Tennessee Volunteers vs Texas A&M Aggies Match Player Stats On Oct 08, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Oct 8, 2016

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- No. 8 Texas A&M perhaps emerged as the biggest threat to upset the balance of power in the Southeastern Conference after outlasting No. 9 Tennessee 45-38 in a wild showdown that went two overtimes Saturday afternoon at Kyle Field.

The Aggies improved to 6-0 for the first time in 22 years and 4-0 in the SEC for the first time ever, but not before the Volunteers nearly pulled off another miracle. Tennessee's luck finally ran out on Armani Watts' interception in the second overtime.

Texas A&M quarterback Trevor Knight scored from a yard out on the Aggies' second OT possession. Needing a touchdown, Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs' throw on first down was picked off by a diving Watts to set off a massive celebration before the second-largest home crowd in Texas A&M history.

Up next for Texas A&M is an Oct. 22 visit to No. 1 Alabama with first place in the SEC West likely on the line.

Before the Aggies get their shot at the defending national champions, the Crimson Tide head to Knoxville next Saturday. The Volunteers (5-1, 2-1) can shake up the SEC race plenty with Alabama coming to their house.

After starting the previous two seasons 5-0 only to finish 8-5, Texas A&M won its sixth game by taking advantage of seven Tennessee turnovers. The takeaways were huge, as the Volunteers racked up 684 yards of offense.

Knight wasn't particularly sharp in accounting for five touchdowns and 349 yards as the Aggies beat Tennessee for the first time in three tries. The senior transfer nearly put the game away with a 62-yard keeper with 3:22 left for a 35-21 lead.

Freshman running back Trayveon Williams ran for 217 yards and a touchdown for the Aggies, but he fumbled going in for a score late in the fourth. The subsequent touchback set up Tennessee's game-tying score.

Dobbs completed 28-of-47 passes for 398 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions.

The Vols were without four starters, including leading rusher Jalen Hurd. Backup running backs John Kelly and Alvin Kamara combined for 216 yards on the ground and three touchdowns.

Tennessee tied it on Kamara's 18-yard run with 41 seconds left. The Aggies drove down the field with relative ease, but Daniel LaCamera missed a 38-yard field goal wide left at the end of regulation.

Going into overtime, the Vols had to feel the magic of last week's Hail Mary win over Florida.

Tennessee kicked a field goal on their first OT drive, which Texas A&M matched.

The Aggies beat UCLA in overtime at home to open the season on a Knight touchdown and defensive stop.

The Aggies went into halftime up 21-7, with all the scoring coming in the first quarter. Texas A&M forced three turnovers in the opening quarter, two leading to touchdowns and another potentially saving one.

Knight had a hand in all three scores. He threw touchdown passes to Christian Kirk and Josh Reynolds and ran one in for a 14-point lead.

Two of the scoring drives covered no more than 26 yards. Defensive end Myles Garrett knocked the ball out of Dobbs' hands to set up the first Aggies' touchdown. Tennessee also fumbled a kickoff after an Texas A&M touchdown, leading to Knight’s first touchdown.

The Volunteers had their chances. Strong safety Todd Kelly intercepted Knight's first pass of the game near midfield, but Tennessee went three-and-out.

A short pass from Dobbs to running back Kamara went for 55 yards and inside the Texas A&M 10. As he was finally going down, Watts ripped the ball out of Kamara's arms.

Instead of having first-and-goal, the Vols' defense had to go back on the field.

Tennessee did tie it 7-7 on a six-play drive covering 71 yards. Dobbs scored on the receiving end of a pass from receiver Jauan Jennings after a reverse.

Dobbs fumbled on Tennessee's first drive coming out of halftime. The Aggies turned the miscue into a Williams' touchdown and a 21-point advantage.

NOTES: Texas A&M won a Top 10 home matchup for the first time since 1975. The Aggies had lost four in a row, including three since joining the SEC. ... Tennessee defensive tackle Danny O'Brien was taken off the field early in the fourth quarter strapped to a stretcher. His neck was immobilized and facemask removed. ... The Vols lead the series 2-1, with the two previous meetings coming in bowl games. ... Tennessee FS Nigel Warrior was disqualified in the first half for targeting. ... The announced attendance of 106,248 was Kyle Field's second-largest crowd.