Texas A&M
4-2 , 2-1
Kentucky
5-1 , 3-1
Texas A&M Outlasts No. 13 Kentucky 20-14 in OT
Oct 06, 2018 | Football
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) -- Trayveon Williams flipped into the end zone on a 10-yard run in overtime to give the Texas A&M a 20-14 victory over No. 13 Kentucky on Saturday night.
The Wildcats' Miles Butler missed a 43-yard field goal to start overtime, with the ball bouncing back off the crossbar, and the Aggies capitalized with Williams' touchdown run four plays later.
The Aggies (4-2, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) appeared to be in control and were trying to drain the clock when Mond fumbled, and safety Darius West scooped up the ball and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown to it at 14 with 4:17 remaining.
Texas A&M took a 14-7 lead early in the fourth quarter when Kellen Mond tried throwing underneath to Camron Buckley. The ball glanced off of Buckley's hands and right into those of tight end Jace Sternberger, who scooted 46 yards up the middle for a go-ahead touchdown.
The Aggies snapped a six-game losing streak to Associated Press Top 25 opponents, including losses this season to top-ranked Alabama and then-No. 2 Clemson.
The Wildcats (5-1, 3-1) were trying to improve to 6-0 for the first time since 1950.
ABOUT THE VICTORY
- Texas A&M improved to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in SEC play with a 20-14 overtime win over No. 13 Kentucky.
- Tonight's win marked the first SEC home win for head coach Jimbo Fisher.
- The Aggies improved to 13-6 all-time in overtime, while winning their sixth-straight overtime game.
- The victory snapped a seven-game losing streak to Associated Press Top 25 team dating back to a 45-38 overtime over No. 8 Tennessee on Oct. 8, 2016.
NOTABLES
- The Aggies dominated the time of possession battle against the Wildcats, controlling the ball for nearly 35 minutes on the night including a 25:56-19:04 advantage in the second half.
- Defensive Coordinator Mike Elko's defense shut down the Kentucky offense on third down, limiting the visitors to just two first downs on 13 third down attempts. The two first downs on third down tries was the worst conversion percentage for Kentucky this season as the Wildcats came to College Station averaging 47.5% on third-down attempts.
- The Wildcats didn't run an offensive play on the Aggies' side of the 50 the entire game.
- Following the first quarter, in which the Aggies gave up 112 yards, the A&M defense only allowed 66 yards of offense the rest of the way, including six drives that resulted in a three-and-out.
- The 178 yards of offense by Kentucky were the fewest allowed by an A&M defense in an SEC game since allowing just 148 total yards to Vanderbilt in 2015.
- Kentucky converted only eight first downs on the night, the fewest by an A&M opponent since Baylor finished with seven in 2007.
- Junior RB Trayveon Williams set career-highs with six receptions and 72 receiving yards against Kentucky, his previous career-high was 4 catches for 60 yards against Alabama in 2017.
- Williams won the head-to-head rushing battle with Kentucky's Bennie Snell Jr., who entered the game as the SEC rushing leader. Williams gained 138 yards on the ground on 24 carries, his fourth 100-yard performance this season and ninth of his career. Williams became the 12th Aggie to push his career tally over the 2,500 yard mark.
- The A&M defense held Snell to just 60 yards on 13 attempts. He came into the game averaging a SEC-best 127.8 rushing yards per game.
- Junior TE Jace Sternberger hauled in a career-long 46 yard touchdown reception to bring his team-leading total to five. The five receiving touchdowns matches the Texas A&M record for receiving TDs by a tight end in a season. Rod Bernstine, from Bryan High School, originally set the record in 1986 and Jamie McCoy matched it in 2008. Sternberger finished the night with career-highs in receiving yards (95) and matched his career-best with five receptions.
- Sophomore WR Roshaaud Paul scampered for a career-long 43 yard punt return to put the Aggies at the UK 48 and set-up the Aggies' second touchdown on the night. Paul had been limited to eight returns for 32 yards this season before erupting for 65 returns yards on four returns against the Cats.
MANN ON A MISSION
Junior punter Braden Mann continued his torrid start to 2018 with a 59.6 punt average on five boots, including a booming 82-yarder that ranks as the longest in FBS this season. The 82-yarder is the third-longest in school history and it was the longest by an Aggie in 74 years (school record of 86 by Bobby Goff vs. Texas Tech in 1944).
Mann had a trio of 60-yard plus punts, which gives him 12 through six games. The NCAA record for 60-yard+ punts in a season is 13 by Ryan Plackemeier of Wake Forest in 2005. Already this season, Mann has taken down the NCAA record for single game punt average (60.8 on five punts).
GAME CAPTAINS, 12thMAN
- Texas A&M's game captains for the Kentucky game were senior LB Otaro Alaka, senior SAF Donovan Wilson, junior RB Trayveon Williams and junior C Erik McCoy. Texas A&M won the toss and deferred its choice to the second half.
- Senior RB Cullen Gillaspia was the Aggies' 12th Man for the 32nd straight game.
AGS WIN! AGS WIN!#GigEm #UKvsTAMU pic.twitter.com/xmx1lja777
— Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) October 7, 2018
Victory!#GigEm pic.twitter.com/al6FuoCSRv
— Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) October 7, 2018
.@TrayveonW takes it in for the win!
— Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) October 7, 2018
The Aggies move to 4-2 (2-1 SEC). #GigEm pic.twitter.com/9ZY044AvCG
Thank you, #12thMan! #UKvsTAMU #GigEm pic.twitter.com/Qxmp6f17Ow
— Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) October 7, 2018
Current mood...#GigEm pic.twitter.com/Ki0wJPNvNJ
— Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) October 7, 2018
?? ?? ??#GigEm pic.twitter.com/9JnLWI2HIa
— Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) October 7, 2018
What a game for @TrayveonW.
— Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) October 7, 2018
210 all-purpose yards, the game-winning touchdown and making two young fans' nights.#UKvsTAMU #GigEm pic.twitter.com/MwSnyJllT9
"We had to represent & defend our home field."
— Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) October 7, 2018
?? - @TrayveonW following the win over Kentucky#GigEm pic.twitter.com/ooyHMRQ22Q
"Coach has put us in a great position to make plays, & everybody is starting to trust the process."
— Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) October 7, 2018
?? - @donlwilson6 talks about the win. #GigEm pic.twitter.com/tvJxGRrKOK
It was this kind of night for the Aggies on defense.
— Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) October 7, 2018
Goodness @tdots25! ??#GigEm pic.twitter.com/wm5XZD7zsQ
Team Stats
UK 7, TAMU 0
UK - Lynn Bowden Jr. 54 yd pass from Terry Wilson (Miles Butler kick) 5 plays, 68 yards, TOP 2:22
UK 7, TAMU 7
TAMU - Quartney Davis 3 yd pass from Kellen Mond (Seth Small kick) 13 plays, 70 yards, TOP 4:43
UK 7, TAMU 14
TAMU - J. Sternberger 46 yd pass from Kellen Mond (Seth Small kick) 2 plays, 48 yards, TOP 0:54
UK 14, TAMU 14
UK - Darius West 40 yd fumble recovery (Miles Butler kick)
UK 14, TAMU 20
TAMU - T. Williams 10 yd run (), 4 plays, 25 yards, TOP 0:00
