Game Recap: LSU Narrowly Defeats Texas A&M Football
Fourth Quarter of Texas A&M Football vs LSU
A massive hold was uncalled on Shemar Stewart on the first play of the fourth, but it availed the Tigers nothing; Edgerrin Cooper tracked down Daniels and forced an incompletion. Texas A&M football took over at their own 31.
A first down run by Amari Daniels went for about one yard, but Ainias was uncovered in the slot on second down and picked up about 15. The next series was less friendly to the Aggies, though, as Jaylen threw an interception on third down trying to find Ainias. The Tigers would take over at midfield with the Aggies clinging to a three point lead.
Brian Thomas picked up about 15 on first down, and a comfortable pocket for Daniels on the ensuing play resulted in a big play pass down just outside the red zone. Tyreek Chappell went down with an injury, and they immediately went after his replacement, Sam McCall, for a touchdown to Brian Thomas. The Tigers reclaimed the lead, 28-24.
Texas A&M football needed a response. First down went for a short loss on a rollout that Henderson should have thrown away, and second down was another scramble by Jaylen that picked up about 3. Third down saw good coverage downfield, and Henderson took a sack, bringing up Constantinou for his first punt of the day. A short return took the ball to midfield, where the Tigers would take over with a 4 point lead.
LSU opened their drive with a seam shot to Malik Nabers that put them just outside the 30. After a short run, some confusion on offense led to a throwaway by Daniels; Diggs was shaken up on the play and stayed down. 3rd and 9 saw an incompletion to Nabers as Daniels overthrew him, but a flag for defensive holding came in late to give the Tigers a first. The ensuing play went for a touchdown, as Nabers barely got a foot down in bounds. The ball appeared to shift in his hands as he went to the ground, but there were no camera angles to definitively overturn the play, and it stood as called. The Tigers went up 35-24 with 8:25 to go in the game.
A facemask call against the Tigers on the return gave the Aggies a free 15, and the first called play was a short screen to TE Max Wright that went for 9. A busted play was converted on an impromptu pass to Ainias behind the line of scrimmage, and a short pass to Max Wright was then taken all the way to the end zone after he bodied several defenders. The two point conversion attempt that would have cut the deficit to 3 fell incomplete, and the score was 35-30. Things could be cooking for the Aggies if they got another stop.
That stop was nowhere to be found for Texas A&M football, however, as the Tigers . Malik Nabers looked to have broken open a long pass for a one-play touchdown drive, but a holding call brought it back out to the 40. A short run by Logan Diggs picked up 4, and a scramble by Daniels barely picked up the first. Turner jumped offsides, but the free play long bomb fell incomplete. A short run went for one on first and five, and then a Daniels pass to the end zone fell incomplete after great coverage by freshman Bravion Rogers. Diggs picked up the first on third and four on a little veer play, though, and Daniels hit Khyren Lacy for a touchdown on the very next play. That made the score 42-30 with 4:19 to go in the game.
A holding on the kickoff return set up the Aggies with very poor field position, and three plays netted only seven yards. The Aggies needed to pick up a fourth down inside their own 15, and were unable to do so. LSU took over inside the red zone with 2:48 to go and kneeled it out. Texas A&M football awaits its bowl assignment next Sunday.