TOO MUCH TALENT
A&M starts slow but dispatches Kent State.
COLLEGE STATION — Texas A&M freshman quarterback Haynes King ran for about 50 yards on one play in the second quarter Saturday night — and gained 14 yards on the stat sheet before dashing out of bounds.
The scrambling play in which King eluded at least four Kent State defenders offered fans a glimpse of his celebrated speed and elusiveness. Plenty of the rest of A&M’s contest against a Mid-American Conference opponent, however, showed King and the A&M offense have miles to go to be consistently competitive in SEC West play.
The No. 6 Aggies defeated Kent State 41-10 before more than 97,000 fans at Kyle Field and with the stadium’s three decks featuring fans wearing corresponding red, white and blue T-shirts to mark the 20-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
A&M also successfully pulled off a “Red, White and Blue Out” on Sept. 22, 2001, and Saturday night’s offering was every bit as spectacular. But the Aggies’ on-field presentation, especially on offense, left something to be desired well into the third quarter for fans who entered the season believing A&M is primed to compete for its first national title since 1939.
The Aggies’ starting quarterback last season, then-senior Kellen Mond, threw three interceptions all season. King threw three in his starting debut alone, including one off a deflection and another that was batted at the line.
The Aggies led just 13-3 midway through the third quarter when A&M safety Leon O’Neal intercepted Kent State quarterback Dustin Crum, an NFL prospect, and raced 85 yards for a touchdown to give the Aggies a bit of breathing room.
O’Neal had just been whistled for targeting before the interception, but officials overturned the call upon review. O’Neal also collected an interception in the end zone to end the first half, and the Aggies led 10-3 at the break.
Buoyed by O’Neal’s big play, the A&M offense finally loosened a little in the third quarter, and speedy tailback Devon Achane blasted 63 yards for a touchdown to shove the Aggies to a 27-3 lead heading into the final 15 minutes. Achane added a 1-yard touchdown with 6:26 to play and finished with a game-high 124 yards and the two touchdowns on a dozen carries.
Things looked promising early for A&M on its opening drive, as King connected with Ainias Smith on a 4-yard touchdown pass to cap a 75-yard march and quickly shove A&M to a 7-0 lead a little more than five minutes into the game.
But the Aggies stalled on offense soon after and they didn’t score their next touchdown on that side of the ball until a little less than four minutes remained in the third quarter, on Achane’s sprint up the middle.
A&M also welcomed the return of receiver Caleb Chapman, who tore his ACL in the third game last season but still finished fourth on the team in 2020 with 197 receiving yards. Smith led the Aggies with 100 yards and eight catches. Chapman followed with 91 yards on four catches, including a game-long reception of 53 yards up the middle.
King finished 21 of 33 for 292 yards with two touchdowns and the three interceptions. Backup Zach Calzada also threw an interception on the Aggies’ final offensive series.
A&M running back Isaiah Spiller, who’s expected to carry the load offensively this season, followed Achane with 113 yards on 17 carries. Linebacker Aaron Hansford led the A&M defense with eight tackles, while O’Neal collected the two interceptions. The Aggies outgained the Golden Flashes 595-330 in total offense.
A&M played without defensive linemen Micheal Clemons and McKinnley Jackson, who both were suspended briefly during camp after offseason arrests. The duo is expected to return to the lineup in coming weeks, perhaps as soon as the second game.
The Aggies hit the road to Denver to face former Big 12 foe Colorado, a 35-7 winner over Northern Colorado on Friday night in Boulder. A&M and Colorado have not played since 2009, and the Buffaloes hold a 6-3 series advantage.
The programs agreed to meet at Empower Field, home of the NFL’s Denver Broncos, this past January after Colorado’s game at A&M was canceled a year ago because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Aggies will have four more games to prepare for their ballyhooed showdown against top-ranked Alabama on Oct. 9 at Kyle Field. The Crimson Tide and new starting quarterback Bryce Young easily defeated Miami 44-13 on Saturday in Atlanta.