Momentum Shifts: A 'too-close-for-comfort' win over Bowling Green
The Aggies picked up another win this weekend, but it came with its share of challenges.
Bowling Green brought everything they had, keeping the game far closer than anyone anticipated. Marcel Reed once again showcased his athleticism and dual-threat ability, but inconsistencies in the passing game did show. Meanwhile, the Aggie defense gave up some big plays that will need to be addressed as SEC play looms. With Arkansas next on the schedule, this game serves as a valuable lesson in cleaning up mistakes and playing more disciplined football.
The talent is there, and the potential for a strong SEC run remains, but there’s work to be done.
The Good
Marcel Reed: The redshirt freshman quarterback once again showed his dual-threat ability, leading the team in rushing with 91 yards on 12 carries. His athleticism allowed him to turn broken plays into positive yardage, which will be crucial moving forward. Reed also had some good throws, including a 27-yard touchdown to Theodor Melin Öhrström early in the game. However, the passing attack became inconsistent as the game went on. Reed’s completion percentage needs improvement, and his tendency to run into pressure resulted in a sack. While he did enough to secure the win, Reed will need to stay calm in the pocket and make smart decisions if the Aggies want to grow and compete in the SEC.
Le'Veon Moss and the running game: Moss continued to be a reliable force, rushing for 90 yards on 16 carries. Although he had a fumble late in the game, Moss’ impact was undeniable. Along with Amari Daniels, EJ Smith and Reed, the ground game has been the backbone of the Aggies' offense. Being able to utilize multiple backs throughout the game is a luxury, and if we can keep our offense multi-dimensional by improving the passing game, we will continue to see great numbers on the ground. Still, Moss’ fumble late in the game could have shifted the momentum, but thankfully, it didn’t. Mistakes like that will lose you games against better opponents, so let’s hope we’ve seen the last of those moving forward.
Wide Receivers: Jahdae Walker made the most of his opportunities, grabbing three receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown. Incorporating him more into the offense will add another dimension, which will be crucial moving forward. We will need players like Walker, Cyrus Allen, Noah Thomas and Moose Muhammad III to step up in the coming weeks. The improvement is there week to week, but a significant leap is needed as we head into SEC play.
Randy Bond’s consistency: The graduate kicker was a perfect 4-for-4 on field goals, providing critical points in a tight game. His reliability under pressure was a key factor in the win, and we’ll need him to keep up this level of performance in future games.
The Bad
Undisciplined play on defense: Bowling Green's offense racked up 339 total yards, including 250 through the air. Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. gave us problems all night, posting 145 receiving yards and a 65-yard touchdown. While our defensive line generated pressure, breakdowns in coverage led to big plays like Fannin’s long score to start the second half. Another area of concern was our lack of discipline at key moments, like when Rahkeem Smith took a 40-yard reverse to the house in the third quarter, cutting the lead to just three points. Bowling Green threw everything they had at us — screens, reverses and misdirections — and it kept them in the game. We should expect more teams to try similar tactics against us, so tightening up on defense will be key as we move into tougher matchups.
Offense: Though the Aggies were able to move the ball on the ground, averaging over 5.0 yards per carry for a total of 235 rushing yards, the passing game wasn’t consistent enough to keep Bowling Green’s defense honest. Reed missed some key throws, including a deep shot to Thomas that could have blown the game wide open. With the passing game looking like a weak spot, expect more teams to load the box and blitz us in the coming weeks. To succeed in the SEC, the offense will need to find balance and efficiency through the air to complement our strong running game.
Offensive lineman injuries: While the offensive line's improvement this season has been promising, we cannot afford to lose any more players to injuries. With the loss of Mark Nabou Jr. and TJ Shanahan going down against the Falcons, younger players will need to step into big roles as we enter SEC play.
Looking Ahead
If we want to beat Arkansas next week, we’ll need to clean up the self-inflicted mistakes. The defensive line has the talent to take over games, but we need consistent play from the entire defense to dominate and control teams throughout the game. Offensively, the running game is solid and will be the foundation of this team, but we need more balance and consistency in the passing attack. With the potential of having Conner Weigman back healthy soon, I’m interested to see how our offense develops.
Both quarterbacks bring great things to the table, but one thing is clear: the Aggies have to get better.
This close win should serve as a wake-up call — smarter, more disciplined football is the only way we’re going to beat stronger SEC teams. As we prepare for Arkansas, Bobby Petrino’s play-calling will present a challenge, but if we play clean football, I expect us to walk out of Jerry World with a win.
It’s time for this team to put it all together, and I can’t wait to see it happen.
Gig ‘Em and BTHO Arkansas!
