COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – 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 Williams and 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.