For the third time this season, the Texas A&M football team failed to capitalize on a double-digit halftime lead as they lost to Missouri in overtime, 38-31.
In similar fashion to last week, the Aggie offense failed to get much going from the game’s beginning, punting on each of their first two drives. After a solid defensive effort squelched Missouri’s initial offensive effort, the Tigers methodically marched down the field and drew first blood, going up 7-0 in the middle of the first quarter.
The Aggies responded, however, driving down the field themselves to tie the game 7-7 on a touchdown pass from senior quarterback Ryan Tannehill to sophomore tight end Michael Lamothe. The drive set up a prolific second quarter in which A&M outscored Mizzou 21-3.
A 12-yard touchdown scamper by senior running back Cyrus Gray, a six-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Ryan Swope and a three-yard touchdown run by Tannehill lifted the Aggies to yet another double-digit halftime lead negated by inexplicable second half ineptitude.
“We had opportunities to win the football game but we didn’t take advantage of those opportunities,” A&M head coach Mike Sherman said. “I thought the kids played hard. They are emotionally distraught, they put a lot into getting ready for this ballgame. This is tough on them and on the coaches as well.”
The vaunted A&M offense failed to produce in the second half, scoring only a field goal late in the fourth quarter. One of the Aggies’ three turnovers on the day came on first down of a fourth quarter drive in Missouri territory.
Missouri roared back in the fourth quarter after a defensive standstill in the third. An eight-yard touchdown rush by shifty quarterback James Franklin and an 11-yard touchdown run by the electric running back Henry Josey gave the Tigers a 31-28 lead.
A late game field goal by A&M kicker Randy Bullock and a miss by Missouri’s Trey Barrow kept the score tied at the end of regulation, sending it to overtime.
With the game tied at 31-31, the Aggies elected to defend but gave up a quick touchdown pass on a third down fade to MU receiver Marcus Lucas.
A&M failed to convert on third and two on a rush by Swope and again on fourth and five as Tannehill’s pass was batted down at the line of scrimmage. Swope said the A&M’s inability to finish games after leading at the half is frustrating.
“In the first half we had a lot of momentum going into the locker room. It’s just one of those things. You go in at the half, look things over and you have to come back out and execute and keep the tempo going,” Swope said. “I feel we lacked that coming out in the third quarter. We have to play four quarters of football. They did a good job. They had a fast defense and they are physical. We have to execute and come out with more fire.”
Despite offensive lulls, the Aggies outgained the Tigers in total offense 500-482. Junior running back Christine Michael sliced through the Tiger defense gaining 104 yards on 21 carries while Gray added another 65.
Swope, the team’s leading reciever, caught 8 passes for 66 yards with junior Uzoma Nwachukwu right behind with 49 yards on 6 catches.
Missouri running back Henry Josey weaved through the Aggie defense for 162 yards on 20 carries, averaging 8.1 yards per carry. Quarterback James Franklin also hit the century mark with 120 yards rushing against the top rush defense in Big 12 Conference.
A&M linebacker Jonathan Stewart directed the defense and played with a passion that ignited yells from the Twelfth Man. Stewart’s fanatical effort led to 13 tackles, five solo, to lead the defense.
The team has no time to sulk as it prepares for No. 11 Oklahoma squad in Norman. Though the Aggies’ conference title hopes are all but shattered, Michael said the team is looking forward to a daunting two-week road schedule.
“We have to know this game is over with. The Missouri game is now behind us. We are moving forward to playing Oklahoma,” Michael said. “Those guys deserved it, Missouri played hard. They deserve it plain and simple.”