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Game Recap: Texas A&M Football Falls at Tennessee

By Graham Harmon

Two F-15 jets from the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina flyover before a football game between Tennessee and Texas A&M at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.
Two F-15 jets from the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina flyover before a football game between Tennessee and Texas A&M at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. /
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The first play of the second quarter was not great for Texas A&M football, as Dametrious Crownover gave up a sack. A Rueben Owens carry on 2nd and 18 went nowhere, and the Aggies were staring down a very long 3rd and 17. No matter, though, as Max delivered under pressure to Noah Thomas right at the line to gain. Another dart by Max to Ainias got the Ags into the red zone. A first down run and second down incompletion put the Ags in 3rd and 9, and Max was technically sacked as Bisontis was bull-rushed into his back, setting up a Randy Bond field goal. Texas A&M football retook the lead, going up 10-7.

A short run kicked things off for the Vols on the next drive, but an interference call against Demani on what would have been an overthrow moved Tennessee 15 yards forward. Another short run preceded yet another long overthrow with PI called, and following a presnap penalty, Tennessee was down to the 35 yard line of A&M. Finally a penalty was called against Big Orange, however, with holding moving them back ten yards. This was the first holding penalty called against an opponent of Texas A&M football in the past two weeks—and it was nowhere near the most egregious play over that period. A screen pass and a run between the tackles brought up 3rd and 2 for UT, and this defense for Texas A&M football stepped up to blow up the run in the backfield. Tennessee brought out the kicking unit to attempt a 51-yarder, but it sailed wide to the right, keeping the score at 10-7.

Max continued to operate well under pressure, delivering a nice ball to Stewart on a crossing route that got Texas A&M football out across midfield. A toss play to Moss gained about four yards, and a TE crosser to Max Wright set up 3rd and 2. Le’Veon Moss’s rush was just short of the line to gain by about a foot or so, but the 4th down attempt was over before it started, as Johnson tripped over Bryce Foster directly after the snap. Tennessee would take over at their own 39.

The defense stepped up on the first play of the next drive, taking down Milton for the first sack of the game. Jaylen Wright more than made up for it on the next play, however, putting the Vols in 3rd and 2 immediately before converting on another big run. Tennessee committed a holding on the next play and moved back ten yards on what would’ve been yet another chunk run for Wright. Instead, they faced 1st and 18 from the 46. A Milton QB draw picked up a decent chunk of yardage, but Cooper once again made a play behind the line of scrimmage on second down to set up 3rd and 13. Another holding call moved the Vols back again, but an injury to Edgerrin Cooper had Texas A&M football fans worried. 3rd and 21 ended up with a Tennessee fumble right around midfield that they recovered, and Big Orange ended up punting to Ainias with about 45 seconds left. The Aggies had all their timeouts left, but Jimbo elected to kneel the ball rather than try for more points on what would be a drive of considerable length. The Aggies headed into the break up 10-7.