The Miami Hurricanes pulled off a gritty 10-3 win over the Texas A&M Aggies in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Defensive stands and late-game drama defined this one, with Miami punching their ticket to the Cotton Bowl for a showdown with No. 2 Ohio State.
Mark Fletcher Jr., Malachi Toney, and Bryce Fitzgerald were all over the highlight reel. Miami had to overcome missed field goals and turnovers, but somehow, they found a way. It was a wild ride for both teams.
Key Moments and Game Highlights
Defense ruled from the opening whistle. Neither team managed to score in the first half, making this the first time a College Football Playoff game went into halftime at 0-0.
Miami’s kicker, Carter Davis, who’d been money all year, missed three field goals. That only ratcheted up the tension for everyone watching.
The Breakout Performance of Mark Fletcher Jr.
Mark Fletcher Jr. really stole the show for Miami. He racked up a career-best 172 rushing yards on just 17 carries.
He saved his best for last, too. Fletcher ripped off a 56-yard run in the final drive, setting up the game’s only touchdown. Breaking through the Aggies’ defense like that? That was the spark Miami needed.
Key Stats:
- 17 carries
- 172 rushing yards
- 56-yard run to set up the game-winning TD
Malachi Toney’s Game-Winning Touchdown
Freshman wideout Malachi Toney came up big when it mattered. With under two minutes left, and after Texas A&M burned their last timeout, Toney took a pop pass around the edge for an 11-yard touchdown.
It was the only touchdown of the night. That one play decided everything.
Key Play:
- 11-yard TD with 1:44 left on the clock
Bryce Fitzgerald’s Game-Sealing Interception
Texas A&M still had a shot in the final minute. But Miami’s Bryce Fitzgerald wasn’t having it.
He picked off a pass from Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed, shutting the door for good. That was Fitzgerald’s second interception of the night and Reed’s third turnover.
Key Play:
- Game-sealing interception with less than 40 seconds left
Challenges Faced by Both Teams
It was a night of missed chances and costly mistakes. Miami’s Carter Davis missed three field goals, while Texas A&M’s backup kicker Jared Zirkel had a short field goal blocked.
The Aggies coughed up the ball, too. Marcel Reed threw two picks and lost a fumble, which really hurt their chances.
Miami’s Kicking Woes
Carter Davis had only missed two field goals all season before this game. Somehow, he missed three in this one—painful stuff for Miami fans.
Still, the Hurricanes’ defense bailed them out. Sometimes you just need your teammates to pick you up, right?
Key Misses:
- Two missed field goals wide right in the first half
- One missed field goal hitting the left upright in the second half
Texas A&M’s Turnover Troubles
Marcel Reed’s turnovers really swung the momentum. Two of his passes went straight to Bryce Fitzgerald, and he also fumbled away a chance in the first half.
Those mistakes made it tough for the Aggies to get anything going on offense.
Key Turnovers:
- Two interceptions by Bryce Fitzgerald
- One fumble in the first half
Implications for the Future
Next up for Miami: a massive Cotton Bowl clash with No. 2 Ohio State. If they want to keep this run going, they’ll have to fix the kicking game and keep that defense rolling.
For Texas A&M, it’s a tough way to end a season that started with so much hope. That’s football, though—sometimes it just slips away.
Miami’s Path Forward
Now it’s all about preparing for Ohio State. Miami needs to lean on their defense and hope the offense can take advantage of every opportunity.
Mark Fletcher Jr. and Malachi Toney will have to show up big again. Can they pull off another upset?
Next Game:
- Cotton Bowl vs. No. 2 Ohio State
Texas A&M’s Season Reflection
For Texas A&M, this loss stings. It’s a pretty clear reminder of just how tough it is to finish a season strong.
The Aggies looked nearly unstoppable at first. But things unraveled at some key moments, especially in that game against Texas.
Coach Mike Elko has his work cut out for him. He’ll have to figure out how to cut down on turnovers and find some real consistency if the team wants to break through next year.
Season Recap:
- 11-0 start
- Losses to Texas and Miami
Want to dig into the details? The full article is over on Yahoo Sports.
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