Texas A&M Readies for SEC Action with 44-27 Win over Nevada

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

The first quarter did not start out the way Aggies head coach Kevin Sumlin may had hoped for but the end result was a convincing 44-27 win for Texas A&M (3-0) over Nevada (1-2).

Nevada used field position to keep the game close in the first quarter. Aggies quarterback Kyle Allen got A&M on the board first after a seven play drive ending with a 1-yard quarterback keeper. On the Wolf Pack’s third drive of the game, they received the ball on their 48 yard line going five plays for the score off a 31-yard Don Jackson run.

A&M would respond with a seven play drive with Allen connecting with Speedy Noil for a 10-yard score at the end of the first quarter. Nevada responded at the start of the second with a 28-yard Brent Zuzo field goal. The Aggies would run off 17 unanswered points building a 31-10 lead until UNR responded with a 27-yard field goal in the third quarter.

Allen accounted for 270 passing yards with four touchdowns against one pick and rushed 10 times for 55 yards with another score. Positive signs from the rushing game with Tra Carson adding 137 yards on the ground off 22 carries.

True freshman wide receiver Christian Kirk continued to be a big presence on the field in non-conference play pulling down six passes for 120 yards, leading the Aggies, and added 72 kick return yards. Josh Reynolds continued his reputation as a playmaker hauling in three passes for 55 yards with two touchdowns.

Nevada starting quarterback Tyler Stewart was 16-of-29 for 206 yards with two touchdown passes and one pick. Stewart connected with hit top two receivers five times each seeing Hasaan Henderson rack up 69 yards with a touchdown and Jerico Richardson add 49 yards.

UNR starting running back Don Jackson was bottled up outside of his 31-yard touchdown run ending with just 55 yards. Jackson contributed 22 yards in the passing game off two receptions with another score.

A&M had 535 yards of total offense while Nevada was able to show some balance with 359 total, 153 rushing and 206 passing. Nevada was able to keep the Aggies pass rush in check for the most part only allowing two sacks while A&M gave up four.

Neither team did well on third down plays with UNR ending 4-of-16 and TAMU 4-of-12.

The Aggies travel to Arlington next week to face the Arkansas Razorbacks at AT&T Stadium while Nevada continues non-conference play with a trip to Buffalo.

Photo credit: David Phillip; No. 10 Kyle Allen drops back to pass against UNR.