Marcel Reed threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score in less than three quarters, helping No. 15 Texas A&M win 38-3 over New Mexico State on Saturday night.
The victory was a strong bounce-back for Texas A&M (8-2, No. 15 CFP) after they suffered their first Southeastern Conference loss in a 44-20 defeat at South Carolina two weeks ago. They had a bye week last Saturday.
Coach Mike Elko said, “In a game like this, you want to handle your business and do the things that you’ve got to do and we did that tonight.”
Texas A&M took control early, leading 17-0 by the end of the first quarter, outgaining New Mexico State 273-50 in that period. The Aggies were up 31-0 when Conner Weigman replaced Reed with about 3.5 minutes left in the third quarter.
Seth McGowan rushed for 75 yards for New Mexico State (2-8), a Conference USA team that has lost its third straight game and eight of its last nine.
Elko added, “We knew we were the better team but you’ve still got to go out there and play like that. It was good for us to go out there and finish the game the way we did.”
Texas A&M got on the board first when Noah Thomas caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from Reed on their opening drive.
Amari Daniels extended the lead to 14-0 with a 71-yard touchdown run on the first play of the next possession. Daniels broke through a tackle near the line of scrimmage and dragged another defender into the end zone for his seventh touchdown of the season.
The Aggies increased the lead to 17-0 when Reed threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Moose Muhammad III early in the second quarter.
Reed, who threw for 268 yards, spoke about his growth in his second year at A&M: “Just being a vocal leader and just commanding the offense. I was a freshman last year and I wasn’t as commanding as I am this year. But I know the role that I have now and how I have to be.”
Before halftime, Reed moved the Aggies into scoring position, but Keonte Glinton intercepted him on the 1-yard line.
In the third quarter, Reed ran for a 5-yard touchdown, pushing the lead to 31-0. Abraham Montaño kicked a 48-yard field goal for New Mexico State’s only points early in the fourth quarter.
