- Texas A&M falls to 4-4 overall and 1-4 in SEC play following the loss.
- Quarterback Marcel Reed threw for 163 yards on 14 completions and rushed for 23 yards, collecting one score each through the air and on the ground.
- Cornerback Dezz Ricks secured his second career interception in the second quarter.
TUSCALOOSA – Texas A&M fell in a back-and-forth battle to No. 13 Alabama, 31-20, Saturday afternoon from Bryant-Denny Stadium.
The Maroon & White entered halftime tied at 17-17 but were unable to generate the momentum needed to pull ahead in the second half.
The Aggies totaled 278 yards of offense, led by senior quarterback Marcel Reed’s 163 yards through the air. The Maroon & White’s signal-caller completed 14 passes on 21 attempts with one touchdown and two interceptions, while rushing for 23 yards and a score. Freshman running back KJ Edwards paced the ground game with 43 yards on eight attempts. Junior wide receiver Mario Craver led all Aggie receivers with six receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, the Maroon & White limited Alabama to 5-for-12 on third downs. Senior linebacker Daymion Sanford led the unit with a season-high eight tackles. Senior cornerback Dezz Ricks forced Texas A&M’s lone turnover in the second quarter, intercepting a pass in Alabama territory that led to a field goal for the Aggies.
How it Happened
- A 39-yard interception return by Dijon Lee Jr. on the Aggies’ opening drive put the Crimson Tide on the board first.
- Reed connected with Craver on a 9-yard strike to knot the score at 7-7.
- With 1:13 to play in the opening period, Conor Talty converted a 47-yard field goal to lift Alabama to a 10-7 advantage.
- Reed scampered 4 yards into the end zone to claim the Maroon & White’s first lead of the afternoon, 14-10, in the second quarter.
- The Crimson Tide regained the lead on a 3-yard touchdown reception by Daniel Hill.
- A 32-yard field goal by David Olano evened the score at 17 heading into halftime.
- On the Aggies’ first drive of the second half, Olano made a 25-yard field goal to put Texas A&M back in front.
- Alabama took the lead back on the first play of the fourth quarter when Keelon Russell found Marshall Pritchett in the end zone for a 3-yard score.
- The Crimson Tide extended its advantage to 31-20 following an 8-yard receiving touchdown by Kaleb Edwards with 10:06 to play.
Game Notes
- Texas A&M has recorded an interception in all but one SEC game this season.
- Reed’s passing touchdown to Craver in the first quarter marked the 49th of his career, moving him to fourth on Texas A&M’s all-time leaderboard.
- The Aggie quarterback secured his 11th career game with both a rushing and passing touchdown.
- Olano converted on both of his field goal attempts, making him 13-for-13 to start the season, becoming the first Texas A&M kicker since at least 1986 to accomplish the feat.
Up Next
Texas A&M gets a bye week before heading to Columbia for an SEC matchup with South Carolina Saturday, Nov. 7. The contest is slated for an afternoon start, with kick time and television information to be announced.