas A&M 7, Bowling Green 0

Second-quarter

BGSU: 13:35 - Jackson Kleather 33-yard field goal. Drive 7 plays, 36 yards. TOP 2:10. Texas A&M 7, Bowling Green 3

A&M: 10:17 - Randy Bond 28-yard field goal. Drive 7 plays, 33 yards. TOP 2:28. Texas A&M 10, Bowling Green 3

A&M: 0:07 - Randy Bond 29-yard field goal. Drive 18 plays, 77 yards. TOP 6:14. Texas A&M 13, Bowling Green 3

Third-quarter

BGSU: 14:48 - Conner Bazelak 65-yard touchdown pass to Harold Fannin Jr. Drive: 1 plays, 65 yards. TOP: 0:12. Texas A&M 13, Bowling Green 10

A&M: 10:43 - Marcel Reed 5-yard touchdown pass to Jahdae Walker. Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards. TOP: 4:05. Texas A&M 20, Bowling Green 10

BGSU: 5:24 - Rahkeem Smith 40-yard rushing touchdown. Drive: 9 plays, 81 yards. TOP: 5:13. Texas A&M 20, Bowling Green 17

Fourth-quarter

A&M: 12:56 - Randy Bond 34-yard field goal. Drive: 12 plays, 74 yards. TOP 4:01. Texas A&M 23, Bowling Green 17

A&M: 7:49 - Randy Bond 42-yard field goal. Drive: 9 plays, 50 yards. TOP 4:20. Texas A&M 26, Bowling Green 17

BGSU: 0:38 - Jackson Kleather 23-yard field goal. Drive 6 plays, 30 yards. TOP 0:54. Texas A&M 26, Bowling Green 20