In a thrilling, four-overtime contest, KeAndre Lambert-Smith’s two-point conversion catch secured Auburn a 43-41 victory over No.15 Texas A&M at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday night. The game could have gone the other way, but Amari Daniels of Texas A&M dropped a potential tying score, handing the victory to the Tigers. Despite dropping to 5-2 in the conference and 8-3 overall, the Aggies still have a shot at the SEC title game and keeping their College Football Playoff dreams alive. To do so, they need to defeat Texas.
Stellar Performance
Thorne threw for 301 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception on 19-of-31 passing. Hunter rushed for 130 yards with three scores on 28 carries. Auburn’s top receiver was Cam Coleman, who made seven catches for 128 yards, securing two touchdowns, followed by Lambert-Smith’s two catches for 104 yards.
For Texas A&M, Marcel Reed threw for 297 yards, scored three touchdowns, and one interception, completing 22-of-35 passes. He also rushed for 66 yards on 21 carries. A notable performance was also by Edwards, who had 90 yards and a score on 26 rushes. Thomas and Walker excelled in receiving, with five catches for 124 yards and two touchdowns and seven receptions for 69 yards and a touchdown, respectively.
The game that looked like an Auburn blowout eventually turned into a thrilling shootout. The Aggies, after a 21-0 lag in the first quarter, fought their way back, tying the score at 21-21 halfway through the third quarter when Noah Thomas turned a 10-yard slant route into a 73-yard touchdown blitz. However, they couldn’t maintain the momentum as Auburn recaptured the lead two possessions later.
Late in the fourth quarter, a Payton Thorne interference gave the Aggies a much-needed opportunity. The Aggies then took to the offense, strategizing to secure the lead after Randy Bond shortened Auburn’s lead with a 32-yard field goal. It looked like the Aggies had pulled off a remarkable comeback after Daniels scored an 8-yard touchdown run with just over 4 minutes remaining in regulation. However, an intense final drive by the Tigers, covering 79 yards in two minutes, brought the game to a tie, forcing the game into overtime.
Overtime
The first overtime saw an exciting 12-yard touchdown catch by Jahdae Walker, pushing the Aggies ahead with a 38-31 lead. However, Auburn didn’t waver. With the help of a pass interference penalty on Jayvon Thomas, the Tigers secured a spot on the 2-yard line. Jarquez Hunter delivered a touchdown shortly after, pushing the game into a second overtime. The second overtime saw the teams trading field goals, with Auburn’s Ian Vachon and Texas A&M’s Randy Bond kicking 41 and 42 yards, respectively. The rest is history, as the Tigers went on to win the game 43-41 in the fourth overtime.
Final Thoughts
The Georgia Bulldogs marched into the SEC Championship today, crushing the UMass Minutemen 59-21. They’re ready to face off against the Aggies or Longhorns in next week’s championship game. In this fierce SEC conference, if the Aggies manage to take down their age-old rivals, they’re definitely going to turn heads in the CFP rankings. It has been a wild ride for the Aggies this year, but the path is crystal clear now: Beat Texas.
