Texas A&M suffered another frustrating SEC road loss Saturday, falling 17-9 to No. 21 South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium despite outgaining the Gamecocks and controlling much of the contest.
The Aggies entered the fourth quarter leading 9-7 but failed to protect their advantage as South Carolina scored 10 unanswered points. Texas A&M dropped to 4-5 overall and 1-5 in SEC play, leaving the team needing two victories in its final three games to become bowl eligible.
Offensive production wasn't the issue, as the Aggies finished with 457 total yards, including 206 rushing yards, while recording 26 first downs. However, missed opportunities, penalties and an inability to finish drives prevented Texas A&M from reaching the end zone.
Several individual
performances offered encouragement, particularly in the running game and on defense. Still, the Aggies couldn't turn those efforts into a victory, continuing a troubling pattern against SEC competition.
Here is whose stock rose and fell against South Carolina.
Stock up: Rueben Owens II
Owens delivered his most productive rushing performance of the season, consistently finding lanes and giving Texas A&M explosive plays. His 44-yard run highlighted an impressive afternoon, but the Aggies couldn't capitalize on his production with a touchdown. Owens averaged more than seven yards per carry and accounted for most of the team's rushing offense.
Stats: 19 carries, 137 yards, 7.2 yards per carry.
Stock up: Marcus Ratcliffe
Ratcliffe helped anchor a defensive effort that kept South Carolina's offense in check for much of the afternoon. The senior safety contributed in coverage and against the run, helping limit the Gamecocks to just four third-down conversions. His performance was one of the more encouraging aspects of another difficult road loss.
Stats: Six tackles, one pass breakup, one quarterback hurry.
Stock up: Tyler White
White remained one of Texas A&M's most dependable special teams contributors, delivering another outstanding performance against South Carolina. The senior punter averaged 51.2 yards on four attempts, placing all four punts inside the Gamecocks' 20-yard line without recording a touchback. His longest punt traveled 55 yards, and his ability to flip field position helped keep the Aggies competitive despite their offensive struggles.
Stats: Four punts, 205 yards, 51.2 yards per punt, four inside the 20, long of 55 yards.
Stock down: Marcel Reed
Reed completed 25 passes without throwing an interception, but the passing attack struggled to generate touchdowns. Despite throwing for 251 yards, Reed couldn't consistently finish drives, and Texas A&M's offense failed to score a touchdown for the third time in SEC play. The quarterback also struggled to make an impact as a runner.
Stats: 25-of-43 passing, 251 yards, zero touchdowns, zero interceptions / nine carries, eight yards.
Stock down: Isaiah Horton
Horton led Texas A&M with 78 receiving yards, but his costly drops overshadowed an otherwise productive afternoon. With the Aggies leading 9-7 in the third quarter, Horton dropped a potential touchdown pass on first-and-goal, beginning a disastrous sequence that ended with a missed field goal. He also dropped two passes in the fourth quarter that could have extended drives. Despite leading the team in receiving, Horton's inability to make critical catches contributed to Texas A&M's failure to reach the end zone.
Stats: Five receptions, 78 yards, zero touchdowns, 10 targets.
Stock down: Red-zone offense
Texas A&M moved the football effectively between the 20-yard lines but repeatedly failed to finish scoring opportunities. Penalties near the goal line and missed chances forced the Aggies to settle for field goals instead of touchdowns. The inability to capitalize on promising drives ultimately overshadowed an otherwise productive statistical performance.
Stats: One score in three red-zone trips / zero touchdowns / 457 total yards.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M stock report, from Saturday's loss to South Carolina
