Photo Credit, theeagle.com
It typically rolls in stronger than what it showed today. The Tide, college football’s top-ranked team got a scare from Texas A&M.
On a side note outside of football, our hearts and prayers go out to the state of Alabama and all of the gulf coast area, who were affected by Hurricane Nate.
In its previous four weeks, Alabama (6-0, 3-0 SEC) has made pea soup of its opponents, but on Saturday evening it posed vulnerable against the Aggies, who suffered four turnovers in front of 101,058 screaming fans as Alabama held off Texas A&M, 27-19 at Kyle Field.
For the Aggies (4-2, 2-1 SEC), had it not been for four costly turnovers, the game might be viewing a different outcome. Alabama’s lineman Josh Frazier, linebacker Shun Dion Hamilton, and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick forced three of the four takeaways with Fitzpatrick’s fourth-quarter interception at the Bama’s one, proving to be the turning point of the game.
A&M knew it would not go without a fight, and it lived up to the hype. In fact, it may have picked up a little respect from the Tide.
Meanwhile, the Tide did what any surviving team does in a tug of war, weather the storm and escape with a win.
It’s the Crimson Tide’s lowest point output of the season since beating Florida State, 24-7 in its opening game. That had much to do with an upstart Aggie defense.
A&M drew first blood on Daniel LaCamera’s 52-yard field goal with ten minutes left in the first quarter which watched Alabama trail for only the second time this season. However, on the ensuing drive, Alabama’s running back Damien Harris took advantage of the Aggie’s defense out of position as he rambled 75 yards to give the Tide a 7-3 lead with 9:46 left in the first quarter.
For the remainder of the first half, Alabama stuffed the run and force A&M’s freshman quarterback, Kellen Mond to pass. Most of the evening it led to an Aggie punt.
Later, the Tide would tack on a 34-yard field goal from Andy Pappanastos, adding to its lead, 10-3 with 5:41 left in the half.
A&M’s defense held its for the most part. But struggled to limit the big plays and turnovers.
Bama forced a fumble when defensive tackle Josh Frazier knocked the ball loose from Aggie’s tailback Tre Williams at the 42-yard line of A&M. It later led to quarterback Jalen Hurts’ one-yard touchdown carry. That made the score 17-3 following the extra point kick.
Then Bama opened the third quarter with a 75-yard scoring drive. Hurts connected with Henry Ruggs III on an eight-yard touchdown pass and catch, to increase it’s lead to 21 points while leading, 24-3.
It appeared the Tide would run away with the game until A&M returned the favor by capitalizing on a fumble at Alabama’s 36-yard line when receiver Robert Foster lost the ball after a reception from Hurts.
Mond kept A&M on the move, as the Aggies faced fourth and goal from the two-yard line. On the next play, Mond avoided defenders as he found receiver Christian Kirk in the end zone to trim Bama’s lead, 24-10 with 1:39 to play in the third quarter.
With momentum from an electric crowd, Texas A&M seemed poised to draw within seven points, but disaster reared up as defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick intercepted Mond at the one-yard line early in the fourth quarter.
The Aggies would make good on a safety and get a late touchdown, but it would not be enough to upset the Tide.
