Aggies Fall Just Short Against No. 2 Clemson

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Kelly Bryant threw for 205 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score to help No. 2 Clemson escape with a 28-26 victory over Kellen Mond and Texas A&M on Saturday night.

Mond was spectacular in the second half, throwing for three touchdowns, with a 14-yard pass to Kendrick Rogers cutting the lead to 28-26 with 46 seconds left. But his big performance came up just short when the 2-point conversion attempt was intercepted in the end zone.

Mond finished with a career-high 430 yards passing and Rogers had 120 yards receiving and two TDs.

Freshman Trevor Lawrence started the second half, but failed to move the ball effectively and Bryant took over and led the Tigers on two touchdown drives in the last five minutes of the third quarter to extend the lead to 15 points.

Mond got the Aggies to 28-20 when he threw a 14-yard pass to Quartney Davis with about 14 minutes left.

The Aggies were driving with about two minutes left when Davis ran after making a catch and K’Von Wallace caused him to fumble the ball out of the back of the end zone for a touchback to give Clemson the ball. The call was reviewed but upheld and Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher got in the face of one of the referees and yelled for a bit as Davis doubled over in disbelief and covered his face as he was consoled by teammates.

Clemson’s vaunted defensive line, led by first-team All-America end, Clelin Ferrell and tackle Christian Wilkins and second-team All-America tackle Dexter Lawrence, helped the Tigers pile up 10 tackles for losses and four sacks.

Texas A&M Postgame Notes vs. Clemson

Veteran linebackers Otaro Alaka and Tyrel Dodson led the way defensively for the Aggies with Alaka posting a team-high 10 tackles and Dodson chipping in seven stops. The two linebackers combined for 3.0 tackles for loss, a pass breakup and a QB hurry.
Wide receivers Kendrick Rogers and Quartney Davis both grabbed their first career TD catches – Rogers on a 9-yard high-point grab and Davis on a 14-yard catch. Davis’ catch was also his first career catch. Rogers added a 24-yard TD reception with 46 seconds left in the fourth quarter to cut the margin to 28-26.
Rogers tallied career-highs in receptions (7) and receiving yards (120). It marked his first career 100-yard game. He entered the game with 13 career catches for 132 yards.
Sophomore WR Camron Buckley notched a career-high in receiving yards (93).
Sophomore QB Kellen Mond racked up a career-high 430 passing yards. His previous best was 301 yards against Louisiana-Lafayette in 2017. He equaled a career-high with his three TD passes.
Mond also had career-highs in completions (23) and attempts (40). Those previous highs were also vs. Louisiana-Lafayette, going 21-of-34.
Junior P Braden Mann had a huge game with a 55.0 average on five boots, including boomers of 69 and 73 yards. His net average of 55.0 challenged Shane Lechler’s single game net punt average record of 57.2.
Sophomore Roshauud Paul, from nearby Bremond, Texas, had a pair of solid punt returns as he seeks to replace one of top returners in NCAA history, Christian Kirk. Paul contributed punt returns of 14 yards and 11 yards for an average of 12.5. He also chipped in an 18-yard kickoff return.
The No. 2-ranked Clemson Tigers marked the highest ranked non-conference team to ever play at Kyle Field. The previous highest ranked non-conference opponent at the Home of the 12th Man was No. 6 LSU in 1987.

GAME CAPTAINS, 12thMAN

Texas A&M’s game captains for the Clemson game were senior DE Landis Durham, senior SAF Donovan Wilson, junior RB Trayveon Williams and junior C Erik McCoy.
Senior RB Cullen Gillaspia was the Aggies’ 12th Man for the 28th straight game. Gillaspia enjoyed his first career rush on the first series with a 5-yard gain and later added a 21-yard catch and run. It was his second catch as an Aggie and a career long.

BIG CROWD

Tonight’s attendance of 104,794 was the sixth-largest crowd in Kyle Field history.

TOP CROWDS IN KYLE FIELD HISTORY
1.    110,633 vs. #3 Ole Miss (2014)                         Lost, 35-20
2.    106,248 vs. #9 Tennessee (2016)                      Won, 45-38 (2 OT)
3.    105,829 vs. LSU (2014)                                       Lost, 23-17
4.    105,733 vs. #9 Alabama (2015)                        Lost, 41-23
5.    104,892 vs. Ole Miss (2016)                              Lost, 29-28
6.    104,794 vs. #2 Clemson (2018)                        Lost, 28-26
7.    104,756 vs. Missouri (2014)                              Lost, 34-27
8.    104,728 vs. Lamar (2014)                                  Won, 73-3
9.    104,625 vs. Auburn (2015)                                Lost, 26-10
10. 104,455 vs. #21 Mississippi State (2015)        Won, 30-17