Texas A&M Falls to Mississippi State in Starkville
Oct 01, 2022 | Football
STARKVILLE, Miss.--The No. 17 Texas A&M football team rallied in the second half, but the comeback fell short as Mississippi State came away with a 42-24 decision Saturday evening at Davis Wade Stadium.
After trailing by two scores at the half, Randy Bond put the Aggies (3-2, 1-1 SEC) on the board when he sent a 24-yard field goal through the uprights. Mississippi State (4-1, 1-1 SEC) answered with its third touchdown of the day, but the Aggies didn’t back down. A&M responded with an 18-yard strike from Max Johnson to Moose Muhammad III to make it a 21-10 game late in the third quarter.
The Bulldogs extended their lead early in the fourth quarter before Haynes King scrambled from the 4-yard line to keep the Aggies within reach, 28-17, with just over seven minutes to play.
LJ Johnson Jr. punched it in from the 1-yard line with 1:34 remaining, but Mississippi State had decided the game with back-to-back trips to the end zone before A&M’s final score of the evening.
Antonio Johnson led A&M in tackles with eight, while Jardin Gilbert and Chris Russell Jr. each registered seven.
Up Next
The Aggies travel to Alabama on Saturday, Oct. 8 for a 7 p.m. CT kick on CBS.
Postgame Notes
Team Notes
- Texas A&M’s 388 yards of total offense were the second-most in a game this season.
- The Aggies have forced at least one fumble in all five games this season after sophomore DB Deuce Harmon knocked the ball loose in the third quarter against the Bulldogs.
- Today’s captains against Mississippi State were TE Max Wright, DL Fadil Diggs, DB Demani Richardson and DL Isaiah Raikes.
Individual Notes
- Junior RB Devon Achane registered the seventh 100-yard game of his career and second of the season, tallying 111 yards on 16 carries.
- Sophomore WR Moose Muhammad III scored the fifth touchdown of his career and finished with a career-high six receptions for 119 yards.
- Junior QB Max Johnson finished the game with 203 yards on 19-of-26 passing and one touchdown.
- Freshman RB LJ Johnson Jr. scored the second touchdown of his young career on a goal line push in the fourth quarter.
- Sophomore QB Haynes King entered the game midway through the fourth quarter and scored the first rushing TD of his career on a 4-yard scramble to the end zone.
- Sophomore DB Deuce Harmon forced the first fumble of his career, punching the ball out in the third quarter and give the Aggies the ball back in Mississippi State territory.
- Junior DB Antonio Johnson led the Aggies in tackles for the third time this season, making eight in the game.
Team Stats
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TAM 0, MSU 7
MSU - Ducking,Caleb 5 yd pass from Rogers,Will (Raybon,Ben kick) 11 plays, 94 yards, TOP 04:35
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TAM 0, MSU 14
MSU - Harvey,Rufus 4 yd pass from Rogers,Will (Raybon,Ben kick) 9 plays, 70 yards, TOP 03:19

TAM 3, MSU 14
TAM - Bond,Randy 24 yd field goal 14 plays, 72 yards, TOP 06:05
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TAM 3, MSU 21
MSU - Richardson,Decamerion 50 yd blocked field goal return (Raybon,Ben kick)

TAM 10, MSU 21
TAM - Muhammad III,Moose 18 yd pass from Johnson,Max (Bond,Randy kick) 5 plays, 72 yards, TOP 02:17
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TAM 10, MSU 28
MSU - Johnson,Dillon 1 yd run (Raybon,Ben kick), 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:53

TAM 17, MSU 28
TAM - King,Haynes 4 yd run (Bond,Randy kick), 14 plays, 82 yards, TOP 05:22
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TAM 17, MSU 35
MSU - Thomas,Rara 75 yd pass from Rogers,Will (Raybon,Ben kick) 1 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:11
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TAM 17, MSU 42
MSU - Forbes,Emmanuel 33 yd interception (Raybon,Ben kick)

TAM 24, MSU 42
TAM - Johnson Jr.,LJ 1 yd run (Bond,Randy kick), 7 plays, 61 yards, TOP 01:47