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Anytime you can stop a 2-game losing streak and return to the win column is a good day. Just how much the Aggies improved in a 30-17 victory on Saturday at Kyle Field over a beleaguered South Carolina team is undetermined.
An efficient 20-for-30 passing game from quarterback Max Johnson, coupled with a solid defensive effort, especially against the run, were enough to subdue a reeling Gamecocks team (2-6, 1-5) that lost its 4th consecutive game.
Aggieland can exhale, at least for this week, now that a game Texas A&M had to have is in its back pocket. The Aggies are now 5-3 (3-2 in SEC) and need just 1 more win over the final 4 games to become bowl eligible.
Player of the Week: Edgerrin Cooper
The Aggies’ junior linebacker led the charges on a defense that limited South Carolina to 33 rushing yards on 28 attempts (1.2-yard average). The Texas A&M defense was outstanding against the run, preventing the Gamecocks from any sort of rhythm on offense.
Cooper was the catalyst, recording a team-high-tying 7 tackles, including 6 solos. Among those were a sack and 2 TFLs. In addition, he had 4 QB hurries, a pass breakup and forced fumble.
Freshman of the Week: Reuben Owens
Aggie fans have been waiting for Owens to get his opportunity. On Saturday it came knocking, and the 6-foot, 200-pounder from El Campo answered with a career-high 18 carries. Though he only rushed for 40 yards, he flashed his abilities with a 14-yard touchdown dash. He displayed his versatility as well, returning a kickoff 17 yards and catching a 5-yard pass.
Owens’ previous best rushing game was an 8-carry, career-high 51-yard outing against UL-Monroe. But with Texas A&M leading rusher Le’Veon Moss unavailable, head coach Jimbo Fisher and OC Bobby Petrino put the running game in the hands of the Aggies freshman.
Biggest surprise: 21-point explosion
The Aggies scored 21 points in the 2nd quarter. It was their biggest scoring explosion in 1 quarter since tallying 28 points in the 2nd quarter of the season opener against New Mexico. In 2 of their previous 3 games, the Aggies didn’t even score 21 points total.
So, it was a welcomed sight to see the Aggies reach the opposing end zone with regularity, at least for those 15 minutes. It was 3 consecutive possessions on which the Aggies’ offense was clicking. Six- and 10-play drives covering 55 and 48 yards highlighted the effort, and a 1-play 42-yard TD pass from Johnson to Ainias Smith punctuated the onslaught.
Biggest concern: False sense of security?
Was this a sign of improvement on the part of Texas A&M or was it more a matter of South Carolina’s incompetence? Probably a little of both. The Aggies manhandled their visitors on both sides of the line of scrimmage.
But South Carolina looked a like a team simply outmatched. They have been hit with injuries and limped through the contest like a track star on 1 leg.
Developing trend: What has happened to the punter?
What has happened to Nik Constantinou? After averaging 46 and 48 yards per punt in the 1st and 3rd games of this season, Constantinou’s average has fallen off greatly over the last 3 games.
On Saturday, he had 4 punts for a 33.8-yard average. In the previous game, against Tennessee, he punted 4 times for a 32-yard average. And the game prior to that, vs. Alabama, his 4 punts averaged only 37.75 yards. It’s a disappointing trend, especially when you consider that before this current stretch, he turned in his best game of the year, averaging 52.5 yards on 2 punts against Arkansas.
Key stat: SC held to 33 yards rushing
The Gamecocks could get nothing going on offense because their run game was non-existent. The Aggies stuffed South Carolina at the line of scrimmage and did not allow them to get any kind of running game going. As mentioned, South Carolina averaged just 1.2 yards per rushing attempt.
First impression about Week 10: On the road again
Texas A&M’s road woes are well-documented. The Aggies haven’t won a true road game since Oct. 2021. They hit the road next Saturday, visiting Oxford to take on the Ole Miss Rebels.
Normally Vaught-Hemingway Stadium would not be a place at which a road-struggling team should go to get right. But oddly enough it’s a place where the Aggies have actually won twice in their last 3 trips. So maybe this is the week the Aggies break their long losing streak away from home.
Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.
