Minutes before kickoff, questions arose about who No. 25 Texas A&M’s starting quarterback would be, especially after both redshirt freshman Marcel Reed and redshirt sophomore Conner Weigman were included in the team’s pregame starter introductions. Hours later — after the bell rang and the dust settled — Weigman stood firm and tall as the conductor of an Aggie offense that cooked up 41 points on 512 yards.
However, the high-powered offense didn’t look to be in the making at all; though offensive coordinator Collin Klein has made do with Reed — rattling off three wins in Weigman’s absence — picking up points and yards alike have been gaudy in A&M’s past two games, with a combined 47 points and 705 yards. Especially against a Missouri defense that had been allowing just 219 yards and 12 points a game, a defensive battle seemed to be in the script.
Then, the Cypress product came back.
Though he was returning from injury, Weigman played better than he left off, especially after his performance against Notre Dame on Aug. 31. Just off of A&M’s first drive alone, he converted a crucial 3rd-and-8 to senior wide receiver Jabre Barber. Right after, he dismissed a hurry by defensive tackle Chris McClellan and connected with junior WR Noah Thomas for a 15-yard gain to set up a touchdown run by junior running back Amari Daniels.
Unfortunately for Missouri, it was just the beginning of what was to come.
The script continued to roll in favor of the Aggies, especially for Klein and the offense. He served up heavy pass attacks that were comfortable for Weigman as the QB found receivers sitting in holes in Missouri’s zone defense then broke the Tigers down completely with touchdown-punched runs headlined by the backfield duo of Daniels and junior RB Le’Veon Moss.
Weigman also took a page out of Reed’s dual-threat book; in rare times when the play broke down or when the pocket collapsed, Weigman danced out of traffic into open turf, collecting 33 yards on the ground.
Despite the uncertainty of quarterback play and who would be starting, Moss’ high-octane production continued. While Daniels opened up the scoring early on with two touchdowns, Moss kept the pressure on the Tigers, rushing for season highs of 138 yards and three touchdowns, including a 75-yard second-half opener that essentially sealed the deal for A&M.
Under the partnership of Klein’s scheme and an improved front line, Moss has been able to produce and out as arguably the No. 1 option in the offense.
“It’s amazing [to be a part of Klein’s scheme],” Moss said. “We’ve got so many different formations, but we could be running the same play and you wouldn’t know.”
Klein also had to be ecstatic when it came to the receiving room: 10 receivers made plays on the ball against Missouri, with big playmakers such as Thomas, senior WR Jahdae Walker and freshman athlete Terry Bussey coming up with highlight-reel catches and yards-after-catch. They regularly attacked the ball; whether it was over the heads of Tiger defensive backs or showing late hands on an out route, the receiving corps kept the Missouri defense stumped.
Under coach Mike Elko and Klein’s leadership, the offense has continued to click one way or another, and, through the thick and thin of it all, it continues to look out for one another — especially after what was said after Weigman’s Notre Dame performance.
“You can challenge Weigman for how he plays, and you can be upset about Weigman for how he throws the football,” Elko said. “Some of the stuff that has been said about this kid and written about this kid is embarrassing. This kid is a winner. He’s a competitor. He does everything that he needs to do for Texas A&M football.”
Elko and the Aggies now sit at a formidable 5-1 record headed into the bye week, and, for Klein, it means more time to draw up more plays for his offense to execute.
