Texas A&M won a lopsided game against FCS foe McNeese State in their College Station opener, defeating the visiting Cowboys 52-10 with a strong rushing performance.
Running back Le’Veon Moss got A&M (1-1) going early, running 47 yards on the first offensive possession. Including a 31-yard run on second down, followed by a 2-yard touchdown run, Moss ended the day with 84 rushing yards and two touchdowns in two quarters of work before sitting out the rest of the win.
Amari Daniels was also included in the rushing attack. Daniels led the second offensive drive, putting Texas A&M up 14-0 after the first quarter.
Quarterback Conner Weigman played only until 5:07 remaining in the second quarter, going 11 of 14 with 125 yards and two touchdowns. Weigman created no turnovers and ran the offense effectively against McNeese State (1-2).
In the fourth quarter, McNeese State had its most successful drive of the game. After almost three quarters of no possession lasting longer than 4:12, the Cowboys started a drive stretching over 10 minutes that continued into the fourth.
On the 19-play drive, quarterback Kamden Sixkiller went 3 of 5, ending with a 10-play touchdown throw to Jalen Wright, making it a 45-7 game. Sixkiller’s 33 passing yards on the drive were part of a 9-of-19 day with 80 yards and two interceptions. The quarterback played all four quarters due to the injury of starter Clifton McDowell.
It didn’t take Texas long to score again, thanks to a game-high 65-yard run by the Aggies. On the kickoff following McNeese’s marathon drive, the first play from scrimmage went to usual kick returner Terry Bussey. Now on offense, Bussey received the first handoff in motion, running down the sideline for a nine-second touchdown drive.
It was the longest run of the day for either side and capped off a day of 333 rushing yards for the Aggies.
Following Weigman’s exit in the first half, the Aggies intercepted the ball on defense with 2:38 remaining in the half. From there, freshman Marcel Reed entered the game at quarterback and started his first drive with an 11-yard gain rushing.
Reed went 5 of 11 for the day with 71 passing yards and 43 rushing yards.
Texas A&M starts its SEC schedule next Saturday, heading to the Swamp to face the Florida Gators.
–Field Level Media
