Texas A&M Loses To Auburn

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Auburn resurgence is real.

The No. 24 Tigers stunned seventh-ranked Texas A&M 45-41 on Tre Mason’s late touchdown Saturday afternoon at Kyle Field.

“We have not arrived yet,” first-year Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said after his biggest win.

Back in the Top 25 for the first time since 2011, Auburn improved to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the SEC by rushing for 381 yards. Mason had 178 yards and a 5-yard TD run with 1:19 remaining to put the Tigers on top for good.

“This is a statement game,” Mason said, “and the statement we wanted to put across was that we’re coming.”

Texas A&M wasted another prolific outing from Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel and receiver Mike Evans, who combined on four touchdowns. Manziel had over 500 yards of offense and Evans had a school-record 287 yards receiving.

“They were able to drive the ball and make plays when we couldn’t,” Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin said.

The Aggies (5-2, 2-2) had one last chance, driving the ball inside the Auburn 20 in the final minute. On fourth-and-13, Manziel was sacked to clinch the Auburn upset.

“We just made a name for ourselves and we’re just going to keep moving forward,” Tigers defensive end Dee Ford said.

Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall, returning to the lineup from a knee injury, accounted for four touchdowns as the Tigers avenged a 63-21 loss to the Aggies last season. Auburn rolled up 615 yards against a young and spent A&M defense.

“We know where we are right now,” Sumlin said of his defense. “We’re recruiting extremely hard.

It was a rough outing for Manziel, who threw two interceptions. He left the game after banging his right throwing shoulder into the turf early in the fourth quarter and missed one series.

Manziel returned, with the Aggies down 38-34, and gave Texas A&M life. Manziel’s 1-yarder keeper with 5:05 remaining gave A&M its last lead.

The Tigers retaliated with a 75-yard drive capped by Mason. Auburn came into the game leading the SEC in rushing. Marshall also ran for 100 yards.

The Aggies scored 10 in a row to go up 34-24 in the fourth quarter. Manziel had a 33-yard scoring toss to Evans as A&M retook the lead, and Josh Lambo’s short field goal after Manziel was hurt pushed the lead to double digits.

The Tigers responded quickly. Two touchdowns on the ground — one from Marshall and another from Cameron Artis-Payne — in the span of 2:38 gave Auburn a 38-34 edge with nine minutes remaining.

The Tigers tied the game at 24 midway through the third on a Marshall-to-Sammie Coates screen pass that went 43 yards.

Texas A&M took a 24-17 advantage into halftime thanks to Evans’ third touchdown catch from Manziel. The score came with 24 seconds left in the second quarter one play after an Auburn punt.

The Aggies posted the last 10 points of the half, erasing the Tigers’ lead and taking some of the sting off Manziel’s two early interceptions. Manziel passed for 267 yards at the break.

The Tigers took a 17-14 early in the second quarter following the second pick by after converting a fourth-and-1 inside the A&M 5. Marshall then converted a huge third down with a 13-yard scoring pass to Quan Bray.

The Aggies took the opening kickoff and Manziel calmly took A&M down the field in less than two minutes. A short screen to Evans went 26 yards for a touchdown.

Marshall answered on Auburn’s first possession by directing an 86-yard marching, going the final 16 yards himself.

The Aggies turned the ball over on their second possession, as Manziel threw his sixth interception of the season. Auburn defensive back Ryan Smith picked off a deflected ball on the Tigers’ 38.

The drive stalled inside the A&M 10 and Auburn settled for Cody Parkey’s field goal. The Tigers’ 10-7 lead didn’t last long.

Manziel and Evans hooked up again, this time going 64 yards for a score. Evans had 140 yards receiving in the opening period and 182 at the half.

Manziel’s two interceptions were in the first quarter, including one deep in Auburn territory. The turnovers led to 10 Auburn points.

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