Texas A&M vs Auburn Recap
Texas A&M continues to roll as the Aggies took care of business at Kyle Field against Auburn.Texas A&M 20
Auburn 3
By: The Hammer
Clemons heading toward the end zone after Bo Nix fumbled the ball. Photo via @AggieFootball
What a picturesque day for college football we had Saturday in Aggieland. A spectacular fall day where over 109,000 Aggies gathered at Kyle Field to witness Texas A&M take down Auburn at home for the first time since joining the SEC. Without an offensive touchdown in the game, I don’t think that’s how anyone expected the game to go, but what a great performance from this football team nonetheless. An old school SEC game that was won in the trenches with physicality and attitude, and A&M took it to Auburn all game long.
We have to start with this defense. Such an incredible performance from whistle to whistle in this game. Elko had an excellent gameplan, and seemed to be confusing the Auburn offensive line all game with different blitz looks. We were in Bo Nix’s face the whole game as the defense finished with 4 sacks, 6 tackles for loss and another five quarterback hurries. Every position group brought it. Peevy, Leal, Clemons, and Johnson were unblockable all game. At linebacker, Hansford and Edgerrin Cooper made so many impactful tackles, and I don’t recall them missing many, if they did at all. On the backend, the secondary had multiple pass deflections and great coverage all game. Jaylon Jones and Tyreek Chapell were fantastic, and Antonio Johnson, Demani Richardson and Leon O’Neal continue to play like the one of the best safety trios in the entire country. In fact, I’m not sure there is a better trio of safeties in the nation. These dudes were all over the field in coverage, run support and even blitzing. A phenomenal performance from every player on that defense and a masterful plan from Elko and the defensive staff.
We knew Auburn would need to run the ball effectively to win this game, so I felt confident that if we could hold Bigsby under 100, we'd be in a great position to win this one. Bigsby finished with just 69 yards on 15 carries, and the Tigers ended up with just 72 total rushing yards after sacks. Auburn only managed 226 total yards in this one. The reason Auburn couldn’t run the ball is because A&M’s front seven whipped them all game long. And the dam finally broke when Bo Nix inexplicably dropped the ball as Peevy was bearing down on him, perfectly timed for the Cyclops, Micheal Clemons, to pick up the ball and take it to the house for a scoop and score. The stadium went absolutely nuts on this play and I knew we were going to win as soon as that happened. Again, just a dominant performance from this defense.
Despite not scoring a touchdown, I think the Aggie offense played pretty well. The Aggies had 409 total yards, so they were able to move the ball on a very good Auburn defense. Just couldn’t punch it in once inside the red zone. Zach Calzada went 15-29 for 192 yards, but there were several drops in this one where he put the ball on the money, and if a few of those were hauled in his stat line would have looked a lot prettier. But the real story in this one was the Aggie run game. The progress this offensive line has made from earlier this year is incredible and you cannot give Josh Henson and this coaching staff enough credit. This game was going to be won in the trenches and A&M beat up Auburn on both sides of the ball, even with two true freshmen on the offensive line.
Isaiah Spiller and Devon Achane are the best running back tandem in America, and this offensive line gave them holes on Saturday. Spiller carried the rock 21 times for 112 yards and Achane had 98 yards on 10 carries. As the game wore on, this offensive line kept getting better, stronger. A&M’s rushing attack right now reminds me of chopping down a tree with an axe. They just keep pounding and grinding out solid runs, until the opponent finally breaks and they start ripping off big chunk plays on the ground. They wear you down all game and just keep coming and coming and coming. It’s a thing of beauty to watch a physical team that finishes strong and plays a full 60 minutes of football.
Speaking of finishing strong and showing real toughness, how about Zach Calzada? Not only did he have a good game throwing the ball (again his stat line would look far better without multiple drops) and he avoided turnovers, but the kid separated his shoulder and came back in to play! After that quarterback draw where he lowered his shoulder and took a shot from Smoke Monday, it was clear his shoulder was out of the socket. He was screaming in pain as his shoulder was just dangling there like a dead fish. Sure enough, this kid goes into the medical tent, they pop it back into place and probably gave him a shot for the pain, and he trots back out onto the field, leading A&M to two more field goal drives to help seal the game. Calzada is a freaking stud and an ultimate competitor. I love him leading this team.
Finally, I can’t go without mentioning the recruiting wins A&M had on Saturday as well, adding the magical Saturday atmosphere in College Station. The number two rated player in the country from Powell, TN, Walter Nolen, committed to Texas A&M pregame. The five star defensive tackle is already 6-4 and 325 pounds. He is a MONSTER, and he’s coming to Aggieland. Shortly after Nolen committed, the Aggies secured another top 100 player in wide receiver Chris Marshall out of Fort Bend Marshall. The four star wide out is 6-3 195 pounds and currently ranked the 84th best player in the class of 2022. Jimbo and this staff are recruiting at an elite level and the momentum in College Station is incredible to see.
With a big win at home against a top 15 Auburn team, a nearly record crowd, two major recruiting commitments, and the longhorns getting blown out by Iowa State, it’s hard to image a better Saturday for Aggies everywhere. We ain’t done yet.
#BTHOLEMISS
