Yes, Texas A&M (7-4, 4-3 SEC) won their last home game of the 2023 football season in front of a packed Kyle Field. Yes, the play was underwhelming in the first game since now-former head coach Jimbo Fisher’s firing, but what stood out more than anything was the heart and soul of the 12th Man displayed 24 years to the day after the tragic 1999 Aggie bonfire collapse to the lives to 12 Texas A&M students.
Since the incident, this is the first time in history that the game was played on the exact day as the A&Mn remembrance. At the same time, the A&M logo was draped with a ribbon, and senior linebacker and special teamer Sam Mathews, who represented the 12th Man on the field this season, showed up and showed out in his final game in Aggieland.
Trailing 7-0 after an ACU pick-six, sophomore quarterback Jaylen Henderson, in his second start of the season, failed to find any momentum early in the first half, but thanks to the play of wide receivers Moose Muhammad (4 receptions, 104 yards, 1 TD) and Jahdae Walker’s (4 receptions, 88 yards) impressive day through the air, Henderson threw a crisp 13-yard end zone fade to sophomore WR Noah Thomas to take a 17-10 lead into halftime time.
After the half, Henderson swiftly found Muhammad for a 49-yard dime early in the 3rd quarter, sealing the game as the Aggie’s defense held ACU to just 149 passing yards and 93 yards on the ground, only allowing three points on offense.
To cap things off, interim head coach Elijah Robinson implemented the annual senior day all-walk kick-off team, almost resulting in a fumble after a big hit from senior kicker Blair Zepeda. At the same time, Sam Mathews made the final tackle of the fame in a fitting fashion.
Ahead of A&M’s season finale road matchup vs. LSU next Saturday, here are five takeaways from the Aggies’ 38-10 win over Abilene Christian.