On Saturday, Texas A&M (4-2, 2-1 SEC) fell to the No. 11 Alabama Crimson Tide (5-1, 3-1 SEC) at Kyle Field in Bryan/College Station.
Defense was the name of the game to start the day for both teams. While the Aggies produced a few short drives to quickly get Alabama off the field, the Crimson Tide’s defense was more of a bend but don’t break. Even though both teams moved the ball well during the first quarter, the score was deadlocked at three apiece.
Then, in a sudden switch, Alabama caught the Aggie secondary sleeping as Alabama QB Jalen Milroe found wide receiver Isaiah Bond running free for a 52-yard strike to take a 10-3 lead. Following A&M’s punt, then a three-and-out by Alabama, Nick Saban sent out the punt team with special teams ace Ainias Smith waiting deep. Almost a carbon copy of last week, Smith muffed the punt but quickly picked up and scampered through the punt coverage for a 46-yard return, putting the Aggies in a scoring position.
Max Johnson only needed one play as his brother Jake Johnson slipped out of the backfield for an easy toss to tie the game and log another Johnson-to-Johnson touchdown this season, tying the game 10-10. DJ Durkin continued to bring the pressure, forcing Alabama into back-to-back incompletions and notching a third-down sack, leading to a 56-second drive resulting in another punt.
The Maroon & White then went on an 11-play 53-yard drive that was capped off by a 1-yard Le’Veon Moss touchdown to take the lead with around three minutes left. Alabama couldn’t score, punting it away, allowing the Aggies to go into the half with a 17-10 lead. Max Johnson went into the locker room with 151 yards passing and one touchdown, with four receivers getting two receptions each. The defense was on fire again in the first half with four sacks.
The start of the second half was more of the same for the Aggie defense; they gave up a few plays, giving the Crimson Tide some momentum before a huge sack followed up a sophomore defensive back Bryce Anderson interception. Unfortunately, the Aggies would give it right back via an interception to freshman Tide safety Caleb Downs. Alabama would cash in with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Burton to tie the game 17-17.
Quarter number three was forgettable, with Alabama scoring 14 unanswered points to push the game to a 17-24 game heading to the final frame of the contest. To add insult to injury, Max Johnson was called for a safety for an intentional grounding while being tackled in the endzone, pushing the score to 17-26.
The Aggie would make a game of it late in the fourth when Johnson hit Smith for 39 yards, eventually leading to a Bond field goal to cut the lead to six. With a little over 2 minutes left, the Aggies’ onside attempt failed, leaving it up to a little gassed defense. They forced the Tide into a 3 and 7, but Alabama RB Jase McClellan took a bobbled catch for eight yards and a first down, icing the game.
Texas A&M will have to hit the ice bath and put this tough loss behind them as they will travel to Tennessee to take on the Volunteers next Saturday at Neyland Stadium.
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