Photo Credit, ossports/Yalanda Charles
South Carolina’s talent and the game clock seemed like a winning combination.
However, determination helped A&M’s defense sacked South Carolina’s quarterback Jake Bentley four times in the fourth quarter, and tailback Keith Ford scored two late touchdowns to help the Aggies come from behind to defeat the Gamecocks, 24-17 on Saturday evening at Kyle Field.
The victory improved Texas A&M’s record to (4-1, 2-0 SEC) and sets up an undefeated conference matchup with No. 1 Alabama next week at Kyle Field.
Ford scored the winning touchdown with 7:42 left in the fourth quarter. Kellen Mond’s 21-yard pass to receiver Jhamon Ausbon gave the Aggies a first down at South Carolina’s 24-yard line. From there, Ford finished the drive with two rushing plays. The last, resulting in a 17-yard score, where he battled three defenders, bullying his way to the end zone to go ahead, 24-17.
But A&M’s defense told the story. Bentley and the Gamecocks (3-2, 1-2 SEC) started a drive at its 19-yard line. As it watched, Texas A&M’s defensive lineman Zaycoven Henderson bull rush his way through South Carolina offensive line, dropping Bentley for a nine-yard loss. On the next play, Bentley connected with true freshman Shi Smith, resulting in a 13-yard pickup, setting up third and seven. Again, the Aggies answered the call when linebacker Otara Alaka bolted through South Carolina’s offensive line untouched, crushing Bentley back at the 11-yard line to force a punt.
Texas A&M tied the score at 17 on its first possession of the fourth quarter. Mond’s big-play ability watched him scamper 18 yards to the Gamecocks 37 yard line. Then Mond, who passed for 159 yards on 19-of-27 attempts and rushed for 95 yards on 16 carries, delivered a 26-yard strike to receiver Damion Ratley down at the 19. Though the Aggies suffered a pair of penalties, Mond led the team to seven yard line where Ford finished the drive, scoring from seven yards out with the help of the offensive line pushing him the final three yards.
The Aggies defense tallied seven sacks. Alaka, Henderson and Jarrett Johnson recorded five second-half sacks. Four of them coming during the last quarter of play. Alaka and Henderson both ended with two each.
It was the tale of two halves. The first half belonged to South Carolina, who behind NFL bound Bentley rolled downhill over A&M’s defense, whether passing or rushing the ball. But for the Aggies, the second half was still to come.
Alaka, the player of the game, provided the Aggies with a spark that led to a second-half momentum swing. On South Carolina’s second possession of the third quarter, Alaka and defensive lineman Michael Clemons combined to drop Gamecock’s running back Ty’Son Williams for a loss of four yards, in the backfield, on two separate plays.
That’s when the momentum slowly turned in Texas A&M’s favor. On its next series, Mond directed an 83-yard drive which ended with a 46-yard field goal with 59 seconds left in the third quarter.
The Gamecocks led by as many as 10-points after Bentley’s touchdown pass to another true freshman receiver in OrTre Smith with six minutes left in the third quarter.
The first quarter ended scoreless before A&M open the second quarter with a 7-0 lead after Trey Williams one-yard run. That would last momentarily as South Carolina, and Bentley found Smith behind the defense, 45-yards for the tying score after the extra point kick.
The Gamecocks quickness played a role in A&M’s ability to move the ball.
Later, redshirt freshman Parker White added a 29-yard field goal to give South Carolina its first lead of the game, 10-7.
Despite holding a 10-point lead, the Gamecocks struggled to match A&M’s energy.
