Aggies edge No. 16 UCLA in overtime
The Sports Xchange
Sep 3, 2016
COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Quarterback Trevor Knight is off to a solid start at Texas A&M after the Aggies squeaked by No. 16 UCLA 31-24 in overtime Saturday afternoon at Kyle Field.
Knight, a graduate transfer from Oklahoma, accounted for three touchdowns, including the deciding score in OT, while leading the Aggies to a rare signature home win in the Kevin Sumlin era.
Knight's 1-yard keeper on fourth down in the first overtime session coupled with UCLA having a fourth-down overtime pass batted away allowed the Aggies to escape.
Texas A&M (1-0) was just 1-7 against AP Top 25 teams at Kyle Field in Sumlin's first four seasons at the school. The Aggies doubled that win total by overcoming a furious rally by the Bruins that tied it late in the fourth quarter.
The Bruins (0-1) were down 24-9 and had been thoroughly dominated from the second quarter on before scoring two touchdowns, along with a two-point conversion, behind quarterback Josh Rosen in the last 4:19 of regulation.
Rosen's 62-yard touchdown pass to receiver Kenneth Walker with 2:39 remaining pulled the Bruins within 24-22. Rosen then found Austin Roberts to knot it at 24-all.
Texas A&M had a chance at the end of regulation after safety Justin Evans snagged his second interception off Rosen with 37 seconds left, setting the Aggies up at their 46-yard line.
The Aggies couldn't get close enough to try a field goal, but Evans came up big again in overtime. His deflection on fourth down sealed the win.
Knight completed 22 of 42 passes for 239 yards, including a 40-yard touchdown to Josh Reynolds, in his Texas A&M debut. The San Antonio native also scored twice on the ground, and he threw one interception.
Trayveon Williams led the Aggies with 94 rushing yards on 15 carries. Keith Ford, another Oklahoma transfer, ran for a touchdown and 65 yards on 14 carries. Christian Kirk had eight catches for 58 yards.
Rosen (26-for-46, 343 yards) made headlines leading up to the game saying he wouldn't be intimidated by atmosphere at Kyle Field. If the announced crowd of 100,443 didn't both him, Texas A&M defenders did.
Rosen rarely had time to set up and throw for much of the game. He threw for one touchdown but was intercepted three times, was sacked five times and struggled to finish off scoring drives in the first half.
Soso Jamabo led the Bruins with 91 rushing yards on 23 attempts. Walker had six receptions for 115 yards.
The Aggies took control by outscoring UCLA 24-3 after falling behind 6-0.
Texas A&M took its first lead at 7-6 midway through the second quarter after Ford capped a 70-yard drive with a 7-yard run up the middle.
UCLA had its chances to score touchdowns in the first half, only to settle for JJ Molson field goals. Two long drives in the second quarter -- 93 and 69 yards, respectively -- stalled inside the Texas A&M 10-yard line.
The Bruins forced a turnover on the game's first possession, as defensive back Tahaan Goodman knocked the ball free from receiver Jamal Jeffery. Linebacker Kenny Young recovered it on the A&M 43-yard line. UCLA settled for a 38-yard field goal.
NOTES: Texas A&M opened at home against a nonconference ranked opponent for the first time since 1989 against LSU. ... The teams were meeting for the first time since the 1998 Cotton Bowl, with UCLA making its first visit to Kyle Field. A&M leads the series 3-2. ... In his fifth year at UCLA, coach Jim Mora dropped to 12-1 in nonconference regular-season games.
Sep 3, 2016
COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Quarterback Trevor Knight is off to a solid start at Texas A&M after the Aggies squeaked by No. 16 UCLA 31-24 in overtime Saturday afternoon at Kyle Field.
Knight, a graduate transfer from Oklahoma, accounted for three touchdowns, including the deciding score in OT, while leading the Aggies to a rare signature home win in the Kevin Sumlin era.
Knight's 1-yard keeper on fourth down in the first overtime session coupled with UCLA having a fourth-down overtime pass batted away allowed the Aggies to escape.
Texas A&M (1-0) was just 1-7 against AP Top 25 teams at Kyle Field in Sumlin's first four seasons at the school. The Aggies doubled that win total by overcoming a furious rally by the Bruins that tied it late in the fourth quarter.
The Bruins (0-1) were down 24-9 and had been thoroughly dominated from the second quarter on before scoring two touchdowns, along with a two-point conversion, behind quarterback Josh Rosen in the last 4:19 of regulation.
Rosen's 62-yard touchdown pass to receiver Kenneth Walker with 2:39 remaining pulled the Bruins within 24-22. Rosen then found Austin Roberts to knot it at 24-all.
Texas A&M had a chance at the end of regulation after safety Justin Evans snagged his second interception off Rosen with 37 seconds left, setting the Aggies up at their 46-yard line.
The Aggies couldn't get close enough to try a field goal, but Evans came up big again in overtime. His deflection on fourth down sealed the win.
Knight completed 22 of 42 passes for 239 yards, including a 40-yard touchdown to Josh Reynolds, in his Texas A&M debut. The San Antonio native also scored twice on the ground, and he threw one interception.
Trayveon Williams led the Aggies with 94 rushing yards on 15 carries. Keith Ford, another Oklahoma transfer, ran for a touchdown and 65 yards on 14 carries. Christian Kirk had eight catches for 58 yards.
Rosen (26-for-46, 343 yards) made headlines leading up to the game saying he wouldn't be intimidated by atmosphere at Kyle Field. If the announced crowd of 100,443 didn't both him, Texas A&M defenders did.
Rosen rarely had time to set up and throw for much of the game. He threw for one touchdown but was intercepted three times, was sacked five times and struggled to finish off scoring drives in the first half.
Soso Jamabo led the Bruins with 91 rushing yards on 23 attempts. Walker had six receptions for 115 yards.
The Aggies took control by outscoring UCLA 24-3 after falling behind 6-0.
Texas A&M took its first lead at 7-6 midway through the second quarter after Ford capped a 70-yard drive with a 7-yard run up the middle.
UCLA had its chances to score touchdowns in the first half, only to settle for JJ Molson field goals. Two long drives in the second quarter -- 93 and 69 yards, respectively -- stalled inside the Texas A&M 10-yard line.
The Bruins forced a turnover on the game's first possession, as defensive back Tahaan Goodman knocked the ball free from receiver Jamal Jeffery. Linebacker Kenny Young recovered it on the A&M 43-yard line. UCLA settled for a 38-yard field goal.
NOTES: Texas A&M opened at home against a nonconference ranked opponent for the first time since 1989 against LSU. ... The teams were meeting for the first time since the 1998 Cotton Bowl, with UCLA making its first visit to Kyle Field. A&M leads the series 3-2. ... In his fifth year at UCLA, coach Jim Mora dropped to 12-1 in nonconference regular-season games.
