ARLINGTON — Texas A&M soccer and the Arkansas Razorbacks got here out the gates of the Southwest Basic on hearth, however what appeared like a shootout brewing changed into a defensive wrestle that noticed the Aggies come out on prime 21-17.
The Aggies had been in a position to rack up 137 yards on the bottom (not counting QB kneels) towards one of many nation’s greatest rush defenses however most of that manufacturing got here late within the recreation. A&M mustered 56 yards by means of three quarters earlier than exploding for 81 within the remaining body.
A late fumble from Razorback quarterback Taylen Inexperienced compelled by Aggies defensive lineman Nic Scourton gave A&M (4-1, 2-0 SEC) its twelfth win within the final 13 video games towards its longtime rival.
TAKEAWAYS:How Nic Scourton, Noah Thomas and Marcel Reed helped A&M to victory
Head coach Mike Elko spoke all week concerning the depth of enjoying Arkansas (3-2, 1-1) and is pleased with the best way his group responded contemplating the circumstances. A&M and Arkansas first began enjoying in 1903 and have spent the final decade-plus enjoying on the dwelling of the Dallas Cowboys.
“Arkansas-Texas A&M at AT&T Stadium, how else would you count on it to go? All the best way all the way down to the stretch and wanted to make performs within the fourth quarter to win it,” Elko stated. “I believed we did a terrific job of overcoming adversity all day at the moment. You recognize, definitely did not begin the best way you needed to.”
Subsequent 12 months, the rivalry returns to campuses as a substitute of the neutral-site setting.
Elko’s protection held one of many nation’s greatest speeding assaults to only 3.3 yards per carry (30 Arkansas rushes for 100 yards).
RAZORBACKS GRADES:How Arkansas soccer graded in its loss to Texas A&M
“It is a terrific win. It is one other step in the suitable route for us,” Elko stated. “We all know there might be moments the place it does not look precisely what we needed to, however we simply go, and I believe it is extra what the story needs to be — extra about what they did on the finish.”
Maybe the largest play of the sport got here from Scourton, who completed with two sacks. His game-sealing takedown with beneath two minutes left salted the sport and resulted in a fumble restoration for his protection.
“Coming off the bench, I am like, ‘I received to make a play. It is a tight recreation. Received to make a play,'” Scourton stated. “I do know (Inexperienced) beloved to roll off that throwing hand… Instincts kicked in.”
Sacks have not are available bunches for Scourton simply but since main the Huge Ten at Purdue final season. However he indicated that he knew an enormous recreation was brewing.
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Redshirt freshman quarterback Marcel Reed moved to 3-0 because the No. 24 Aggies starter. He accomplished 11-of-22 passes for 163 yards and a landing, and ran for one more rating. Noah Thomas had six catches for a game-high 109 yards and a landing.
Inexperienced completed 23-for-41 for 291 yards, a landing and an interception.
The Razorbacks offense got here out firing to begin with a 75-yard landing go from Inexperienced to huge receiver Isaac Teslaa on the third play of the sport.
Following the fast strike-score, the Aggies’ protection responded by forcing a three-and-out on the subsequent possession. From there, the offense cashed in from 58 yards on a Reed go to Thomas to even the rating at 7-7.
The Razorbacks pulled out some trickery to attain their second landing of the day. A sack by A&M’s Jaydon Hill gave the impression to pressure the Razorbacks right into a punt.
Arkansas punter Devin Bale ran a faux that picked up 25 yards and saved the drive alive. From there, the Razorbacks continued a 10-play, 75-yard drive capped by an 8-yard Ja’Quinden Jackson landing run to place them again on prime 14-7.
The scoring slowed for a bit till the center of the second quarter. Following an Aggies punt, the Razorbacks received the ball again deep in their very own territory, trying to lengthen their lead.
On a primary down handoff, Stewart attacked the mesh level and blew up each the quarterback and operating again, forcing a fumble. Aggies’ Scooby Williams scooped it up and gave the offense the ball on the 10-yard line. Two performs later, Reed known as his personal quantity from 5 yards out, and A&M tied the sport up at 14-14.
What appeared like an offensive shootout settled down and have become extra of a defensive wrestle. Each groups had been in a position to muster defensive stops, and regardless of reaching opposing territory, neither added factors following A&M’s game-tying landing halfway by means of the second quarter.
Up subsequent for No. 24 Texas A&M is a house date versus No. 11 Missouri.
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