Each Monday in After "Math", we'll take a look inside the numbers from the weekend's football game, and we'll do it through the words of the Aggie coaching staff.
For more insight on each football game, make sure to tune in to "The Pulse: Texas A&M Football" (Wednesdays, 4:00 PM CT on FOX Sports Southwest and 6:30 PM CT on KBTX-TV).
AFTER MATH: SMU
by Will Johnson '01
12th Man Productions
The numbers told the story of stark contrast going into Saturday's Texas A&M-SMU game, and the early totals only proved it.
After a quarter in Dallas, the Aggies had 254 total yards compared to the Mustangs negative eight. But, they also mixed in three penalties on the first three plays, and Kenny Hill's first interception of the season in the opening period. A&M never took the giveaway back over the course of the game.
This performance didn't equal perfection.
“Too many penalties to start the game,” Kevin Sumlin said, before adding, “We need to start getting some turnovers.”
A&M did put up 38 points in the first half, but could have done so in a sounder way.
There was brilliance in the last of those 38 points though. A&M gained possession with 34 seconds left in the second quarter, and went up top to Josh Reynolds down the right sideline for a 70-yard touchdown and a 38-3 lead.
“After the play I saw Coach Spav walk over to (Sabian Holmes) and say, 'Man, you called that',” wide receivers coach David Beaty recounted. “It was actually (Holmes) that said, 'Why don't we go with this play'.”
Shaan Washington didn't see much second-half action. But he, and the Aggies, had to be thrilled with his return to action in the opening 30 minutes. Washington, who had missed the first three games with a collarbone injury, had 6 tackles, 2 sacks and a quarterback hurry.
“He was certainly an impact player for us,” linebackers coach Mark Hagen said. “We look forward to having him progress, and be a real positive for us.”
The Aggies issued eight sacks against the Mustangs. That should come as no surprise, as SMU entered the contest dead last nationally in sacks allowed. But what does warrant attention is that A&M got to that total without Myles Garrett contributing one.
Six different players sent SMU quarterbacks to the turf at least once, and five of those Aggies came into the game with none. Qualen Cunningham was the exception (half a sack in 2014 before the SMU game).
Washington, Alonzo Williams, Jay Arnold, Justin Manning and Darrell Jackson all garnered their first sack of the season. A&M left for Dallas with five players on the roster that had been credited with a sack…they came home with 10.
Jackson went to the Metroplex without a single tackle in the first three games. Saturday, he had three and a half stops behind the line of scrimmage.
A new set of bodies resided in the SMU backfield.
Offensively, Jeremy Tabuyo burst onto the scene…two touchdowns on two catches will do that. The sophomore travelled thousands of miles from Honolulu to play for the Aggies.
Saturday's performance should make him feel more comfortable, and right at home.
There is definitely intrigue when a player from the islands competes in the country's highest-regarded football conference. In fact, when Beaty received an email with Tabuyo's high school highlights on it, the only reason he clicked the link was because it said 'Hawaii' on it.
“I turned it on looking for a reason to turn it off,” Beaty recalled. “I watched a play, and said OK. I watched another and said this dude is pretty fast.”
After Saturday, many more are aware of Tabuyo's speed.
Finally on offense, the Aggies rushed for 268 yards. Impressive. But Kenny Hill, Trey Williams, Brandon Williams, Tra Carson, James White, Kyle Allen and Bryce Dolezal (all who had at least a carry) couldn't match what Bob Smith did in Dallas 64 years ago.
Against SMU on November 11, 1950, Smith ran for 297 yards in a 25-20 win over the 7th-ranked Mustangs. It stands as the single-game school record still today.
Trey Williams was asked in the locker room before the game at Ford Stadium if he knew the name of the Aggie who holds the school's single game rushing record.
“Johnny” was his first answer, referring to the 2012 Heisman winner.
“Cyrus Gray.” Williams tried again.
Those are not bad guesses, but are nowhere close. Gray's best was 223. Manziel's was 229. Both solid, but far short of what Smith accomplished at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas in 1950.
In the end, what does it all add up to?
What we expected. Aggie dominance against an overmatched SMU team that is still looking for answers.
A&M, meanwhile, hopes to continue its roll in its return to the Metroplex, and SEC play, this Saturday versus Arkansas.