The Texas A&M Aggies got back on track Saturday with a 30-17 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks at Kyle Field. The offense started slowly but found legs in the second quarter after the Gamecocks scored on their opening drive. Aggies quarterback Max Johnson got several players involved in the passing game as we watched Ainias Smith make history with a long touchdown grab.
Let's take a look at three reasons why the Aggies were successful on Saturday.
NO LE'VEON MOSS, NO PROBLEM
With Moss out due to an undisclosed injury, freshman phenom Rueben Owens became the face of the ground game. Owens, the five-star recruit from El Campo, Texas, tied the game at 7-7 with a 14-yard touchdown run with nine minutes remaining in the half. Owens finished the day with 18 carries for 40 yards and the one score. He added one catch for five yards.
AINIAS SMITH MOVES INTO AGGIES' TOP 10
Smith moved into A&M's top 10 of all-purpose yards with a 26-yard reception to set the Aggies in the red zone. Smith, who scored an 82-yard punt return touchdown against Arkansas in the Southwest Classic, reached the end zone for the first time this season offensively with a 42-yard score in the closing minutes of the second quarter. Smith finished the game with six catches for 118 yards and the touchdown.
AIR RAID AGGIES
After a painfully slow start offensively, quarterback Max Johnson got back on track in the second quarter with three unanswered touchdowns that flipped an early 7-0 deficit to a 21-7 lead. Much of that damage was done through the air. Along with Smith's six catches for 118 yards, wideout Evan Stewart caught six passes for 55 yards, and Johnson got several pass catchers involved in the game. Jahdae Walker and Rueben Owens each had one catch, while Jake Johnson, Noah Thomas, and Max Wright had two catches apiece.
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