Marcel Reed threw for 221 yards and two touchdowns as No. 3 Texas A&M stayed unbeaten with a 38-17 win over No. 19 Missouri on Saturday.
The Aggies (9-0, 6-0 SEC) posted their best start since 1992 and extended their winning streak over Missouri to three games. The relentless defensive effort made for a difficult debut for freshman quarterback Matt Zollers, who completed just 7-of-22 passes for 77 yards and lost a fumble.
“That’s one of the toughest locker rooms I’ve been in,” Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz said. “We all believed we were going to win.”
Texas A&M’s defense set the tone early, forcing a turnover that led to EJ Smith’s touchdown run late in the first half for a 14-0 lead. Reed’s 48-yard screen pass to KC Concepcion early in the third quarter stretched it to 21-0. Rueben Owens II added 102 yards and two fourth-quarter scores.
The Tigers (6-3, 2-3 SEC) found success on the ground trying to take pressure off Zollers. Jamal Roberts rushed for 110 yards and Ahmad Hardy added 109. But overall, Zollers felt the woes during his first career start.
“This is what this program is capable of,” Aggies coach Mike Elko said. “We believe the ceiling here is really high.”
Texas A&M moves on to host South Carolina next Saturday. Missouri stays home to welcome Mississippi State on the same day.
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