Things could not have started better for a short-handed Tennessee football team Saturday against No. 5 Texas A&M at Neyland Stadium.
The Volunteers, playing without running back Eric Gray, their leading rusher and more versatile offensive weapons, scored on its first possession when freshman quarterback Harrison Bailey threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Warren.
But the Aggies answered by scoring the next 17 points on touchdown runs by quarterback Kellen Mond and running back Isaiah Spiller and a 24-yard field goal by Seth Small and opened a 17-7 advantage.
Texas A&M, which scored on its first three possession forced a turnover when Bailey fumbled.
UT pulled to within 17-13 when J.T. Shrout threw a 46-yard strike to Cedric Tillman. Kicker Toby Wilson missed the ensuing extra point.
The Aggies extended their lead to 24-13 just before halftime when Mond threw a touchdown pass to Ainias Smith.
Texas A&M will get the ball to start the second half.
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