Morrow Powers Texas A&M Past Citadel 41-0 in Bounce-Back Shutout
Aggies Crush Citadel 41-0 as Jamarion Morrow’s Three Touchdowns Spark Bounce-Back Shutout
Photo: Dez Barnes
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Jamarion Morrow ran for three first-half touchdowns, and Texas A&M football bounced back from a rough week with a 41-0 shutout of The Citadel on Saturday.
The Aggies (4-3) rebounded from a 27-6 loss to Missouri a week earlier, piling up 501 total yards and going 6 for 6 in the red zone. The Bulldogs (2-5) remain in search of their first conference win.
The sunny, pleasant midday weather was ideal for football in Aggieland. The Citadel looked healthy and poised during warmups, and the Aggies’ traditions got underway as Kyle Field filled and roared to life before an announced crowd of 101,052.
The Bulldogs lost the coin toss and received the opening kickoff, which gave them a chance to shake off first-possession jitters. They punted after their first drive, but the Aggies took the field and the crowd rallied behind them. After a first down, Texas A&M marched into the red zone, and Morrow punched it in. The cannon sounded, and the Aggies led 7-0 with 8:56 left in the first quarter. The drive covered 62 yards in nine plays.
The Citadel answered with its best stretch of the early going, moving the ball to midfield. Facing fourth-and-4, the Bulldogs called timeout, then decided to go for it. The throw sailed high, and the Aggies took over on downs at the 45-yard line. Texas A&M drove to the Citadel 8-yard line before the quarter ended.
Morrow finished that drive early in the second quarter, scoring on another carry to make it 14-0 with 14:29 left in the half. It was an eight-play, 55-yard drive that took 3 minutes, 1 second.
The Bulldogs went three-and-out on their next possession, handing the Aggies another chance. Texas A&M moved the ball despite pressure from the Citadel defense. On third down, a pass was initially ruled incomplete, but a replay review awarded quarterback Marcel Reed a 37-yard touchdown connection with Aaron Gregory. That made it 21-0 with 10:26 left in the half, capping a six-play, 63-yard drive that took 1:40.
The Citadel got a strong kick return and kept grinding despite struggles against the Aggies’ defensive front. The Bulldogs converted a fourth-and-1 to reach the Aggies’ 40-yard line, but they could not turn the drive into points. On a later possession, they faced fourth-and-8 and stayed on the field, but a delay-of-game penalty pushed them back to fourth-and-14, forcing a punt with 2:56 left before halftime.
Texas A&M took over at its own 2-yard line, and Reed found his rhythm. A big run moved the Aggies into Citadel territory, and they marched the rest of the way. Morrow powered in from a yard out, his third touchdown of the half, for a 28-0 lead. The drive covered 98 yards in 11 plays and took 2:17.
The halftime score hid an oddity. The Bulldogs held the ball for 19:06 of the first half to the Aggies’ 10:53 but managed just 76 yards and no points. Texas A&M had 278 yards and 15 first downs.
Second half
Texas A&M opened the third quarter with a 22-yard kickoff return, but the Citadel defense stiffened and held the Aggies to a field goal. Brady Hart replaced Reed at quarterback, with the Aggies comfortably ahead.
The Bulldogs’ first drive of the second half included a 32-yard reception that carried them into Aggies territory, but they could not convert a fourth-and-2. Texas A&M took over at its own 37 and burst up the middle into the red zone. A false start penalty and a Citadel defensive stand forced the Aggies to settle for a 20-yard field goal and a 34-0 lead with 3:22 left in the third quarter. The drive took eight plays, covered 60 yards and lasted 3:45.
The Citadel’s offensive line, a concern entering the game, appeared to tire on its next possession, and the Bulldogs were unable to move the ball. The Bulldogs did manage to force the Aggies’ first punt of the game, and they strung together a few good runs on their next drive before Texas A&M got a stop.
The Aggies took over on downs and quickly moved downfield. Hart connected with Gregory on a 12-yard touchdown pass with 5:47 left in the game for a 41-0 lead. The drive took seven plays, covered 54 yards and lasted 2:44.
The Citadel’s final push fell short when a field goal attempt missed. Texas A&M handed the ball to its third-string quarterback and ran out the clock.
By the numbers
Texas A&M outgained The Citadel 501-183 and averaged 7.7 yards per play to the Bulldogs’ 3.2. The Aggies rushed for 264 yards and passed for 237, while The Citadel managed 140 rushing yards and 43 passing yards. Texas A&M had 26 first downs to the Bulldogs’ 12, and neither team turned the ball over.
The Citadel won time of possession, 33:59 to 26:01, and converted 5 of 15 third downs and 2 of 4 fourth downs. Texas A&M went 7 for 11 on third down. The Aggies were penalized five times for 38 yards, and the Bulldogs twice for 20.
Elko’s take
Aggies coach Mike Elko praised his team’s professionalism after the game, noting that many players got reps and that rest will matter as the Aggies return to SEC play against Alabama.
“We’re not going to pound our chest when we are the better team,” Elko said, adding that it was good to see his team bring energy and finish the game.
Asked about winning on third down, Elko said the Aggies did a good job of staying in third-and-manageable but that the defense was “not as good.” Asked about the confidence the win brings heading into SEC play, he said, “It’s better than not.”
The Citadel returns to conference play next week, still looking for its first league win.
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