The Trend Continues: Auburn falls to Texas A&M

Auburn Runningback Kerryon Johnson rushed for 60 yards on 15 attempts and a touchdown in Saturday's loss to Texas A&M. (Photo: Auburn Athletics/Dakota Sumpter)

Texas A&M became a formal member of the Southeastern Conference in 2012, and have had an annual date with Auburn since then. In the series, the visiting team has won every contest. That trend continued for the fifth consecutive season.

The Auburn offense jumped early, but could not keep up with the 17th ranked team in the nation, and fall 29-16 to Texas A&M.

Auburn got the ball rolling early in the first quarter.

During Auburn’s second possession, Tiger running back Kamryn Pettway scored his first touchdown of the season on a one-yard carry, that was set up by a 16 yard pass from Sean White to Ryan Davis. The Tiger defense proved to be as strong as expected on the ensuing drive, after they stopped the Aggies offense on third down. Texas A&M would ultimately end up on the board, however, thanks to a 46-yard field goal by Daniel LaCamera. Auburn would end the opening stanza up 7-3. Kamryn Pettway got a majority of the carries in the quarter, rushing 7 times for 40 yards, and a touchdown.

It was all Texas A&M in the second quarter, as LaCamera would add two more field goals to his total. The Aggies offense began to warm up in this quarter as well. Quarterback Trevor Knight connected with receiver Josh Reynolds for 51 yards, which set up a 5 yard touchdown pass between the two just two plays later. Daniel Carlson would nail his 6th field goal in as many tries as time expired in the first half, from 37-yards out. Aggies led 16-10 heading into the locker room.

Texas A&M outgained Auburn 253-200 in the yard category. Trevor Knight ended the half 14-24 for 187 yards and 1 touchdown. His favorite target in the half was Josh Reynolds, who he found 4 times for 72 yards. Kamryn Pettway led rushing for both teams, with 12 attempts for 64 yards and a score. Neither team was solid in converting third down plays, as Auburn was 2 of 7. Auburn’s leading receiver was Tony Stevens, reeling in half of Sean White’s 12 completions, for 65 yards. Rudy Ford continued to be an ace in the secondary, by recording 3 total tackles.

When the teams returned from the locker rooms, defense played key for both teams. Each team traded punts, with Texas A&M having a slight edge. Trevor Knight completed a pass to Christian Kirk, to convert their first fourth down of the night, which ultimately set up a 25-yard LaCamera field goal, to extend the Aggie lead to 19-10 as the page turned to the fourth and final quarter. By this point, Texas A&M outgained Auburn 345-235.

The Aggies came out firing in the fourth quarter, with their offense moving into the red zone. Auburn’s Rudy Ford was on the wrong end of a late hit penalty, which moved the Aggies into the five yard line. A false start penalty would eventually move A&M out of the 5, to the 7 yard line. After a pass attempt from Knight to Seals-Jones, the Aggies would call on their kicker, Daniel LaCamera, yet again. He would connect on a 36-yard field goal, which would extend the Aggies lead to 22-10.

Junior transfer John Franklin III would enter the game on the next Auburn drive. His first play would be a keeper for eleven yards. Auburn would drive all the way inside the Aggie 15 yard line, but a Franklin rush attempt would fall just shy of the first down marker, to turn the ball over on downs.

On the next drive, following two Texas A&M penalties, Aggie running back Trayveon Williams found room up the middle, and burned the Auburn defense for 89 yards for another touchdown, which would put the dagger in the game.

Auburn would score one more time, but that would not be enough to put on the comeback, as Auburn fell to 0-1 in conference play.