Momentum Shifts: Ags use grit, determination to defeat Bulldogs
Last Saturday, the Texas A&M Aggies secured a hard-fought 34-24 victory over Mississippi State in Starkville — a win that demonstrated the team’s resilience and ability to battle through adversity.
While the Aggies didn’t have their most explosive performance on the ground, they found ways to grind out a road win — a valuable commodity in SEC play. Le’Veon Moss, Jabre Barber and the defensive front were instrumental in guiding the team to its sixth consecutive victory, keeping their SEC record unblemished at 4-0.
Here’s a closer look at how the game unfolded.
The Good
Conner Weigman’s gritty performance: In his second game back from injury, Conner Weigman completed 15-of-25 passes for 217 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. It wasn’t the cleanest performance, but Weigman showed resilience in the face of adversity. His connection with Jabre Barber (six catches, 92 yards) provided a reliable option throughout the game. Weigman’s 20-yard touchdown pass to Noah Thomas in the first quarter helped set the tone early, and despite the interceptions, he remained poised and made critical throws when needed. The offense needs to stay efficient, and they do that by avoiding turnovers. However, Weigman’s leadership is undeniable. One of my favorite plays by him was early in the second quarter on third-and-7. Mississippi State brought a blitz, and Weigman avoided the pressure, finding Barber for a big gain that set the Aggies up for a score.
Ground attack gets the job done: While Le’veon Moss was held to only 65 yards, he still managed to score two touchdowns. Amari Daniels also added to the rushing attack with 47 yards on 10 carries and a 6-yard touchdown to give the Aggies a 21-17 halftime lead. A&M’s rushing yardage may not have hit its usual output, but the three rushing touchdowns underline how effective the Ags were in the red zone. For a team that has been averaging over 200 rushing yards per game, this wasn’t their most dominant performance on the ground, but the fact that they finished drives and found the end zone shows their versatility.
Third-down efficiency: While the Aggie offense did not fire on all cylinders this past Friday, the third-down efficiency was something to be proud of. Going 9-for-14 on third down shows this offense's ability to produce and keep the ball moving, no matter the down or distance. There were multiple drives when the Aggies faced third-and-10+ yards for a first down, and they were still able to convert. It was great to see Collin Klein's ability to keep drives alive with great play-calling, even when the Aggies were “off schedule” at times.
Linebackers win the point of attack: Scooby Williams and Taurean York emerged as key players in this game. York finished with 12 tackles, 0.5 sacks and 1.5 TFLs, while Williams had six tackles, two TFLs and an interception. The latter really impressed me with some of the big plays he made. One play that stood out was Williams’ hit on a fourth-down stop for the Aggies with 3:59 remaining in the game. He met Mississippi State's Davon Booth in the hole on fourth-and-1 and didn’t give an inch. This turnover on downs was crucial and provided the momentum the Aggies needed to finish the game.
Defense steps up when it matters: Mississippi State’s freshman quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. threw for 242 yards and three touchdowns, but the Aggie defense came up with timely plays to limit further damage. Williams' interception couldn’t have come at a better time. Following an interception by Weigman, the Aggies halted a potential scoring drive, regaining much-needed momentum. While Van Buren had his moments, the A&M defensive backs minimized big plays in the second half, allowing only one touchdown after halftime. Their improvement in coverage and communication bodes well as we continue our SEC campaign.
Defensive front applied pressure: This week, the defensive line was fantastic. Cashius Howell, Shemar Turner and Rylan Kennedy stepped up big for the Aggies, getting sacks in this game. The Aggie defensive front recorded three sacks, a consistent production that has become a trademark of this team. It’s great to see production from the depth of this unit. This defensive line will continue to be a nightmare for teams moving forward, and with players like Howell and Kennedy hitting their stride, the entire group will be hard to handle.
Special teams: The specialists were great in all facets, including stopping the questionable fake punt pulled by Mississippi State. Randy Bond was 2-for-2 on field goals and continues to be a reliable piece of this team. His clutch 44-yard field goal with six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter gave the Aggies a crucial two-score lead and put them in position to finish the game. Good teams have consistent special teams play, and it has been great to see us producing in that area this year.
The Bad
Turnovers: Weigman’s two interceptions hurt A&M’s momentum throughout the game, and while the defense did its best to minimize the damage, the outcome could have been much worse. Weigman had flashes of great throws and good decision-making, but he needs to stay consistent throughout the course of the game. He could have had another two passes intercepted if not for drops by the defenders. That being said, scoring 34 points on the road is nothing to be upset about, as the offense is still improving, and scoring that many points despite two turnovers leaves room for optimism.
The loss of Chase Bisontis: Seeing the sophomore from New Jersey go down this week was very concerning. Bisontis is the anchor for the interior of our offensive line. I hope his injury was not too serious, but if it is, it will make things more difficult for us moving forward. The offensive line does have depth, but losing Bisontis would be a big blow.
First-half defensive struggles: The Aggie defense allowed Mississippi State to march down the field on their first possession for a 92-yard touchdown drive, and they struggled to contain the Bulldogs in the first half, giving up 273 yards. However, halftime adjustments paid off, as they limited Mississippi State to just 94 yards in the second half. Coach Mike Elko’s ability to make these adjustments is a positive sign, but the team will need to start games stronger, especially against high-powered offenses like LSU.
Looking Ahead: The LSU Challenge
The Aggies went on the road and took care of business. SEC road wins are hard to get, no matter who we’re playing, but now the focus shifts to this Saturday’s high-stakes matchup against No. 8 LSU at Kyle Field. The Aggies will need to remain sharp in all facets of the game to contain one of the most explosive offenses in the SEC. Led by an experienced quarterback and talented receiving corps, LSU poses a serious challenge for Texas A&M’s defense. The Aggie front seven will need to apply constant pressure and force the Tigers to make mistakes. A huge part of this game will be the ability of our secondary and linebackers to win their matchups against LSU’s strong group of athletes. If we can slow down their offense, the Aggies will be in good shape.
Offensively, Weigman must be at his best, especially in the red zone. Moss and Daniels will once again be called upon to establish the run and control the tempo, keeping LSU’s high-powered offense off the field. The Aggies can’t afford to leave points on the board when opportunities present themselves, especially against an LSU team that will capitalize on any mistakes. Our offense has the pieces to score against anyone, and this weekend, they will have the chance to show just how good they are.
This weekend at Kyle Field will be one of the most electric atmospheres we’ve ever experienced. A top-15 matchup, the top spot in the SEC on the line and a chance to become a top-10 team heading into November. The rivalry between these two programs has been building in recent years, and I expect this game to be nothing short of a slugfest. It’s time to rally behind these Aggies as we continue to do what no one expected us to do this season... Keep winning and proving everyone wrong.
Gig ’Em and BTHO LSU!
