Post Game Review: #10 Miami 10, #7 Texas A&M 3

Texas A&M’s spectacular season comes to an end on its own field.

#10 Miami shocked the #7 Aggies in the first round of the College Football Playoff, 10-3.

A defensive battle from the start, it began with 30 minutes of scoreless action.

After 70 days away from in-game action, Le’Veon Moss returned to an eruption from Kyle Field and converted the Aggies’ first down of the day. The Aggies got some tempo going as Marcel Reed used his feet to keep the chain moving. On fourth down, Trey Zuhn III jumped, forcing the Aggies to punt to Miami’s 8-yard line.

Carson Beck & Co. took the field, and Mark Fletcher Jr. found the Hurricanes’ initial first down. Facing third-and-5, the Aggie defense held strong as Will Lee III broke up a pass to send Miami off the field.

A 21-yard gain from Nate Boerkircher placed the Ags right outside the red zone. Yet, Reed was stripped, and the Canes gained back possession on a fumble recovery. They were shut down again on third down with a tackle for a loss by Taurean York.

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Carson Beck was sacked just twice by A&M. Cashius Howell had just two total tackles.

As A&M wasted another possession, the scoreless first frame dwindled away. Miami remained unsuccessful on third down thanks to the wrath of Tyler Onyedim. The senior sacked Beck for a loss, causing him to fumble, but Miami fell on it.

With momentum on their side, Reed took a deep shot to Mario Craver for a gain of 59. The Miami defense held up inside the red zone, and A&M elected to send out Jared Zirkel and the field goal team. Rueben Bain Jr. blocked the 22-yard attempt.

But just like that, A&M’s third-down defense bailed them out once again.

Back on offense, the Aggies, again, could not get anything going. ACC Rookie of the Year Malachi Toney took Tyler White’s punt 55 yards. Miami’s offense sputtered as well, only gaining two yards before Dalton Brooks' sack set them way back.

Just before the half, Miami began another pursuit in A&M territory, but missed a 44-yard field goal.

After the break, a few chunk plays propelled the Canes across midfield and into the red zone rather quickly. On fourth down, Miami took the points and made a 21-yard field goal, 3-0.

Will Huffman, TexAgs

In his return to action, Le’Veon Moss finished with seven carries for 15 yards.

A loss of 12 set the Aggies behind the chains before another A&M turnover. Bryce Fitzgerald picked off Reed and hauled it back 36 yards. Beck threw incomplete on third down to set up another field goal attempt, which doinked off the upright.

Moss hobbled to the sideline in visible frustration after a chain-moving rush, but another first down wouldn’t follow, punting it away once again. Fletcher sped away for a gain of 13, but would stumble from there.

Back up on their own 8-yard line, Reed’s next possession was the Aggies’ best of the day as they found some rhythm. After an offside penalty, Reed threw incomplete to KC Concepcion on first down. Needing a conversion, Ashton Bethel-Roman crossed the line to gain. Craver found another first before Randy Bond knocked a 35-yarder through.

Following a Fletcher 16-yard gain, Dalton Brooks forced a fumble, and Daymion Sanford recovered it. Yet, the offense squandered another opportunity.

A game-changer for the Hurricanes, Fletcher sped away for a rush of 56, setting up Toney for an 11-yard rushing touchdown. With 1:44 and no timeout, an A&M response was urgent.

Running a two-minute offense, a wealth of quick passes allowed the Aggies to surge downfield. Inside Miami’s 5-yard line, Reed threw the most costly interception of the season to Fitzgerald.

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Mark Fletcher Jr. averaged 10.1 yards on 17 carries to finished with 172 yards.

RUMBLED: Miami running back Mark Fletcher Jr. destroyed the Aggies on every level, finishing with 172 yards on 17 carries to will the Canes to victory. His longest gain of the day was a 56-yard rush to set up the game’s only touchdown. Additionally, the duo of Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor combined for 10 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss.

STUMBLED: Texas A&M’s offense scored three points in a College Football Playoff game. Marcel Reed had 237 passing yards, but the interceptions were what will be remembered. He threw the pair to Bryce Fitzgerald, including one in the end zone to seal the game. A&M’s offense may have totaled more net yards, but Miami scored on one more red zone attempt. Those thin margins matter.

TURNING POINT: In such a low-scoring affair, it felt like any touchdown was going to win this one. After Miami scored with 1:44 to go, A&M drove down with a chance to tie it. Reed’s pick in the end zone sealed the Aggies’ season.

UNSUNG HERO: Although A&M’s offense didn’t capitalize, Dalton Brooks forced what should have been a game-changing fumble late in the fourth quarter. The safety added seven total tackles and a TFL on Saturday.

KEY STAT: Miami was 2-for-3 inside the red zone. A&M was 1-for-3. Turnover margin was also 3-1.

Scoring Summary

Third-quarter

MIA: 10:35 - Carter Davis 21-yard field goal. Drive: 9 plays, 72 yards. TOP 4:26. Miami 3, Texas A&M 0

Fourth-quarter

A&M: 8:03 - Randy Bond 35-yard field goal. Drive: 16 plays, 67 yards. TOP 7:30. Texas A&M 3, Miami 3

MIA: 1:44 - Carson Beck 11-yard touchdown pass to Malachi Toney. Drive: 6 plays, 86 yards. TOP 2:18. Miami 10, Texas A&M 3