SEC Football:What We Saw, What We’ll See:Week 8-9
By James Bowers
WHAT WE SAW: TIDE KEEPS ROLLING,A&M LATEST VICTIM
(93) celebrates his returned fumble for a touchdown against the Texas A&M Aggies during the third quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports” width=”850″ height=”566″ /> Oct 22, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Jonathan Allen (93) celebrates his returned fumble for a touchdown against the Texas A&M Aggies during the third quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
BAMA STARTS STRONG, THEN SLIPS
The partisan crowd at Bryant Denny Stadium was pleased as their top ranked Alabama Crimson Tide solidly shut down the visiting Texas A&M team by a 33-14 count. Their contentment was preceded by anxiety, however, as Kevin Sumlin‘s boys took a 14-13 lead on the opening drive of the second half. The Tide had built a 13-0 lead early in the second quarter on a pair of Adam Griffith field goals and a Jalen Hurts to OJ Howard touchdown pass. However, miscues by the Tide kept A&M within striking distance in a second quarter sloppy for both squads, the Ags scored on a Trevor Knight to Josh Reynolds connection just before the break, and when Knight found Christian Kirk for a second TD to put TAMU up by one, the tension in Tuscaloosa could be cut with a knife.
The Tide wouldn’t have to worry long.
BAMA RESTORES ORDER
The next drive saw Hurts locate Calvin Ridley for a 4 yard touch and put UA back on top, 20-14. Sumlin and Saban’s clubs traded punts, then on the ensuing Aggie drive, ‘Bama Defensive End Jonathan Allen picked up the dropped football of A&M RB Keith Ford, and marched 30 yards to the Crimson colored end zone to extend the Alabama lead to 26-14. The series effectively turned the tide, as two on-downs turnovers illustrated Texas A&M’s performance for the rest of that game. Jalen Hurts added one more touchdown, on a spectacular 37 yard keeper, and the Tide settled fans’ nerves with a 33-14 victory. Texas A&M may be effectively out of the SEC West race, and they have lost their last four against Nick Saban. The Ags last beat UA in 2012 at Bryant Denny; their first season in the SEC, on the legendary arm of Johnny Manziel, who effectively won the Heisman with his showing that day.
WHAT WE’LL SEE: ALABAMA RECUPERATE, A&M REGROUP
Saban and Co take advantage of a bye week before a November 5 date with Louisiana State. Texas A&M will host non-conference challenger New Mexico State next Saturday, and seek to pound out their frustrations on fellow “Aggies”. A&M will then resume their conference slate in Starkville against a plummeting Mississippi State on November 5, who lost a two point decision to Kentucky this past weekend.
