Recap & Insights: A&M Dominates Mississippi State with 31-9 Victory!

Your Fightin’ Texas Aggies faced Mississippi State, a team we were expected to beat by a solid margin. The game wasn’t flawless, but we pulled off a convincing 21-point win. I’m thrilled about the victory, but it’s important to discuss what needs improvement because we aim to be more than just good—we want greatness.

First, let’s talk defense. Mississippi State gained 219 yards overall. They got 83 yards early in the first quarter and 75 in the second. After those drives, our defense only allowed 61 yards over three quarters. That’s impressive, no matter the opponent.

What really excited me was the young talent stepping up. We know players like York and Howell, but others like Sanford and Dalton Brooks made their mark too. Brooks showed real speed on a sack and later forced a turnover. Transfer Jordan Shaw also grabbed a takeaway. It’s great seeing less talked-about players shine.

Now for some constructive criticism. During that second drive, we let Fluff Bothwell and Davon Booth push us back. It’s not unusual for Coach Elko’s defense to tighten up after a shaky start, but we can’t allow drives like that. Later, we gave up a 44-yard pass followed by another big gain. Those lapses can’t continue.

Tyler White deserves a shoutout too—his punting averaged 45 yards, a big help for the team.

What about Marcel Reed? He finished 13 of 23 for 180 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception, plus 30 rushing yards. It wasn’t perfect, especially starting 3 of 10. However, he improved, going 10 of 13 after that. He thrives on rhythm, and when he gets it, he makes better decisions. At times, he needs to be more assertive, especially in running plays.

That juke move of his? Pure excitement! When Reed is on point, our team is more dynamic.

Reed and Klein need better chemistry. We racked up 479 total yards, with 272 on the ground, but we split that unevenly across the halves. Getting on the same page can make a big difference.

Big credit goes to Rueben Owens, who had 21 carries for 142 yards, and Mario Craver, who caught six passes for 80 yards, showing out against his former team.

One area to fix? Procedural penalties. We’re seeing too many false starts. This isn’t just about individual mistakes; it might be a bigger issue with our scheme or cadence. This needs addressing immediately.

Overall, it’s a solid win. We didn’t play at our best, yet we still showed our potential. It’s exciting and a bit concerning that we’re five games in without a complete performance.

Looking ahead, there’s plenty to improve, but for now, let’s celebrate being 5-0. It was a fantastic day for football, revealing the promise of our strong squad.

For more in-depth analysis of game strategies and player development, check out ESPN.

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