COLUMBIA, S.C. — Trevor Knight threw for 206 yards and ran for 84 more, leading No. 9 Texas A&M to a 24-13 win over South Carolina on Saturday.
Knight also had a fumble and an interception that kept this one close. But the Aggies (5-0, 3-0 Southeastern) used a tight defense to win this one, tackling the Gamecocks (2-3, 1-3) for losses on 10 plays and keeping them out of the end zone after A.J. Turner’s 75-yard touchdown run on South Carolina’s first play from scrimmage.
Knight came in second in the SEC in total offense, and either threw the ball or ran it on 52 of Texas A&M’s 79 plays. Trayveon Williamsand James White each ran for a touchdown for the Aggies. The SEC’s best rushing team had 216 yards on the ground.
Four starters were out for Texas A&M, including last year’s SEC sack leader Myles Garrett, two receivers in Speedy Noil and Ricky Seals-Jones and right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor and the Aggies were away from home for a third straight game. Coach Kevin Sumlin said he told them if they weren’t careful, this could be a trap and the touchdown on the opening play could have spiraled things out of control.
“But they settled down after that first play. There was never panic on the sideline. There was never guys pressing — defense keeping us in the game, offense moving the ball in the second half,” Sumlin said.
Knight expects everyone to be back next week. “Those guys needed a week to heal up,” the senior quarterback said.
The Gamecocks had chances to end their six-game losing streak to ranked opponents, but kicker Elliot Fry missed two field goals and Jamarcus King fumbled a punt with 3:12 left in the game.
“We’re doing a lot of things better but we don’t have a lot of margin for error,” South Carolina coach Will Muschamp said.
Head Coach Kevin Sumlin
Defensive End Daeshon Hall
Quarterback Trevor Knight
Wide Receiver Christian Kirk
Safety Armani Watts
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics