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: MISSOURI
by Will Johnson '01
12th Man Productions
Thirds--and the third--did it for Mizzou.
And it kept them on track for a second-straight appearance in the SEC Championship game.
On a cold and misty Saturday night at Kyle Field, the Missouri Tigers were down-right icy both on third downs and in the third quarter. In the process, they chilled the Aggies, who were riding momentum after defeating Auburn on the road a week ago.
The Tigers came in hitting on 40 percent of their third-down tries this season. They were good on 62 percent Saturday.
“They made third downs, we didn't,” Kevin Sumlin briskly states. “They continued to stay on the field.”
The damage they did in the third quarter was substantial enough keep the Aggies from climbing all the way back in the fourth.
In five SEC games prior to this one, Missouri had only scored 9 touchdowns (1.8 per game). And they had plenty of trouble scoring in the first half versus the Aggies. They were kept out of the end zone—managing only a pair of field goals.
Then came the anomaly.
Four drives in the third frame resulted in four touchdowns. 28 points. From down seven to up 14, just like that.
Running back Russell Hansborough carried seven times for 149 yards in the quarter (21.3 per carry). In the rest of the game, he rushed 13 times for 50 yards (3.8 per carry).
But, the combination of the key threes may be most important.
On third downs in the third quarter, Missouri was 6 of 6.
Quarterback Maty Mauk was 4-of-4 passing on 3rd downs in the period for 54 yards. That's 13.5 yards per attempt. He threw 36 other passes on this night, completing only 19, for 5.5 yards per attempt.
“It was the situation to get them to third down, and not 3rd and short,” Sumlin crossly recollects. “Some third and 6, 7, 8, 9, sometimes double digits. And for them to pick it up was really frustrating.”
Sumlin doesn't offer excuses, and certainly didn't on Saturday. He'll often state 'everyone is banged up this time of year'.
But the Aggies played the pivotal period without four of their starting front seven players. That's excessive for any month. The injury report didn't help matters at all.
Any way you slice it, however, this was a disappointing loss late in the season.
“That was a tough situation. That's a game you want to win,” Sumlin said. “Particularly at home. It puts you in a position to have an opportunity to win 10 games in a season that has not gone great.”
What does it all add up to?
The numbers would say the Aggies are closer than some might think.
Texas A&M is 27-10 since joining the Southeastern Conference. The losses are to 10 teams who have a combined record of 101-17. In fact, it's likely all 10 teams will have won at least 10 games in the year they defeated the Aggies. A&M has lost six of those by a touchdown or less.
Including Saturday night.
The Aggies were left out in the cold, and they've now fallen in both SEC games at Kyle Field.
There are only three conference games at home this season.
A&M has one more shot.
It's been no holiday against the lone remaining opponent. LSU has done the carving in recent years. The Aggies are looking to join the feast, and find their seat at the table again in this rivalry. This is the time to, as Coach Sumlin puts it, 'respond.'
It's time for a Happy Thanksgiving.