Texas A&M 38-3 New Mexico State (Nov 16, 2024) Game Summary

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — – Marcel Reed threw two touchdown passes and ran for a third score in less than three quarters to help No. 15 Texas A&M to cruise to a 38-3 victory over New Mexico State on Saturday night.

It was a bounce-back performance for Texas A&M (8-2, No. 15 CFP), handed its first Southeastern Conference loss after being shut out in the second half of a 44-20 loss at South Carolina two weeks ago before an open date last Saturday.

“In a game like this, you want to handle your business and do the things you have to do, and we did that tonight,” coach Mike Elko said.

Texas A&M led 17–0 at the end of a first quarter in which it outscored New Mexico State 273–50. The Aggies were up 31-0 when Conner Weigman took over for Reed with about 3 1/2 minutes left in the third.

Seth McGowan ran for 75 yards for New Mexico State (2-8), a Conference USA team that lost its third and eighth in the last nine games.

“We knew we were the better team, but you still have to go out there and play like that,” Elko said. “It was good for us to go out there and finish the game the way we did.”

Texas A&M made it 7-0 when Noah Thomas caught a 16-yard touchdown reception from Reed on the first drive.

Amari Daniels extended the lead to 14-0 when he ran 71 yards for a score on the first play of A&M’s next possession. He escaped a tackle near the line and dragged another defender into the end zone for his seventh touchdown of the season.

Texas A&M led by 17 when Reed, who threw for 268 yards, connected with Moose Muhammad III for a 6-yard touchdown that made it 24-0 early in the second.

Reed, who has both started and come off the bench this season, discussed the biggest way he has grown in his second year at A&M.

“Just being a vocal leader and just commanding the offense,” he said. “I was a freshman last year and I wasn’t as commanding as I am this year. But I know the role I have now and how I need to be.”

Reed got Texas A&M into scoring position again just before halftime, but Keonte Glinton intercepted him at the 1.

A 5-yard TD run by Reed pushed the lead to 31-0 midway through the third quarter.

Abraham Montaño’s 48-yard field goal gave New Mexico State its first points early in the fourth.

The takeaway

Texas A&M took care of business against a lesser team after the loss to South Carolina. Now, the Aggies have one more game to improve before a Thanksgiving weekend showdown with rival No. 3 Texas as they chase a spot in the SEC Championship Game and expand the College Football Playoff.

Bonfire memorial

Texas A&M remembered the 12 people killed in a campus fire tragedy at Saturday’s game ahead of the 25th anniversary of the collapse on Monday. There was a moment of silence to remember the victims before the game and at each end of the pitch a maroon ribbon was painted with 1999 on one side and 2024 on the other.

Filling

Daniels got the start in A&M’s first game since leading rusher Le’Veon Moss suffered a season-ending knee injury against South Carolina.

Daniels had five carries for 84 yards and EJ Smith added a season-high 60 yards on 15 carries after playing sparingly this season. Smith, the son of NFL career leader Emmitt Smith, is in his first season with Texas A&M after transferring from Stanford.

Next

Texas A&M visits Auburn and New Mexico State visits Middle Tennessee next Saturday.

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