Your Fightin’ Texas Aggies sit alone atop the Southeastern Conference following Week 9.
On Saturday night, a dominant second half propelled No.14 Texas A&M right into sole possession of first place with a 38-23 win over No. 8 LSU.
The cinema of the high-stakes showdown began before the ball even kicked off.
A&M’s Ar’maj Reed-Adams and LSU’s Bradyn Swinson exchanged words on X earlier in the week. The opponents were seen chirping each other on the sideline pregame.
The battle between conference rivals was elevated with first place in the SEC on the line.
Electing to defer to the second half, captain Taurean York got Texas A&M going with a one-yard tackle for loss as BJ Mayes’ pass breakup followed. After LSU’s three-and-out, a pair of Le’Veon Moss impact rushes moved the Aggies across midfield, but a third-down incompletion sent out Tyler White & Co.
Backed up on their own eight-yard line, LSU’s Garrett Nusmeier hit Caden Durham for his first completion of the night, but it didn’t take long for the Tigers to move to the opposite end of the field. An explosive 40-yard play by Durham placed LSU on A&M’s 37, yet inside the 10, A&M’s defense held up, giving up just a 23-yard field goal.
After two no-gainers, Conner Weigman dumped it off to Moss, who converted the first down but fumbled shortly after. Former Aggie turned LSU DB Jardin Gilbert recovered it, and a delayed hit call on Reed-Adams gifted the Tigers 15 yards. Shortly after, LSU capitalized as Nussmeier hit tight end Mason Taylor in the end zone to take a 10-0 lead.
Needing an answer, A&M established the run game as Moss broke a couple of tackles to scamper 25 yards downhill, and Amari Daniels converted A&M’s first third down. Two completions to Jabre Barber put the Aggies in prime field position as #8 punched in a touchdown from seven yards out.
What looked to be a stellar defensive drive on A&M’s end flipped on its head as Kyren Lacy caught his first pass, a 33-yard dart.
The Tigers worked their way into A&M territory through the air and continued to do so with Lacy out wide.
Unable to get the run game going, LSU attempted to keep striking through the air. A pass breakup by Dalton Brooks prevented a touchdown and forced the Bayou Bengals to try for three, yet Damian Ramos missed a 48-yard field goal attempt.
Back on offense, A&M’s attack in the backfield continued, slowly inching into LSU’s side of the field, but the drive developed into an uninspiring offensive march as a pair of penalties and a sack moved the Aggies backwards.
Adding onto LSU’s lead, LSU speedster Aaron Anderson burned the Aggie secondary and took it 76 yards to the house, 17-7.
After another three-and-out from the Aggie offense, gains of 15 and 30 propelled the Tigers into A&M territory, yet three incompletions sent out Ramos, who missed another field goal, this time from 49 yards out.
Neither squad was able to find momentum heading into the half.
To start the third quarter, teams traded wasted possessions before Mayes flipped the script. On the LSU 21, the safety picked off Nussmeier and ran it back 27 yards. Kyle Field erupted shortly after as Marcel Reed trotted out under center and ran it in himself to make it a one-score game.
LSU was given 27 yards because of a pair of penalties called against A&M and kept the third-down conversions coming. Scooby Williams’ monster hit brought out the kicking team, but the special teams’ woes continued for the Tigers. LSU’s holder was not ready for the snap, causing another botched field-goal attempt.
Reed & Co. kept pounding the ground game, putting together a seven-play, 60-yard touchdown drive that ended with #10 taking it in himself. The momentum stayed with the Aggies as Mayes grabbed his second interception of the night.
To begin the fourth quarter, Moss hauled it seven yards across the goal line, but the play was called back due to a targeting call on Jahdae Walker. Yet, the Tigers couldn’t hold Reed out of the end zone for long. The dual-threat man kept it and walked right in from four yards out.
A big-time third-down conversion allowed the Tigers' offense to find a spark as plays of 21 and 33 yards quickly placed LSU inside the 10. Nussmeier crossed the plane, scoring a touchdown from one yard out. The Tigers failed on the two-point conversion.
As if Reed didn't prove his ability with legs, he aired it out and hit Noah Thomas 54 yards downfield. Burning just two minutes off the clock, Moss held on to it and scored his second touchdown of the day.
Needing a stop, Texas A&M’s defense did just that as York hauled in his first career interception. A&M settled for a field goal with 3:48 remaining.
After a Tiger turnover on downs, the Aggies kneeled out the victory.
RUMBLED: Down 17-7, unable to piece together an efficient drive, Mike Elko made the decision to pull Conner Weigman and roll with Marcel Reed under center. With the ground game working all night, Reed’s skillset flourished.
Reed led the Aggies to score 21 unanswered and take the lead in an intense heavyweight fight. The redshirt freshman did not blink and scored a touchdown on his first four drives. What a showing.
STUMBLED: After an orderly first half for LSU’s signal caller, Garrett Nussmeier threw three interceptions in the second half to severely blemish his day. Offensively and defensively, Texas A&M took over down the stretch. The Tommy Moffitt Effect, perhaps?
TURNING POINT: Truly a tale of two halves. A dreary offensive showing turned effective with Reed leading the charge. Up 28-23 with 10 minutes to go, Reed & Co. quieted any doubt, using just a four-play drive to score six. Captain Taurean York’s interception on LSU’s next offensive drive sealed the deal.
UNSUNG HERO: When you have two interceptions in one game, it is hard to be “unsung,” but BJ Mayes deserves an applause. The senior had a pair of game-changing plays in the third quarter while the offense got rolling. Mayes’ performance kept the momentum on the Aggies' side, and LSU lacked a response.
KEY STAT: How about 5-0 in SEC play? No, you aren't dreaming. No, you haven’t had too much to drink. This is the Elko era, and the first-year coach has the Aggies rolling.
First-quarter
LSU: 7:35 - Damian Ramos 23-yard field goal. Drive: 8 plays, 86 yards. TOP: 4:06. Louisiana State 3, Texas A&M 0
LSU: 7:35 - Garrett Nussmeier 2-yard passing touchdown to Mason Taylor. Drive: 4 plays, 21 yards. TOP: 1:30. Louisiana State 10, Texas A&M 0
A&M: 0:07 - Le’Veon Moss 7-yard rushing touchdown. Drive: 9 plays, 51 yards. TOP: 3:44. Louisiana State 10, Texas A&M 7
Second-quarter
LSU: 4:55 - Garrett Nussmeier 76-yard passing touchdown to Aaron Anderson. Drive: 3 plays, 90 yards. TOP: 0:57. Louisiana State 17, Texas A&M 7
Third-quarter
A&M: 8:10 - Marcel Reed 8-yard rushing touchdown. Drive: 1 play, 8 yards. TOP: 0:07. Louisiana State 17, Texas A&M 14
A&M: 1:00 - Marcel Reed 8-yard rushing touchdown. Drive: 7 plays, 60 yards. TOP: 3:53. Texas A&M 21, Louisiana State 17
Fourth-quarter
A&M: 14:07 - Marcel Reed 4-yard rushing touchdown. Drive: 5 plays, 26 yards. TOP: 1:40. Texas A&M 28, Louisiana State 17
LSU: 10:57 - Garrett Nussmeier 1-yard rushing touchdown. Drive: 9 plays, 78 yards. TOP: 4:05. Texas A&M 28, Louisiana State 23. Failed 2-point conversion.
A&M: 8:09 - Le’Veon Moss 3-yard rushing touchdown. Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards. TOP: 1:48. Texas A&M 34, Louisiana State 23.
A&M: 3:48 - Randy Bond 26-yard field goal. Drive: 6 plays, 29 yards. TOP: 2:47. Texas A&M 38, Louisiana State 23.
