the RECAP: Miami 10 Texas A&M 3

In one of the tightest games in playoff history, #10 Miami upset #7 Texas, 10-3, on Saturday at Kyle Stadium in College Station , Texas.

The first half was a defensive slug fest between two of the best defenses in the nation. The Aggies maintained pressure on offense with constant good field position, but it was the Aggies defense who dominated Miami’s offense in the first half. Still, the Canes had multiple chances and couldn’t deliver any points. They recovered a Marcel Reed fumble but failed to turn it into any points. Miami had two chances at field goals but missed both in the high winds at Kyle Field.

The Canes came out in the second half and quickly went 72 yards on 9 plays before Carter Davis kicked a 21-yard field to put the first points on the scoreboard. Miami intercepted Reed and drove to the A&M 17-yard line before missing another field goal from 35 yards out. The teams went back and forth to end the third quarter with the Canes up-, 3-0.

The fourth quarter brought more hard-nose defense by both sides, until Miami took the ball at their own 41-yard line and march on the ground led by Mark Fletcher behind the Canes massive line. With 1:30 on the clock, true freshman Malachi Toney took a short shuffle pass from Carson Beck and ran into the end zone for a game-winning 11-yard touchdown.

The Aggies took the last kickoff and marched down the field 70 yards and was about to score the potential tying score when Reed was intercepted in the end zone by Miami true freshman Bryce Fitzgerald.

For the game, Miami totaled 278 yards of total offense. Carson Beck threw for only 103 yards and 1 touchdown buy no interceptions. RB Mark Fletcher rushed for 172 yards on 17 carries (10.1 YYPC). Malachi Toney caught 5 passes for 22 yards and one touchdown.

Miami’s defense limited QB Marcel Reed to only 27 yards rushing while forcing him into 2 interceptions. The Aggies running attack could not mount much of a threat against the Canes defense, totaling only 89 yards on the ground.

Miami (11-2) moves on to the next round of the the playoffs when the travel to the Cotton Bowl to take on #2 Ohio State on Wednesday, December 31st.

GO CANES!