Aggies win their 7th straight
Aggies 34 - Tennessee 13. Texas A&M at Tennessee Recap.By: The Hammer
Rocky top you’ll always be home sweet home to me! That's true as long as we always win games like that in Neyland Stadium. Texas A&M went on the road and steamrolled yet another SEC opponent like a top four team in the nation would. Unfortunately, the committee didn’t see it that way. But I’m not here to harp on the committee’s ineptitude, there is plenty of time for that. I want to talk about this game and a little about the season overall.
Photo: Craig Bisacre, Texas A&M Athletics
Coming into this game, the narrative was that Texas A&M needed to win “convincingly” and get some help from the teams above them. A&M certainly held up their end of that bargain, dominating Tennessee in a 34-13 rout. The Aggie defense suffocated the Vols all day, and the only chink in the armor was second string corner Brian George, who was filling in for Myles Jones. George got beat a few times but also made some plays when it mattered and ultimately the Vol’s offense had no hope.
Just look at these stats and you can’t deny how impressive that game was for the new wrecking crew and overall #1 defense in the SEC (tip of the cap to DC Mike Elko on a hell of a coaching job this season). Tennessee had just 217 total yards, and only 24 of those were on the ground. Running back Eric Gray was out, but it would not have mattered. If you can only muster 1.4 yards per carry, it doesn’t matter who is carrying the ball there’s no room to run. The A&M front seven was unblockable as they have been for the majority of the year. The Vols were just 1-6 on third downs, threw one interception and lost a fumble to boot.
Offensively Texas A&M was extremely efficient again. A great run pass balance and methodical attack. The Aggies dominated time of possession 44:09 to just 15:51 for the Vols. A&M racked up 497 yards of total offense and were 10/14 on third downs. Without a big play threat, A&M has to move the ball down the field with precision and execution, and they do it extremely well. As usual, the Aggie attack was led by Isaiah Spiller and Ainias Smith. Spiller carried the ball 26 times for just 89 yards and touchdown, but also tallied six catches for 60 yards. Smith meanwhile had eight carries for 70 yards and had four receptions for 29 yards, finding the end zone twice - one on the ground and one through the air.
Although A&M’s offense lacks flash, they beat you with physicality and execution. It’s a thing of beauty when it’s clicking. Outside of the Mond interception, there is nothing to complain about how the Aggie offense played. Another solid win, making it seven straight SEC victories with the last six all being double digit wins. I guess it wasnt dominant enough in the committee’s eyes, but I’ll take it.
Photo: Brianna Paciorka, USA Today
When thinking back on this season, it’s impossible not to be happy. Sure, the Aggies were on the cusp of the CFP and that dream didn’t quite come to fruition. But if you had told me to start the year that A&M would end the regular season with an 8-1 record against an all SEC schedule during a pandemic and finish ranked #5 heading to the Orange Bowl, I would be pumped. This team has had a hell of season and I believe laid the foundation for the future of this program.
They showed everyone that A&M can really win in the SEC, and win playing hard nosed, punch you in the mouth football. Gone are the days of relying on talented skill players and big plays to eek out wins in high scoring games. The defense is good, we run the damn ball and we punish you for 60 minutes. Plus, seeing how Jimbo and this staff are recruiting, especially on both lines of scrimmage, the Aggies are here to stay. We were controversially kept out of the playoff this year, but more success is coming. Jimbo is building a monster in College Station.
Hell of a way to finish the season and let’s beat the hell out of the Tar Heels in the Orange Bowl.
Via: @Aggiefootball
