NINE STRAIGHT
Another successful Hog hunt for the Aggies. Beating Arkansas, a tradition unlike any other. By: The Hammer
We told y’all to turn that damn jukebox off. The Aggies continue their winning ways and make it NINE straight wins against the Razorbacks. Whoop! Man, that must really get under the skin of Arkansas fans. They just cannot beat the Aggies right now despite their best efforts. This one was definitely the most comfortable win in recent memory. A&M was up 42-17 before taking their foot off the gas and allowing 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter for a final score of 42-31 (a sneaky backdoor cover). Despite Arkansas drawing first blood and going up 7-0, A&M controlled this game throughout.
The Aggie offense was in rhythm and could not be stopped. Kellen Mond looked like a fourth year starting quarterback - calm, cool, accurate. He even used his legs more than we have seen all year. On the night Mond went 21/26 for 260 yards and three touchdowns. And possibly the most important stat: no turnovers. Arkansas declared their secondary a “no fly zone” a few weeks back but the Aggies did not get the memo. If Mond can continue to play like that moving forward, A&M will be very tough to beat. We need to give Mond a shoutout for becoming Texas A&M’s all time leading passer as well. Congrats, 11.
As predicted in the preview, Jalen Wydermyer had a huge game. The big fella hauled in six catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns. Great seeing him finally get in the end zone for the first time this year. Mond was looking his way all night and for good reason. Also loved seeing Hezekiah Jones back on the field for the first time since 2018. Although his stats were not eye popping, it’s clear he will help this thin receiving corps. Catching five balls for 47 yards in your first game action in nearly two years is a great sign for the future.
Photo: Sam Craft, AP Photo
Then, as we have come to expect, Ainias Smith and Isiah Spiller had solid performances. I love how Jimbo is using Smith’s skill set and moving him all over the field. He is a matchup nightmare and continues to make big plays, both on the ground and through the air. He filled up the stat sheet with six receptions for 67 yards and a touchdown, and added 31 yards and another score rushing. Spiller was relatively quiet by his standards but still finished with 82 yards and a touchdown on the night. I think Barry Odom’s game plan was designed to limit Spiller’s production, and it worked for the most part. Thankfully, this Aggie offense has plenty of weapons and had no issue moving the ball.
The defense was not as impressive but played a solid bend don’t break style. Most importantly, they were able to get Arkansas off the field on third downs. The Hogs were 3/12 on third down conversions compared to 7/11 for the Aggies. Despite the yardage given up, especially on the ground, this defense did what they needed to do. Credit to Kendal Briles and the Hogs as they came out with a great game plan and executed all night. The up tempo style clearly threw A&M off guard on the first series.
I did not think Arkansas could run on the Aggies, but they made me eat crow on that one. The Hogs ran for 222 yards and averaged 5.3 yards per carry, led by former Aggie Rakeem Boyd who reached the 100 yard mark on 18 carries. Felipe Franks was good both on the ground and through the air. He took care of the ball and finished with an efficient stat line of 23/31 for 239 yards and three touchdowns, while adding 91 yards rushing. Although the run defense was not as good as it had been, this defensive line was able to get to Franks and cause trouble behind the line of scrimmage. A&M finished the night with four sacks and seven tackles for loss. Not too shabby.
Photo: Michael Miller, The Eagle
Overall, both teams executed well - no turnovers, and outside of a few too many penalties (9 for A&M), this was a very clean game. Arkansas is clearly well coached and on the right path with Pittman leading that team. Texas A&M is simply the better football team right now. More talented, more experienced, and more to play for.
One of my favorite things about this Aggie team has been the noticeable shift in mindset and mentality. I’ve touched on this before, but it was evident again in this game. The Ags went three and out to start the game, and then Arkansas drove it right down the field with ease to go up 7-0. Old Aggie teams would have taken that punch and been knocked off their game a bit, unsure of how to respond and get back on track. Not this team. They took that haymaker and swung back even harder. To the tune of scoring on their next six offensive possessions (not including the kneel down to end the 1st half). To me, that shows the maturity and mental toughness of this team. They don’t panic. They are motivated, physical and confident. The Aggies of old, who were famous for crumbling under pressure and expectations, appear to be gone.
Texas A&M is no longer a team that relies on great skill position talent to bail them out. We’ve had a lot of flash in Aggieland over the last 10 years but not much substance, outside of 2012 and 2013 with Johnny. We used to have trouble running, blocking and tackling. Not anymore. Jimbo’s discipline and mentality is showing up and this team is playing with a chip on their shoulder.
I’m trying not to get my hopes up while looking at the remaining schedule for A&M, but the opportunity is there. There is no dominant team looming later in the year. The Aggies should be the better team in each matchup, outside of maybe Auburn. Who knows what these teams will look like in a month though - a ton can change. All we can do is take it one game at a time. Let’s enjoy the ride and see where this Aggie team can go.
#BTHOSouthCarolina
