Fresh off of a Homecoming win against North Texas, Missouri football heads into Saturday looking to gain its first SEC victory as they take on the Texas A&M Aggies. Last weekend, the Aggies upset the then-No. 1 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide 41-38 on a last-second field goal, pushing them back to the AP Top 25 Poll.
Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher has been an offensive minded coacthroughout his coaching tenure. Throughout his time as the head coach at both Florida State and Texas A&M, Fisher’s teams produced some quarterbacks that have played in the NFL, including Jameis Winston, Christian Ponder and E.J. Manuel from Florida State and Kellen Mond from Texas A&M.
This is the first year Fisher is not coaching Mond in College Station. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Zach Calzada is leading Fisher’s offense, and put forth one of his best efforts last weekend. Aside from an interception, Calzada went 21-31, for 285 yards and 3 touchdowns against the reigning national champions.
Nine of those completions and 158 yards went to the Aggies’ two leading receivers: junior wide receiver Ainias Smith and junior tight end Jalen Wydermyer.
To complement the aerial attack, the Aggies brought in a nice one-two punch on the ground with junior running back Isaiah Spiller and sophomore running back Devon Achane. Spiller and Achane have combined for 135 carries, for 820 yards (6.1 yards per carry) and five touchdowns. This also goes with a combined 34 receptions for 312 yards and two scores.
“[Texas A&M has] very talented running backs,” Missouri head coach Eli Drinwitz said. “Two guys with world-class speed [and] vision. Both guys will be Sunday players.”
Defensively, the strength of the Aggies is up front on the defensive line. Junior DeMarvin Leal, graduate student Micheal Clemons, redshirt senior Tyree Johnson and senior Jayden Peevy have all accumulated 11 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss.
“They’re big, they’ve got experience,” Drinkwitz said. “All of them played a significant amount of time last year. They all have quick twitch, can bull rush and throw people off. They keep their linebackers clean. They allow their safeties to play deep so they don’t have to be fitting in the run.”
Missouri’s offensive line will have its hands full with a unit ranked tied for sixteenth in the nation in sacks, but it is well-prepped for the task. The Tigers’ offensive line unit has done a great job this year, as redshirt sophomore quarterback Connor Bazelak has only been sacked five times this season, and the Tigers have averaged 5.5 yards per carry.
“[It’s] a great opportunity for our football team. To see where we’re at, to get an opportunity to play this football team at home in front of our fans with great energy and enthusiasm, “Drinkwitz said. “We’re gonna be ready to play Saturday and look forward to the challenge that it presents.”
Like the Tigers’ previous two SEC opponents, Kentucky and Tennessee, the Aggies have a balanced offensive attack — but it’s nothing the Tigers have seen before.
“Football will humble you,” Drinkwitz said.
The Tigers look to humble the Aggies on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Faurot Field.
Edited by Mason Arneson | marneson@themaneater.com
