Quarterback Max Johnson, making his first start of the season, passed for 140 yards and one touchdown as No. 24 Texas A&M defeated No. 13 Miami 17-9 on Saturday night at College Station, Texas.
Hurricanes quarterback Tyler Van Dyke was held in check, completing 21 of 41 passes for 217 yards. He had no touchdown passes or interceptions.
The Aggies almost self-destructed with 3:09 left in the fourth quarter as Ainias Smith fumbled a punt, but he got it back at his own 7.
Texas A&M (2-1), coming off a shocking home loss to Appalachian State, also got 130 scrimmage yards from Devon Achane. He rushed for 88 yards and caught four passes for 42 yards and one touchdown.
Smith added four receptions for 74 yards. Johnson, playing in place of the benched Haynes King, completed 10 of 20 passes and had no turnovers.
Miami (2-1) was dominated on special teams as the Canes lost a fumble on a punt return, missed one field goal and had another one blocked. Aggies punter Nik Constantinou also pinned Miami inside its 10-yard line three times.
The Aggies won despite suspending two of their top four wide receivers, Evan Stewart and Chris Marshall. In the secondary, the Aggies suspended starter Denver Harris and key backup Smoke Bouie. In addition, Brian George and Demani Richardson were ejected in the first quarter due to targeting.
Miami was without its top receiver Xavier Restrepo, who has a foot injury. Jacolby George returned from a two-game suspension.
The teams traded field goals on their first possessions, 26 yards by the Aggies’ Randy Bond and 28 by Andres Borregales.
Miami’s Tyrique Stevenson then tried to field a punt on one hop and fumbled, recovered by A&M’s Chris Russell Jr. at the Canes’ 28. From there, a 22-yard Achane run led to LJ Johnson’s 1-yard TD run and a 10-3 lead that stood at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Borregales badly missed to the left on a 49-yard field-goal attempt and Albert Regis blocked his 36-yard try.
The Aggies scored on their first second-half possession, taking a 17-3 lead on a 25-yard swing pass to Achane.
On Miami’s next possession, the Canes reached the Aggies’ 4-yard line but opted for a 22-yard Borregales field goal.
With 8:32 left in the fourth, Miami settled for another short field goal, this time from 34 yards. That capped a 16-play, 83-yard drive, cutting Miami’s deficit to 17-9.
But Miami turned the ball over on downs on their last possession.
–Field Level Media
