For the third consecutive week, Texas A&M faced a Top 10 ranked team and for the third week the Aggies came up short. Texas A&M got within 12 yards of taking the lead early in the fourth quarter before No 6 Missouri pulled away to win 40-26. Chase Daniels passed for 353 yards and 3 TDs and Tony Temple rushed for 140 yards to lead the Tigers.
Missouri received the opening kickoff and it took the Tigers just 5 plays to get on the scoreboard. Missouri running back Tony Temple motored 44 yards for a touchdown. The extra point by Jeff Wolfert gave the Tigers a 7-0 lead at 13:29 in first quarter.
After an Aggie punt, the next Missouri possession ended with a safety when an attempted punt was fumbled and downed in the end zone.The safety made the score 7-2 at 9:22 in the first quarter.
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| Chase Daniel passes for 353 yards and 3 TDs to lead the Tigers. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson) |
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Late in the first quarter and into the second, Missouri mounted a 17-play, 83-yard drive, consuming almost seven minutes of clock. The Tigers scored on a 5-yard pass from Chase Daniel to Chase Coffman. Wolfert's extra point extended the Tiger lead to 14-2 at 11:24 in the second quarter.
On the ensuing Aggie possession, Stephen McGee connected with Kerry Franks for a 60-yard pass completion. McGee then tossed a 6-yard touchdown pass to tight end Martellus Bennett. The extra point by Matt Szymanki cut the Tiger lead to 14-9 at 9:53 in the second quarter.
After an exchange of punts, Missouri drove to the Aggie 14-yard line before having to settle for a 32-yard Jeff Wolfert field goal to give the Tigers a 17-9 lead at with 3:31 left in the first half.
The next Aggie drive ended when a long pass attempt by Stephen McGee intended for Kerry Franks was intercepted by Tiger defensive back William Moore at the Missouri 17-yard line. It took Missouri just two plays to score when Chase Daniel connected with Jeremy Maclin for an 82-yard touchdown. Wolfert's extra point gave Missouri a 24-9 halftime lead.
Texas A&M took the opening kickoff of the second half and drove 75 yards in 6 plays, with Jorvorskie Lane scoring on a 2-yard run. Szymanki's extra point reduced the Tiger lead to 24-16 at 12:35 in the third quarter.
The Aggies came up with a turnover when safety Alton Dixon sacked Tiger quarterback Chase Daniel, forcing a fumble, and Dixon recovered the fumble at the Aggie 43-yard line. The Aggies drove to the Missouri 2-yard line before having to settle for a 22-yard Szymanski field goal to pull within five of the Tigers 24-19 at 3:39 in the third quarter.
After A&M forced a Missouri punt, the Aggies drove to within 12 yards of taking the lead, but the drive stalled and Matt Szymanski missed a 36-yard field goal attempt. Missouri took over and drove 80 yards in 8 plays, with Jimmy Jackson scoring on a 6-yard run, and the Tigers opened up a 31-19 lead with nine minutes left in the game.
The Aggies responded quickly, scoring on a 42-yard pass completion from Stephen McGee to Martellus Bennett. Szymanki's extra point again reduced the Tiger lead to five, 31-26, with 7:56 left in the game.
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| Stephen McGee passed for 247 yards to keep the Ags in the game, but this safety in the fourth quarter ended Aggie hopes. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson) |
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This was as close the the Aggies would come as Missouri drove 80 yards in 11 plays and Chase Daniel tossed an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Maclin, putting the game out of reach 38-26 at 3:41 in the fourth quarter. On the ensuing Aggie possession, Stephen McGee was sacked in the end zone for a safety to give the Tigers a 40-26 lead. Missouri ran out the clock to claim the win.
For the game, Missouri led Texas A&M in total yards, 555 to 380, and in first downs, 32 to 17.
For Missouri, Chase Daniel completed 27 of 35 passes for 353 yards and 3 TDs. Jeremy Maclin caught 5 passes for 146 yards and 2 TDs. Nine other players had receptions for the Tigers. Tony Temple rushed for 140 yards and 1 TD on 22 carries.
For Texas A&M, Stephen McGee completed 18 of 28 passes for 247 yards and 2 TDs with one interceptuion and rushed for 251 yards 12 carries. Martellus Bennett caught 4 passes for 63 yards and 2 TDs. Mike Goodson rushed for 58 yards on 15 carries and caught 5 passes for 67 yards. Jorvorskie Lane rushed for 50 yards and 1 TD on 12 carries.
Missouri (8-1, 4-1) will now play for the Big 12 North title when they play No 4 Kansas next Saturday..
After facing Top 10 opponents for the last three weeks, Texas A&M (6-4, 3-4) finally gets and open week as they prepare to host Texas in the annual day-after-Thanksgiving rivalry.
Watch for indepth Aggie Websider analysis of the Missouri game and previews of the Texas game.