No. 15 A&M's hot start more than enough to run away from NMSU, 38-3
Click HERE to view Texas A&M’s postgame press conference.
Take off the Maroon-colored glasses. Instead, look through a lens that would identify a true potential Southeastern Conference football champion.
On second thought, don’t look through that lens. You might not like what you see.
There wasn’t a ton to like about No. 15 Texas A&M’s lackluster 38-3 victory over New Mexico State on Saturday night at Kyle Field.
The Maroon & White started fast to score 24 points in their first four series. But they seemed to run low on gas almost as quickly. They had excellent moments but were not dominant or consistent against overmatched New Mexico State (2-8), which is ranked 124th in the nation in total offense and 122nd in total defense.
Quite frankly, A&M (8-2) did not look like a legitimate SEC championship contender.
Coach Mike Elko saw it differently, though.
“(It was a) good win,” Elko said before chastising those who might forecast doom and gloom. “I thought we came out of the locker room the way I wanted to. I thought we started fast. We built a lead. The second quarter was a little disappointing. I thought we lost focus and really let off the gas a little bit.
“I challenged them at halftime to go out in the third quarter and put the game away. They did it. Then we were able to really empty the bench in the fourth quarter.”
Of course, A&M had its highlights. Amari Daniels exploded for a 71-yard touchdown run. Marcel Reed passed for two scores and ran for another. Tight ends Theo Melin Öhrström and Tre Watson combined to catch nine passes for 179 yards. The defense had 10 tackles that resulted in lost yardage.
But A&M also had to settle for a first-quarter field goal after failing to convert on third-and-1. Their last three series of the first half were fruitless. A holding penalty thwarted one drive, and a false start stopped another. The third ended with an interception.
“Kind of got a little sloppy in the second quarter, which is not good,” Reed said. “Obviously, I threw that pick right before the half. I should have thrown it out of bounds, but it is what it is. You’ve got to live with it.
“(We) came out in the third quarter and drove the ball down the field. Overall, I thought I did alright.”
A&M did drive 76 yards in 14 plays for a 5-yard touchdown run by Reed on their first series of the second half. But they did not manage another score until freshmen Miles O’Neill and Ashton Bethel-Roman connected on a touchdown pass with 42 seconds remaining.
That’s OK if you’re satisfied with bullying a Conference USA cellar-dweller or are content with an eight-win season.
But that showing may be cause for concern for those with greater aspirations.
Elko, who does have great aspirations, said it's not.
“I just think you go into this game and you want to handle your business and do the things that you got to do,” he said. “We did that tonight.”
To be fair, the offense stalled soon after Elko removed Daniels from the game after just five carries for 84 yards.
Elko wanted to see more of EJ Smith because injuries to Le’Veon Moss and Rueben Owens have seriously depleted A&M’s running back depth.
“It’s well-documented where we are at running back,” Elko said. “It just felt like a good chance to get EJ some carries, some reps, some work, so we chose to do that.”
He also chose to play seemingly everybody available on the roster. That could explain at least some of the lethargy.
Still, A&M isn't likely to win an SEC Championship with similar performances. Indeed, a repeat of their showing against New Mexico State might not be good enough to win next week at Auburn.
“It’s going to be hard going to Auburn next week,” defensive lineman Albert Regis said. “But, I mean, football ain’t easy. We’re ready. Don’t worry.”
Why worry? The Aggies are atop the SEC standings. They control their destiny. If they continue to win, they’re in.
“This is everything you want,” Elko said. “We haven’t been in this position as a program ever. There has been no time ever where Texas A&M has been in the SEC and, in the last two games, controlled their own destiny to go to Atlanta.
“That’s what you work for. It’s the opportunity you train for. They’re (players) extremely excited to get that opportunity and go to Auburn and do what we’ve got to do.”
All that's true. But they still have to play better against upcoming opponents.
