Texas A&M Football vs. Auburn: Game Recap

Game Recap of SEC Opener for Texas A&M football

Texas A&M football opened their game agains the Auburn Tigers by taking the ball first on offense.  After one play, there was some miscommunication which cost the Aggies their first timeout of the game. Out of the timeout, Chase Bisontis committed a false start—in short, it wasn’t an ideal start for the Ags. The Aggies still managed to convert on a pass by Weigman and short run by Amari Daniels, however. A few plays later, Rueben Owens showed some shake on a short wheel route out of the backfield, evading a defender and picking up a big chunk of yardage. The next series sent the Aggies backwards after a sack on third down, but Randy Bond hit a 51-yard field goal to make the score 3-0.

The Aggie defense saw their first action of the day on the next possession. They opened strong with a sack by Shemar Turner and Taurean York, putting the Tigers immediately behind the chains. Payton Thorne attempted another rush on the next play, but was stacked up by both Aggie LBs. A third down incompletion on a short attempt forced Auburn to punt.

The offense had great starting field position for their ensuing drive, and Le’Veon Moss showed his stuff two plays in, breaking off a big 36-yard run. An Ainias Smith catch later, the Aggies were in the red zone; however, a Layden Robinson false start would move them five yards backwards. One play later would see another false start which the Aggies could not overcome, kicking another field goal to make the score 6-0.

Auburn opened their next drive on three big runs by Jarquez Hunter, making their way into Aggie territory. As the Tigers began to threaten to score, a HUGE hit from Tyreek Chappell forced a fumble in the backfield, which Edgerrin Cooper picked up and returned for a touchdown—or at least the Aggies thought. A review overturned the ruling, taking a touchdown off the board. The Aggie defense responded with yet another sack, moving Auburn back out of field goal range. Auburn punter Oscar Chapman made a great play after the snap sailed over his head, still getting off a kick. The Aggies began the next drive at their own 32. Three run plays put A&M in a 4th and 2 situation as the first quarter came to a close.

The third series for Auburn saw yet another sack by the Aggie defense followed by an incompletion, but the Auburn offense converted on 3rd and 12 on a stop route by Shane Hooks. After another conversion, Auburn was moved back on first down by a holding penalty. After Thorne missed a wide-open pass that would have been a touchdown, the Tigers moved back another five yards on a delay of game, bringing up a 3rd and 20–which the Tigers would have converted if not for a pass breakup by Deuce Harmon. That brought up yet another Auburn punt, which resulted in a touchback.

The Aggie offense had another three and out after a miscommunication on third down between Weigman and Jahdae Walker, and Texas A&M football found themselves punting it back to Auburn. The Tigers weren’t able to get much of anywhere, either, after a penalty and another sack, and kicked it back to the Aggies (taking another delay of game penalty in the process). The Aggies would take over at their own nine yard line. Another three-and-out ensued—this time, Weigman, standing in his own end zone following a questionable tripping penalty against the Aggie offensive line, took a big hit on a late blitz (notably, without a roughing call on the low shot) and appeared to be shaken up a bit.  He didn’t miss a snap, but a drop by Jahdae Walker on the next play brought out the punter for the Aggies. Weigman would go to the locker room before halftime.

The Tigers could not convert on third down and one on the next series, but a rollout by Payton Thorne on fourth and one barely got the necessary yardage. The Aggie defense recorded their third sack of the day on the next play, however, and forced the Tigers into another long third down after a short run—which resulted in their fourth sack of the day. Auburn was able to make a 53-yard field goal at the end of the half, making the score 6-3.

There was still no news on the QB for Texas A&M football coming out of halftime, as the Tigers would take possession first. Auburn once again moved backwards, with a TFL by Fadil Diggs on first down and a sack by Walter Nolen on second down. A false start moved them even further back, putting them in 3rd and 19. An incomplete pass forced a punt, and the Aggies would take over at the Auburn 45. Max Johnson handed it off on his first play, but threw a strike to Ainias on second down to get the first Aggie first down in quite a while. Despite a false start, Johnson converted with his legs on 3rd and 4, getting the Aggies within two yards of the red zone. The next play was a 22-yard touchdown pass to his brother, Jake, putting the Aggies up 13-3.

The Tigers would make a quarterback change as well, inserting Robby Ashford, but they would once again fail to pick up a first down. The Aggies took advantage again, with Max Johnson throwing an absolutely beautiful pass to Evan Stewart, making it 20-3. The Aggie defense once again stood tall, notching another sack en route to forcing a three-and-out once more.

The Aggie offense appeared to be humming, but two straight massive penalties forced the Ags in to the very rare 1st and 35. A 2nd-down sack put Texas A&M football in 2nd and 40, and they were—of course—unable to convert at such a distance. Despite this, the defense continued their second-half shutout, with Auburn losing eleven yards on their next possession—putting them at 101 yards of offense on the day.

Rueben Owens had a couple of good carries on the next possession, but the Auburn defense forced a fumble and got their own touchdown. This especially had to chap Texas A&M football fans after having that scoop and score overturned earlier in the game. The Aggie offense would have to come out and respond strongly.

They were only able to muster a single first down, however. Auburn got the ball back and began to move thanks to a reinvigorated run game behind new QB Robby Ashford. As the Tigers moved closer to the red zone, Texas A&M football would shove them back with their seventh sack of the day. A holding penalty moved the Tigers even further back, and they lost two yards on the ensuing play, moving them well out of field goal range.

The Aggies would pretty much put things on ice after a 79-yard run by Amari Daniels that put the Aggies on the four yard line. Le’Veon Moss punched it in, putting the Aggies up 27-10.

The Auburn third-team QB moved it pretty efficiently, but the Tigers were unable to convert once getting the ball close to the red zone yet again. The Aggies would take over and run the clock out, notching a 27-10 win. Texas A&M football will be back in action next week against Arkansas in Dallas.