Texas A&M makes it look easy, improves to 11-0

COLLEGE STATION — With one week left before the Lone Star Showdown in Austin, the teams’ first meeting there since 2010, Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed went to the bench early in the second quarter with a comfortable 28-0 lead.

The Aggies cruised from there, rolling to a 48-0 win over Samford on Saturday at Kyle Field. 

The No. 3-ranked Aggies improved to 11-0 for the first time since their 12-0 season under R.C. Slocum in 1992 and recorded their first shutout since a 31-0 win over Sam Houston State on Sept. 3, 2022.

Head coach Mike Elko emphasized maturity entering what doubled as senior day, wanting to create opportunities for players deeper on the depth chart. 

“Every time you get an opportunity to play, you get an opportunity to grow,” Elko said. “I will remember the seniors for their legacy — that they were the group that stayed when this program wasn’t attractive to be a part of, when it maybe wasn’t the right time to be part of Texas A&M football. They were here.”

Texas A&M dominates early

Reed set the tone early with three touchdown passes in the first quarter and finished 10 of 15 for 120 yards. He opened the game with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Ashton Bethel-Roman.

Reed then connected with KC Concepcion for a 6-yard strike on a drive aided by a strong start from senior running back Amari Daniels, who finished with 106 yards, his first career 100-yard game.

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“It was really important to our staff to get (Daniels) in the end zone. He means a lot to Texas A&M football and this staff,” Elko said. 

Reed connected with Bethel-Roman again late in the quarter  with a 58-yard touchdown pass for a 21-0 lead. The Aggies kept rolling to start the second, ripping off a run-heavy 64-yard march highlighted by Daniels’ 41-yard burst and a 1-yard touchdown plunge to make it 28-0.

“It means a lot,” Daniels said. “It’s my last go-round. We’re doing it the right way, so I’m happy how the season is going. That’s it. 

“I feel like I’m going to be playing more football in the future. But that was a little bit emotional, but I’m glad we handled it the right way. We handled business for the seniors. We sent them out the right way.”

Emptying bench

Reed was replaced by Miles O’Neill with 10:07 left in the half. O’Neill was intercepted on his third snap by Keshawn Washington at the Samford 8-yard line after an earlier pick was overturned. 

Then 17-year-old, third-string quarterback Brady Hart entered late in the half. He up led two drives, with A&M settling for a Jared Zirkel field goal to take a 31-0 halftime lead.

O’Neill returned to open the third quarter and guided a 59-yard touchdown drive capped by a 1-yard run from Tiger Riden Jr., who finished with 46 rushing yards in his first appearance of the season.

“Miles was much better in the second half than he was in the first,” Elko said. “I thought he was a little sped up and antsy, so we went to Brady for a bit to settle him down. He went back out there and operated and executed at a much higher level.”

Samford threatened the shutout late in the third after earning its first, first downs, aided in part by a roughing-the-passer penalty. But Jake Garner’s 41-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Landon Rink and returned 41 yards by Jayvon Thomas.

Texas A&M added a field goal early in the fourth quarter before Preston Landis drove in a 2-yard touchdown to close out the scoring with roughly four minutes left.

’Cool moments’

“What means more to me is seeing some of the guys have those moments, watching some of those senior offensive linemen get in the end zone and celebrate,” Elko said. “Those are really cool moments that I take away.”

Samford quarterback Quicy Crittendon threw for 46 yards as the Bulldogs finished 1-11. It marked the first time since 1996 against North Texas that an A&M opponent was held under 100 total yards.

With the rivalry matchup now ahead, Elko made clear what awaits.

“The beauty of the next one is that it kind of hammers itself home,” he said. “We know what that game means. We know we didn’t get it done last year and how important it is to play our best football Friday night.

“This year, one team is playing for a playoff spot and the other for a spot in Atlanta. When that’s the case, the game is magnified. There’s no way around it.”