Two weeks removed from its first conference loss, No. 15 Texas A&M football returned to Kyle Field Saturday night hungry to prove itself as one of the frontrunners for the SEC title game.
A&M spared no time dismantling the outmatched New Mexico State defense, completing its first drive quickly and decisively with an eight-play explosion of offense in three minutes and 22 seconds.
The fireworks began through senior Fresno State transfer tight end Tre Watson, who showed off his yards-after-catch ability by hauling a 33-yard pass deep into the red zone. The next play laid the boom as junior wide receiver Noah Thomas snatched a touchdown right down the middle for 16 yards, creating an early 7-0 lead.
The A&M offense would barely break a sweat on its following drive, as a 71-yard rush from junior running back Amari Daniels was the only play needed to get the Maroon and White in the end zone for the second time in just over five minutes.
Following a forced three-and-out from the A&M defense, the offense had yet another opportunity to lead a swift charge against New Mexico State. To the visiting Aggies’ delight, a field goal from graduate kicker Randy Bond was all that came from A&M’s third drive, making the score 17-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Defensive coordinator Jay Bateman’s crew did not allow a completed pass in the first quarter, channeling flashes of the Wrecking Crew days with constant pressure from the defensive line. A particular spotlight was on junior Purdue transfer defensive end Nic Scourton, who brought his national top-10 tackle-for-loss total to 14 to strengthen his case for SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
“We knew we were the better team, but there comes a point where you have to go out there and play like it,” coach Mike Elko said. “They got some great running backs, but we did what we had to do to win the game.”
Redshirt sophomore TE Theo Melin Öhrström displayed relentless effort to start the second quarter, evading defenders en route to 57 yards and taking the Aggies to the red zone for the fourth time in as many drives. Redshirt freshman quarterback Marcel Reed kept his foot on the gas following Ohstrom’s second grab, connecting with graduate WR Muhsin Muhammad III for a six-yard touchdown as “MOOSE” chants rained from above.
“Nine catches for over 200 yards between Theo and Tre — I mean, those guys had a fantastic night,” Elko said. “It had to do with the way New Mexico State played us, but it was really good to see them play so well.”
A missed field goal on a promising New Mexico State drive gave A&M the opportunity to go up four scores before the half and continue pounding the rock. Instead, a back shoulder throw from Reed was intercepted on the goalline, leaving more to be desired going into the second half.
The beginning of the third quarter brought the same intensity from the A&M defense, limiting a six-play drive to just 10 yards. The offense got to work after a New Mexico State punt, taking the ball 76 yards downfield, punctuated by a five-yard touchdown run from Reed.
Fans and coaches alike got a look at the A&M running back room, which saw both graduate RB EJ Smith IV and junior RB AJ DiNota get reps against their outgunned Aggie counterparts. Their combined total of 81 rushing yards looks to fill the void left behind by junior RB Le’Veon Moss, who was lost for the season due to an injury suffered against South Carolina on Nov. 2.
Redshirt sophomore QB Conner Weigman saw brief action in the waning minutes of the third quarter, but to no avail, as two straight sacks doomed any sort of production for the former starter. The subsequent New Mexico State drive battled against a plethora of Maroon and White depth pieces, resulting in the visiting Aggies’ only points through a 48-yard field goal by senior K Abraham Montaño.
Weigman was given a second opportunity under center in the fourth quarter, where he commanded a high-octane push toward the goal line . Another spectacular downfield catch by Ohstrom lifted the Swede well over 100 yards receiving on the night and put the Aggies in scoring position again. The production was short-lived, as a shot in the end zone was picked off, resulting in the game’s second turnover.
A well-rounded defensive effort from A&M saw 10 players register at least half of a tackle f loss and kept New Mexico State out of the end zone the entire contest. Junior DE Malick Sylla had a breakout game, having spent the majority of the season as a rotational player, wreaking havoc with two sacks and three tackles for loss.
“Malick is a really good player,” Elko said. “He is extremely capable of helping us win football games. After a game like tonight, you have to take a look at how he can help you down the line.”
Sylla’s teammates said his performance was nothing new to them after going against him behind the scenes.
“What y’all saw tonight is what I see Monday through Friday,” junior nose tackle Albert Regis said. “He plays amazing, and I am so proud to see my man go out there and get two sacks and play at his best.”
True freshman QB Miles O’Neill was at the helm of the A&M offense for its last two drives, going 5-of-6 passing with 51 yards and a touchdown to close the night. O’Neill developed a solid connection with freshman WR Ashton Bethel-Roman in the closing minutes of the night, going to the rookie pass catcher three times for 35 yards and the game’s final five-yard touchdown.
A&M is back in action versus Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 6:30 p.m.
