In a game where the Aggies were 24 point underdogs entering the matchup, the team that many in the media believed would be blown out by halftime showed as much courage, toughness, and shear offensive and defensive efficiency and execution as they have all season, taking the Crimson Tide to the brink of ruining their perfect season in the final 3 seconds of the game.
Well-known by now, trailing 24-20 in the fourth quarter after a defensive stop, quarterback Haynes King drove the Aggies down the field in the final minutes, finding freshman wide receiver Evan Stewart multiple times, as the future superstar had his defining breakout game of the season notching 8 receptions for 106 yards. After a pass interference call in the endzone, it was 1st and goal at the 2-yard line with 3 seconds left, and time for one play to win the game. In an attempt to go to the “hot hand” King threw a strike to Evan Stewart in the right corner of the end zone, which sailed over his head, ending the game.
King made his first start in three games due to Max Johnson’s injury, threw for 253 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception on the night, while taking quite the beating in the backfield, battling his way through in his best performance to date. The young Aggies, defense, who played what seemed to be the entirety of their 2022 recruiting class due to injury forced 4 turnovers, which led to three scores on the night.
As the team focuses on healing and centering their focus on the second half of the season this week, here are 5 things we learned from Texas A&M’s 24-20 loss to Alabama.