Texas A&M defeated Sam Houston State 31-0 at Kyle Field on Saturday, in a game that lasted nearly six hours due to a 2-hour and 50-minute weather delay due to heavy rain and lighting in the area after halftime.
In what was starting quarterback Haynes King’s first game since his Sept. 11 2021 season-ending injury against Colorado last year, the redshirt sophomore took full advantage of the offensive weaponry surrounding him, throwing for 364 yards for 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, while passing for the most yards as an Aggie since Kellen Mond’s 430 yards vs. Clemson during the 2018 season. In what was a rare forgettable day for speedy running back Devon Achane, Star wide receiver Ainias Smith showed up in a big way today, while being on the receiving end of two of King’s three touchdown passes, for 63 and 43 yards, virtually with his 4th quarter score.
One of the storylines coming into the matchup was how Jimbo Fisher and the defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin would utilize the talented members of the 2022 recruiting class, while 5-star wide receivers Evan Stewart (5 receptions, 57 yards) and Chris Marshall (4 receptions, 41 yards) provided an offensive jolt early and often. Defensively, fellow 5-star defensive recruits Walter Nolan (3 tackles), Shemar Stewart (1 tackle 0.5 sack), Lebbeus Overton (2 tackles, 1 sack), and Denver Harris (2 tackles) equally showed off their speed and noteworthy athleticism on defense.
After the game, Jimbo Fisher and a select group of players answered questions from the media on today’s matchup, with a comically dense amount of questions asking about the grueling weather delay. Here are some of the best quotes from head coach Jimbo Fisher after the win.