Texas A&M suffered another disappointing SEC road loss Saturday, falling 31-20 to No. 13 Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium despite putting itself in position to pull off the upset.
The Aggies entered the fourth quarter leading 20-17 but failed to score again as Alabama responded with 14 unanswered points. A&M dropped to 4-4 overall and 1-4 in SEC play, continuing its struggles against conference competition. The loss was especially frustrating because Texas A&M held the Crimson Tide to just 68 rushing yards and had chances to take control.
Turnovers ultimately proved costly, with Marcel Reed throwing two interceptions and losing a fumble. The offense also struggled to sustain drives when it mattered most, managing just 15 yards in the fourth quarter
while Alabama capitalized on its opportunities.
Encouraging performances still came from the defensive front and several offensive playmakers. However, the Aggies once again struggled to put together a complete game against a ranked SEC opponent, leaving Mike Elko's team searching for answers heading into the final stretch of the season.
Here is whose stock rose and fell against Alabama.
Stock up: Mario Craver
Craver returned to the offense and immediately became a reliable target for Marcel Reed. He caught a nine-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter and led the Aggies in receptions and receiving yards. With Texas A&M struggling to find consistency at receiver, Craver's return gives the offense another option.
Stats: Six receptions, 45 yards, one touchdown / two carries, 10 yards.
Stock up: KJ Edwards
Edwards followed his productive performance against The Citadel with another encouraging outing against SEC competition. The freshman averaged 5.4 yards per carry and led Texas A&M in rushing despite receiving only eight attempts due to an injury. His limited workload raises questions about how the Aggies are distributing carries.
Stats: Eight carries, 43 yards, 5.4 yards per carry.
Stock up: Run defense
Texas A&M's defensive front limited Alabama to 68 rushing yards and prevented the Crimson Tide from establishing a consistent ground attack. The Aggies held Alabama to 2.4 yards per carry, forcing quarterback Keelon Russell to throw the ball through the air.
Stats: Alabama: 28 carries, 68 yards, 2.4 yards per carry.
Stock down: Marcel Reed
Reed helped Texas A&M build a second-half lead, but his mistakes proved costly. Alabama returned one of his interceptions 39 yards for a first-quarter touchdown. Reed also lost a fumble, contributing to three Texas A&M turnovers. Those mistakes made it difficult for the Aggies to maintain momentum against a ranked opponent.
Stats: 14-of-21 passing, 163 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions / 17 carries, 23 yards, one touchdown.
Stock down: Pass defense
Texas A&M contained Alabama's rushing attack but struggled to prevent explosive plays through the air. Russell threw for 311 yards and three touchdowns, while Rico Scott caught six passes for 156 yards. The Crimson Tide's passing attack ultimately made the difference.
Stats: Alabama: 311 passing yards, three touchdowns; Rico Scott: six receptions, 156 yards.
Stock down: Fourth-quarter offense
The Aggies entered the final period with a three-point lead but failed to respond after Alabama regained control. Texas A&M managed just 15 yards in the fourth quarter and finished without a touchdown over the final 30 minutes. The inability to sustain drives or answer Alabama's two late touchdowns turned a potential road upset into another conference loss.
Stats: Zero fourth-quarter points / 15 fourth-quarter yards.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M stock report, from Saturday's loss to Alabama
