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2 hours in the past
AP
AP
COLUMBIA, Mo. — – Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher warned his staff all week that it could not afford a letdown after its upset of top-ranked Alabama. His message received by means of, because the Twenty first-ranked Aggies buried Missouri early in a 35-14 victory Saturday.
“We preached it, preached it, preached it, yelled it, preached it, yelled it, preached it,” Fisher stated.
Missouri’s run protection, which ranks final within the nation, has been the remedy for a lot of hangovers this season. Texas A&M’s working again duo of Isaiah Spiller and Devon Achane took full benefit of the porous protection. Spiller rushed 20 occasions for 168 yards and one landing, and Achane added 16 carries for 124 yards and two scores for the Aggies (5-2, 2-2 Southeastern Convention).
“We did not wish to be a one-hit surprise,” Spiller stated.
Jaylon Jones and Antonio Johnson every intercepted Missouri’s Connor Bazelak within the first quarter, establishing two touchdowns because the Aggies constructed a 21-0 lead. Spiller ripped off a 48-yard landing run and Achane adopted with a 20-yard scoring run on a third-and-15 play.
“We knew coming in we needed to deliver our personal juice,” Johnson stated. “It was an early sport, and it is not the identical (environment) as taking part in at Kyle Subject, the place you could have 105,000 followers. We knew as a protection, we would have liked to make turnovers, get the sport going and assist the offense get going.”
The Tigers (3-4, 0-3 SEC) confirmed somewhat extra life within the second half, slicing the deficit to 28-14 with a 97-yard drive, capped by Dominic Lovett’s 7-yard TD run on. However Texas A&M’s protection held Missouri in verify the remainder of the best way, holding the Tigers to 328 complete yards.
Texas A&M’s Zach Calzada accomplished 13 of 25 passes for 148 yards and two touchdowns. Each scoring passes went to Ainias Smith.
Missouri’s Tyler Badie rushed 22 occasions for 68 yards, together with a 32-yard landing run within the second quarter through which he dragged defensive again Demani Richardson for the ultimate 5 yards. Badie additionally had seven catches for 53 yards. Bazelak accomplished 29 of 43 passes for 230 yards.
The Tigers harm themselves with 13 penalties for 106 yards.
“It begins with not turning the ball over within the first quarter and letting them get 14 factors off turnovers,” Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz stated. “We have got to do a greater job stopping the run, but when we’re not going to cease the run, we have to be lots higher on third down.”
FAN FAVORITE
Johnson is a sophomore defensive again from East St. Louis, Illinois, so taking part in at Missouri was as shut as he’ll get to a homecoming. He made essentially the most of it along with his first profession interception.
“I believe he had 60 folks right here,” Fisher stated. “He had an entire cheering part. That is superior. He is taking part in nice. He is having a heck of a 12 months.”
HONEYMOON OVER?
The house crowd booed Drinkwitz when he ran out the clock within the first half relatively than aggressively making an attempt to chop into the Aggies’ 28-7 lead. The Tigers took over on their very own 18 yard line with 1:28 left and all of their timeouts obtainable. They began the drive with two working performs after which a number of quick passes earlier than time expired.
Drinkwitz stated he was afraid that if Missouri turned it over and gave up one other rating after which needed to kick off to Texas A&M to begin the second half, the sport could be out of attain.
“I perceive persons are upset with it, however that is the way you attempt to win,” he stated.
The boos have been emblematic of the dramatic flip within the second-year coach’s reputation. Followers adored him when he went 5-5 towards an all-SEC schedule and landed a top-25 recruiting class. This 12 months, the Tigers have not overwhelmed a Energy 5 opponent and the coaches have not had any solutions to repair a dreadful protection.
“I notice possibly final 12 months we overachieved, so all people assumed that these expectations could be met this 12 months,” Drinkwitz stated. “It hasn’t gone that means. It simply hasn’t. That is a part of the method. I want success was at all times linear, but it surely’s not. … We will not skip steps.”
THE TAKEAWAY
Texas A&M: After his star flip final week towards Alabama, Calzada simply wanted to be regular towards Missouri. He delivered, significantly on a third-quarter drive after the Tigers minimize the deficit to 14 factors. Dealing with a third-and-17, he hung within the pocket and hit Smith over the center for a 21-yard achieve. The Aggies went on to attain a landing to take a 35-14 lead.
Missouri: The Tigers’ SEC video games have adopted a well-known sample, with Missouri not able to play at kickoff. In three convention video games, the Tigers have been outscored 63-10 within the first quarter. Missouri’s offense leans on Badie, however the early deficits have pressured it to rely extra on a shaky passing sport.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
After rescuing its season and re-entering the AP Prime 25 by beautiful Alabama final week, Texas A&M assured itself an extended keep within the ballot.
UP NEXT
Texas A&M: The Aggies return residence to face South Carolina subsequent Saturday.
Missouri: The Tigers have per week off earlier than visiting Vanderbilt on Oct. 30.
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