(Photo Credit: Nick Yahl- Arch City Sports)
COLLEGE STATION, Texas- The Missouri Tigers came into College Station and checked off the first challenge on their late season agenda, beat Texas A&M. The Tigers survived a late scare in the fourth quarter thanks to a big stop by the defense inside the Missouri five-yard line to secure the victory 34-27.
The ground attack did the majority of the damage as Russell Hansbrough rushed for 199 yards and a pair of touchdowns both of which came in Missouri’s explosive third quarter. Maty Mauk put on an average performance throwing for 252 yards, one interception, and a touchdown. The lone touchdown happened to be thrown to Darius White, who returned after missing significant time due to a pair of groin injuries.
As expected the Tigers and Aggies fought in a defense battle throughout the first half. Missouri put up the first points of the game when Andrew Baggett connected on a 38-yard field goal to give the Tigers a 3-0 lead. However, that lead was short lived as Texas A&M responded on its ensuing drive with a 40-yard field goal from Josh Lambo to tie the game up at 3-3.
It wasn’t until the 9:40 mark in the second quarter when the games first touchdown was scored as Kyle Allen found Josh Reynolds for the 24-yard score to push the Aggies ahead 10-3. The teams traded another pair of field goals and at the half the Aggies led by a touchdown 13-6.
Coming out of the break the Tigers went right to work as Mauk led the team on one of their better possessions of the game. The drive finished with Mauk hitting White in the corner of the end zone for the game tying score.
Things were fairly balanced up to this point in the game and it didn’t look like either team was going away easy with a lot at stake for both of their seasons. Later in the third, Allen connected with Reynolds for a 56-yard touchdown catch and run, his second on the game. Reynolds finished the game with 125 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
Then it turned into the Hansbrough show as his two explosive touchdown runs of 54 and 59 yards swung momentum in favor of the Tigers allowing them to regain the lead with the score at 27-20. Following a Missouri defensive stop Ish Witter stretched Missouri’s advantage to two touchdowns as he scampered in for a 16-yard score and his first collegiate touchdown.
Though the Aggies weren’t done just yet. With less than 12 minutes remaining Allen connected with Malcome Kennedy for a touchdown cutting the deficit to 34-27. Texas A&M had one last opportunity with under two minutes to play, but a huge fourth down stop secured the 34-27 victory for the Tigers.
With the win the Tigers are now 4-0 on the road and moved to 8-2 on the season with just two games to play. And although Missouri still remains atop the SEC east, Georgia didn’t give them any breathing room as they dismantled Auburn 34-7 and remain only one game back of the Tigers in the division.
The Tigers can now ride this momentum into Neyland Stadium next weekend when they take on the Tennessee Volunteers.
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