This offensive run game ain't gonna cut it
Photo by Danny Grant, TexAgs
The 10th-ranked Aggies passed their first serviceable test of the season against Arizona State, 48-20.
In front of a Red, White and Blue crowd of 107,523, it wasn’t a perfect start for the Aggies, but it was a fiery defensive finish.
The Sun Devils rushed for their first down before the interior defensive line went to work. DJ Hicks and CJ Mims downed Kyson Brown for a loss of one before the Sun Devils punted. However, a three-and-out followed for the Aggies.
Neither team crossed midfield until sophomore TK Norman provided the spark A&M needed. After another slow offensive drive, Arizona State’s Cory Butler Jr. went back to receive Tyler White’s punt. He muffed it, and Norman fell on it. Rueben Owens II punched it across the goal line two plays later.
The Sun Devils offered a response right away. Anto Saka flashed with a two-yard tackle for loss before he got rolled up on and sat out the rest of the drive. From there, Arizona State’s ground game rolled, which allowed Cutter Boley to connect with Reed Harris a couple of times. One of which was in the corner of the end zone, as a 21-yard grab tied things up.
Marcel Reed completed his first pass just before the first quarter expired for no gain. The Aggies’ initial first down came once the game resumed. To place A&M right outside the red zone, Reed did what he knows best and took off for a gain of 19. Holmon Wiggins’ offense converted on fourth-and-2 and capped off a 75-yard drive with a passing touchdown to Isaiah Horton.
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Marcel Reed finished 15-of-25 for 163 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
The Sun Devils’ fifth chunk play of the day was a 35-yard pass to Boley’s favorite target in Harris. They found their way into the red zone, but the Aggie defense limited the visitors to just a field goal. Backed up deep in their own territory, the Aggies gave right back to Kenny Dillingham’s offense. After an uninspiring three-and-out, Arizona State faked the punt but never crossed the line to gain.
Reed & Co. had one more opportunity to capitalize. They failed to find the end zone, but David Olano knocked a 22-yard through to end the half.
A less-than-ideal offensive outing continued to begin the second half as Reed threw his first interception of the year. The turnover proved costly as Boley’s group converted on a key fourth down and put points on the board with a 25-yard field goal.
Looking like the Aggies were going to stall out at midfield, the offense stayed on for fourth-and-2 when a holding call gifted them a new set of downs. Jamarion Morrow juked an Arizona State defender to move the chains again. To take a two-score lead, Reed lobbed it to his big-bodied receiver in Horton, who made an incredible toe-dragging touchdown grab.
What could have been a turning point for the Aggies by executing a third-down stop turned into a huge Arizona State positive as Boley found Harris once again. He caught his eighth pass of the day and sped away for a 58-yard touchdown.
Both offenses traded three-and-out possessions before the final frame.
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Marco Jones had a sack and a pick-six in the Aggie victory.
An important A&M drive began with a 21-yard punt return from Terry Bussey. Increasing their lead once again, Reed delivered to Mario Craver to make it 31-20.
But the Aggies weren’t done making plays yet. Arizona State’s offense had great field position after White dropped the snap while attempting to punt. However, things went awry for the Sun Devils as T.J. Searcy batted it down Boley’s pass, and Marco Jones caught it and took it 55 yards to the house.
Wanting to make more of a statement, A&M’s defense created another turnover on back-to-back ASU drives. Sam M’Pemba forced a fumble, and Dalton Brooks recovered it. It resulted in a 39-yarder from Olano.
Just when you thought the Aggie defense couldn’t finish stronger, Julio Humphrey picked off Boley and took it 45 yards right into the end zone.
RUMBLED: The Aggies defense came alive to close the game. Lyle Hemphill’s squad created turnovers on three consecutive drives, which led to two scores. Marco Jones took it upon himself to run back a 55-yard pick-six, while David Olano put up three more points. Julio Humphrey put the cherry on top with a second defensive score.
STUMBLED: It was another lackluster first quarter for the Aggies. Not saying it’s a trend of slow starts, but two in a row doesn’t look promising.
The Aggies accumulated just eight yards on their first two drives and did not move the chains until just before the second quarter. Without the recovery of a muffed punt, the Aggies looked unlikely to score in the opening frame. The running game still had its share of struggles, and 14 total yards in one quarter is not going to cut it when you only play four.
Firing out of the gate only becomes more important as SEC play dawns on the Aggies.
TURNING POINT: Up 24-20 late in the third, A&M got the ball back on the ASU 44, thanks to a punt return from Terry Bussey. The 33-yard touchdown pass to Mario Craver put the minds of the 12th Man at ease with a two-score lead. Marco Jones’ pick-six allowed the Aggies to secure an 18-point lead.
Danny Grant, TexAgs
Mario Craver now has two touchdown catches on the young season.
UNSUNG HERO: Without TK Norman’s muffed punt recovery, the Aggies may not have seized the momentum they needed. The sophomore landing on the ball on the 8-yard line resulted in a touchdown a couple of plays later. Had Norman not been there and the Arizona State offense taken over, this game could have looked a lot different.
KEY STAT: Texas A&M committed one penalty against Arizona State, which came midway through the fourth quarter.
Scoring Summary
First-quarter
A&M: 4:55 - Rueben Owens II 2-yard rushing touchdown. Drive: 2 plays, 8 yards. TOP 0:58. Texas A&M 7, Arizona State 0
ASU: 0:21 - Cutter Boley 21-yard passing touchdown to Reed Harris. Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards. TOP 4:53. Texas A&M 7, Arizona State 7
Second-quarter
A&M: 9:15 - Marcel Reed 4-yard passing touchdown to Isaiah Horton. Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards. TOP 6:06. Texas A&M 14, Arizona State 7
ASU 6:15 - Carson Smith 30-yard field goal. Drive: 8 plays, 62 yards. TOP 3:00. Texas A&M 14, Arizona State 10
A&M 0:03 - David Olano 22-yard field goal. Drive: 8 plays, 38 yards. TOP 2:20. Texas A&M 17, Arizona State 10
Third-quarter
ASU 10:19 - Carson Smith 35-yard field goal. Drive: 9 plays, 26 yards. TOP 4:33. Texas A&M 17, Arizona State 13
A&M: 5:53 - Marcel Reed 13-yard passing touchdown to Isaiah Horton. Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards. TOP 4:26. Texas A&M 24, Arizona State 13
ASU: 3:39 - Cutter Boley 58-yard passing touchdown to Reed Harris. Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards. TOP 2:14. Texas A&M 24, Arizona State 20
Fourth-quarter
A&M: 14:20 - Marcel Reed 33-yard passing touchdown to Mario Craver. Drive: 3 plays, 44 yards. TOP 0:59. Texas A&M 31, Arizona State 20
A&M: 8:38 - Marco Jones 55-yard pick-six. Texas A&M 38, Arizona State 20
ASU 5:57 - David Olano 22-yard field goal. Drive: 2 plays, 4 yards. TOP 2:26. Texas A&M 41, Arizona State 20
A&M: 4:25 - Julio Humphrey 45-yard pick-six. Texas A&M 48, Arizona State 20
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