By KRISTIE RIEKEN AP Sports Writer
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Freshman Isaiah Spiller set season highs with 217 yards rushing and three touchdowns to lead Texas A&M to a 45-14 win over UTSA on Saturday.
The Aggies (6-3) were up by 14 when a 50-yard touchdown run by Spiller made it 28-7 early in the third quarter. It was his second long scoring run of the game after a 60-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Spiller padded the lead on an 8-yard run later in the third quarter on a drive where he had a 42-yard run.
Kellen Mond threw for 211 yards and a touchdown, and his 1-yard TD run on the first drive of the fourth quarter made it 42-7. He was replaced on A&M’s next drive with the Aggies in control of the game.
Lowell Narcisse had 90 yards passing and ran for 54 yards and a touchdown before he was injured early in the third quarter. The team didn’t provide any information on his injury on a hard hit by Anthony Hines. He had to be helped to his feet and off the field. He walked to the locker room but did not return to the game.
Jordan Weeks took over and threw for 48 yards with an interception.
The Roadrunners cut the lead to 45-14 when Dadrian Taylor intercepted a pass from backup Zach Calzada and returned it 58 yards for a touchdown with about five minutes left.
Texas A&M’s defense was in the backfield for much of the day and finished with four sacks, seven quarterback hits and 10 tackles for losses.
Narcisse put UTSA (3-5) on top in the first with a 2-yard touchdown run that made it 7-0. That play was set up by a 44-yard catch and run by Sincere McCormick two plays earlier.
The Aggies tied it when Spiller ran 60 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the next possession. Spiller is the fourth freshman in school history to run for at least 200 yards and the second Aggie freshman to run for three TDs in a game.
Cordarrian Richardson put Texas A&M on top 14-7 later in the first quarter with a 19-yard touchdown run.
Mond connected with Jalen Wydermyer on a 7-yard touchdown pass near the end of the second quarter to push A&M’s lead to 21-7 at halftime.
THE TAKEAWAY
UTSA: While this one wasn’t close, the 38 1/2-point underdog Roadrunners didn’t look terrible against the bigger and stronger Aggies. Narcisse made some good plays before he was injured and they’ll have to wait and see if he’ll be able to return next week.
Texas A&M: The Aggies didn’t dominate the Roadrunners, but were solid and played clean football to pull away in the second half and get the convincing win. But they’ll need to be better if they hope to finish out Southeastern Conference play strong with trips to No. 8 Georgia and top-ranked LSU coming later this month.
UP NEXT
UTSA: Visits Old Dominion next Saturday.
Texas A&M: The Aggies are off next Saturday before wrapping up their home schedule on Nov. 16 when they host South Carolina.
Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher
Aggie DL Justin Madubuike
Aggie QB Kellen Mond
Aggie WR Jhamon Ausbon
Aggie DB Keldrick Carper