Post Game Review: Texas A&M 41, No. 1 Alabama 38

I’ve never seen ’em quit.

Despite leading for most of the night, Texas A&M trailed by seven in the fourth quarter, but the Aggies pulled off the comeback for a major upset of No. 1 Alabama, 41-38. Jimbo Fisher’s squad scored ten unanswered points in the final three minutes of the game as Seth Small’s 28-yard field goal walked it off.

Trailing by a touchdown, Zach Calzada moved the Aggies across the 50 with a 17-yard completion. Two plays later, he hit Jalen Preston for seven yards. Despite an obvious facemask and a blatant targeting call being missed on the play, A&M picked up a first down. Calzada then floated a pass to Ainias Smith in the endzone for a 25-yard touchdown to tie the game, 38-38, with three minutes to play.

Calzada was injured on the play and had to be helped off the field and into the medical tent.

After the Tide went three-and-out, Calzada surprised the 106,815 in attendance and returned to the field. On second down, the hobbled QB lofted a 17-yard completion to Isaiah Spiller to the A&M 47. Calzada then scrambled for 11. A 12-yard completion and a pass interference moved A&M to the Alabama 11 with one second left.

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Seth Small drilled the game-winner with zeros on the clock.

Seth Small knocked it through the uprights and the 12th Man stormed Kyle Field.

The win is just the third time in program history that the Aggies knocked off the nation’s top-ranked team and the first time since 2012.

Jimbo Fisher became the first former Nick Saban assistant to defeat the master, who is now 24-1 against former employees.

On the third play of the game, Alabama corner Malachi Moore was disqualified for targeting, taking a high shot at Calzada following a completion to Ainias Smith. The penalty yardage moved the Aggies inside the Tide’s 30-yard line. A&M ultimately settled for a 38-yard field goal to open the scoring.

Converting three third-down situations, a poised Bryce Young moved Alabama’s offense into the red zone before connecting with running back Roydell Williams for a 20-yard touchdown pass to put the Tide in front.

A&M answered quickly. Calzada hit Demond Demas for 14 yards to open the drive before finding a rumbling Jalen Wydermyer for 34. Calzada and Wydermyer hooked up again for a 27-yard touchdown.

A bad exchange between Young and Brian Robinson Jr. on third-and-1 led to the game’s first turnover as Leon O’Neal Jr., jumped on the fumble at the Alabama 41-yard line. A steady dose of Devon Achane and Isaiah Spiller moved A&M to the Alabama 6-yard line, setting up an easy pitch-and-catch to Smith in the endzone.

Alabama marched down the field quickly, aided by a personal foul against Tyreek Chappell and a 40-yard completion to John Metchie III. On third-and-goal at the 1, Demani Richardson intercepted Young in the endzone, taking away a prime scoring chance from the Tide.

Starting at their own 3-yard line, the Aggies picked up 24 yards and a single first down before Nik Constantinou flipped the field with a 46-yard boot to the Alabama 27.

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The A&M offense struggled to move the ball in the second half but found a way at crunch time.

A defensive hold against Jaylon Jones on third-and-9 kept the ensuing Tide drive alive, but the Aggies came up with a stop thanks to a Tyree Johnson sack on third-and-5 for a loss of seven.

However, DeMarcco Hellams picked off Calzada on the very first play at the A&M 40. After a 24-yard Robinson carry, A&M’s defense held the Tide to a 38-yard field goal following a big sack by O’Neal.

A beautiful throw from Calzada to Achane for 33 yards moved the Aggies into Alabama territory. On third-and-8, Calzada threw a dart to Smith for 14 and a fresh set of downs. After hesitating at the line of scrimmage, Spiller broke free for a 15-yard score and a 14-point advantage for A&M at 24-10.

Young connected with Robinson on a screen for 29-yards to open the following possession, but Mike Elko’s defense got a crucial stop at their own 40 to maintain the two-touchdown lead at the break.

After the defenses traded stops to open the second half, Ja’Corey Brooks blocked a Nik Constantinou punt that was recovered in the endzone by King Mwikuta to cut A&M’s lead in half. Achane responded immediately with a 96-yard touchdown on the kickoff.

The crazy back-and-forth third stanza then continued as Young lofted a 29-yard touchdown pass to Jameson Williams to trim the Aggie advantage to 31-24.

Alabama’s defense forced a quick stop, and a poor punt by Constantinou gave the Tide possession at their 43. Young moved his offense into the red zone. On the first play of the fourth quarter and facing third-and-13, Young found Metchie for 11 as the Tide settled for a 26-yard field goal.

A&M’s offense continued to sputter, going three-and-out. Once more, Alabama moved into the red zone, but the Aggies held firm in a goal-to-go situation as the Tide again settled for a chip-shot field goal to narrow the score to 31-30.

The Aggies again went three-and-out, but Constantinou boomed a 50-yard punt to the Alabama 22. 

On their next possession, Alabama converted two third downs as they took advantage of a very tired Aggie defense. Young hit Williams for a big 32-yard gain to the A&M seven. On the very next play, the Aggies left Williams uncovered for a 7-yard touchdown. The Tide pushed the lead to seven, 38-31, with the 2-point conversion.

The Aggies somehow stopped the bleeding and summoned the late comeback.

Texas A&M travels to Columbia, Missouri next week. See you at Northgate.

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Hero.

RUMBLED: After being much maligned during the week, Zach Calzada played the game of his life on Saturday night in front of 106,815 fans at Kyle Field. Stats don’t even do it justice.

STUMBLED: A&M’s second-half offense was futile and couldn’t stay on the field. The Aggie defense was understandably gassed and failed to protect what was once a 14-point led.

UNSUNG HERO: After taking their lumps early in the season, Texas A&M’s offensive line played a much-improved football game. The starting five of Kenyon Green, Blake Trainor, Bryce Foster, Layden Robinson and Deuce Fatheree DID NOT allow a single sack on the night.

TURNING POINT: The final three minutes were as historic as you’ll ever see. A beautiful 25-yard touchdown to tie. A hobbled quarterback. A much-needed three-and-out. A walk-off field goal. Game. Blouses.

KEY STAT: Sacks. Alabama didn’t bring down Zach Calzada once, while the Aggies sacked Bryce Young four times. Leon O’Neal, Jr., Micheal Clemons and Tyree Johnson (2) each got to Bryce Young on the night.

Scoring Summary

First-quarter

A&M: 11:35 - Seth Small 38-yard field goal. Drive: 7 plays, 54 yards. TOP: 3:25. Texas A&M 3, Alabama 0

ALA: 6:42 - Bryce Young 20-yard touchdown pass to Roydell Williams. Drive: 10 plays, 65 yards. TOP: 4:53. Alabama 7, Texas A&M 3

A&M: 5:26 - Zach Calzada 27-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Wydermyer. Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards. TOP: 1:16. Texas A&M 10, Alabama 7

A&M: 0:33 - Zach Calzada 6-yard touchdown pass to Ainias Smith. Drive: 7 plays, 41 yards. TOP: 3:44. Texas A&M 17, Alabama 7

Second-quarter

ALA: 5:44 - Will Reichard 38-yard field goal. Drive: 5 plays, 20 yards. TOP: 1:25. Texas A&M 17, Alabama 10

A&M: 2:09 - Isaiah Spiller 15-yard touchdown. Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards. TOP: 3:35. Texas A&M 24, Alabama 10

Third-quarter

ALA: 8:18 - Ja’Corey Brooks blocked punt, recovered by King Mwikuta in the endzone for a touchdown. Texas A&M 24, Alabama 17

A&M: 8:04 - Devon Achane 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Texas A&M 31, Alabama 17

ALA: 5:30 - Bryce Young 29-yard touchdown pass to Jameson Williams. Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards. TOP: 2:34. Texas A&M 31, Alabama 24

Fourth-quarter

ALA: 14:04 - Will Reichard 26-yard field goal. Drive: 9 plays, 48 yards. TOP: 4:54. Texas A&M 31, Alabama 27

ALA: 8:44 - Will Reichard 22-yard field goal. Drive: 13 plays, 64 yards. TOP: 4:22. Texas A&M 31, Alabama 30

ALA: 5:00 - Bryce Young 7-yard touchdown pass to Jameson Williams (2-point conversion GOOD). Drive: 9 plays, 82 yards. TOP: 2:52. Alabama 38, Texas A&M 31

A&M: 3:00 - Zach Calzada 25-yard touchdown to Ainias Smith. Drive: 6 plays, 65 yards. TOP: 2:00. Texas A&M 38, Alabama 38

A&M: 0:00 - Seth Small 28- yard field goal. Drive: 8 plays, 54 yards. TOP: 2:08. Texas A&M 41, Alabama 38