The No.24 Texas A&M Aggies gutted out a tough 17-9 home victory over the No.13 Miami Hurricanes Saturday night in front of 107,245 fans, the third-largest crowd in Kyle Field history.
The Aggies scored both of the game’s touchdowns and forced the only turnover, while the Hurricanes could not get into the end zone, settling for five field goal attempts with only three converted.
Seeking a way to get his team back on track after an upset loss to Appalachian State sent them tumbling from No. 6 to No. 24 in the AP Top 25, A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher benched quarterback Haynes King for Max Johnson.
Johnson, an LSU transfer, was not outstanding, completing just 10 of 20 passes for 141 yards and one touchdown, but he seemed confident and comfortable leading the offense. His 29-yard touchdown pass to running back Devon Achane made the score 17-3 with about 10 ½ minutes remaining in the third quarter.
The win marked the Aggies’ seventh victory over an AP top-15 team under fifth-year head coach Jimbo Fisher.
“We’ve still got to get a heck of a lot better on offense,” Fisher said. “But I thought that was what was best for us to win the game and that’s what we did.”
With the game tied 3-3 midway through the first quarter, A&M (2-1) capitalized on a fumble by Miami (2-1) punt returner Tyrique Stevenson to take the lead. After recovering the ball at Miami’s 28-yard-line, the Aggies made it 10-3 three plays later with a 1-yard LJ Johnson Jr. touchdown run, the first of his career.
Achane set up the touchdown with a 22-yard run on the previous play. He finished with 88 yards rushing and 42 yards receiving, including his 29-yard third-quarter touchdown catch.
The Hurricanes, who scored 100 points combined in their first two games, moved the ball efficiently, with four drives of 12-plus plays. Miami had 128 more yards of offense than the host, with 175 rushing yards, 27 first downs, and an 8:40 advantage in time of possession.
However, four possessions that reached the red zone resulted in just three made field goals for the Hurricanes as they lost for the first time under first-year head coach Mario Cristobal. A 22-yard field goal by Andres Borregales cut the A&M lead to 17-6 with about four minutes left in the third quarter.
Borregales, who missed a 49-yard field goal attempt in the first quarter and had a 36-yarder blocked in the second, made it 17-9 with a 34-yard field goal with 8 ½ minutes remaining.
The Aggie defense was led by Jaylon Jones, who tallied a career-high nine tackles, while Bryce Anderson, who entered the game with two tackles on the year, and Antonio Johnson had eight tackles each.
A&M lost two key players in the secondary in the first quarter because of targeting penalties.
Cornerback Brian George was ejected with about 3 ½ minutes left in the period for a hit on Henry Parrish, while safety Demani Richardson was kicked out for a hit on Michael Redding III after a catch just before the end of the quarter.
The Aggies were also without star freshmen receivers Evan Stewart and Chris Marshall and cornerbacks Smoke Bouie and Denver Harris, who were suspended for violating team rules.
Texas A&M opens SEC play next as it faces No. 10 Arkansas next Saturday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, in the first of four straight games away from home for the Aggies.
