Manziel, Aggies fall against Tigers
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Auburn resurgence is real.
The No. 24 Tigers stunned seventh- ranked Texas A&M 45-41 on Tre Mason’s late touchdown Saturday afternoon at Kyle Field.
Back in the top 25 for the first time since 2011, Auburn improved to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the SEC by rushing for 381 yards. Mason had 178 yards and two touchdowns, including a 5-yard run with 1:19 remaining to put the Tigers on top.
Texas A&M wasted another prolific outing from Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel and receiver Mike Evans, who combined on four touchdowns.
Manziel had more than 500 yards of offense, and Evans had a school-record 287 yards receiving.
The Aggies (5-2, 2-2) had one last chance, driving the ball inside the Auburn 20 in the final minute. On fourth-and-13, Manziel was sacked to clinch the Auburn upset.
Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall, returning to the lineup from a knee injury, accounted for four touchdowns, as the Tigers avenged a 63-21 loss to the Aggies last season.
It was a rough outing for Manziel, who threw two interceptions. He left the game after banging his right throwing shoulder into the turf early in the fourth quarter and missed one series.
Manziel returned, with the Aggies down 38-34, and gave Texas A&M life. Manziel’s 1-yarder keeper with 5:05 remaining gave A&M its last lead.
The Tigers retaliated with a 75-yard drive capped by Mason. Auburn came into the game leading the SEC in rushing. Marshall also ran100 yards.
The Aggies had scored 10 in a row to go up 34-24 in the fourth quarter. Manziel had a 33-yard scoring toss to Evans as A&M retook the lead and Josh Lambo’s short field goal, after Manziel was hurt, pushed the lead to double digits.
The Tigers responded quickly. Two touchdowns on the ground — one from Marshall and another from Cameron Artis-Payne — in the span of 2:38 gave Auburn a 38-34 edge with 9 minutes remaining.
The Tigers tied the game at 24 midway through the third on a Marshall- to- Sammie Coates screen pass that went 43 yards for a touchdown.
Texas A&M took a 24-17 advantage into halftime thanks to Evans’ third touchdown catch from Manziel. The score came with 24 seconds left in the second quarter one play after an Auburn punt.
The Aggies posted the last 10 points of the half, erasing the Tigers’ lead and taking some of the sting off Manziel’s two early interceptions. Manziel passed for 267 yards at the break.
The Tigers took a 17-14 early in the second quarter following the second pick after converting a fourth- and-1 inside the A&M5.
Marshall then converted a huge third down with a 13-yard scoring pass to Quan Bray.