NCAAF

Texas A&M Aggies at Florida Gators

· NCAA - Football
2-1, 1-0 Away
Final
33 - 20
1-2, 1-2 Home

Marcel Reed shines in 1st collegiate start as Texas A&M tops Florida 33-20 in the Swamp

Highlight: Reed leads Aggies to convincing win over Gators in Swamp

Filling in for injured starter Conner Weigman, Reed threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score as the Aggies won a road game for the first time in nearly three years. Texas A&M (2-1, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) had dropped 10 straight on the road.

“He was lights out,” first-year A&M coach Mike Elko said. “He was calm. He was confident. He made throws.”

This one will go down as a signature win for Elko and could end up being Napier’s swan song with the Gators (1-2, 0-1).

Florida looked inept on both sides of the ball and overmatched for the second time this season in the Swamp. The first one, against Miami, turned up the heat on Napier. The latest one could result in Napier getting the boot.

“Ultimately, at some point, it becomes about production,” Napier said.

Napier fell to 12-16 in Gainesville, including 12 losses in his last 15 games against power-conference opponents. This was his seventh consecutive setback in those games, including four at home.

Napier is now 10-6 at Florida Field, giving him more losses in the Swamp in two-plus seasons than Steve Spurrier (68-5) and Urban Meyer (35-5) had in their highly successful stints in Gainesville.

If Florida does fire Napier, it would owe him roughly $27 million. His 28-game tenure would be the shortest in 100 years for the program; James Alward Van Fleet coached 19 games over the 1923-24 seasons, went 12-3-4 and then left to continue his miliary service and eventually became an Army general.

The low point for Napier may have come at halftime Saturday. As the teams were leaving the field, Napier was shown on big screens for a pre-taped, public service announcement to prevent drinking and driving. Napier was wildly booed during it. He was booed again as he ran into the locker room following a TV interview.

“I have no excuse,” Napier said. "I have no negative comment about that. Ultimately, we play a certain way in this arena, you're going to get criticized. This is one of those places where there's history and tradition and expectations. ...

“When you play ugly ball and it doesn't quite look like we all want it to, then, hey, it comes with the territory. I probably would have done the same thing.”

Florida showed some life to start the third quarter. Trailing 20-0, Graham Mertz connected with Elijhah Badger for a 14-yard score. But Cyrus Allen on a wheel route for 73 yards.

“I wouldn’t say I expected it, but things happen and I have to be ready,” Reed said. “I prepared like I was going to start this week and I got the green light and did what I had to do.”

On the ensuing possession, Bryce Anderson intercepted Mertz’s tipped pass and returned it 45 yards for a 33-7 lead. Anderson shushed the crowd as he neared the goal line. The Florida faithful had long started to empty the Swamp, clearly done with Napier.

“You just got to keep going, keep trusting us and staying together," Florida cornerback Devin Moore said. "It's not always going to be bright, sunny days. You have to ride out the rainstorms.”

Two-QB system Mertz and highly touted freshman DJ Lagway alternated series. Both struggled early and late. Mertz completed 12 of 15 passes for 195 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. Lagway was 6-of-13 passing for 54 yards, with a touchdown and two picks.

Defense was Florida's biggest issue. The Gators allowed 488 yards, including 310 on the ground.

The takeaway Texas A&M: After a pedestrian offensive showing against Notre Dame in the opener, Reed pumped some life into the Aggies attack and could give Elko a daunting decision to make moving forward.

Florida: It felt over for Napier after the season-opening loss to Miami. It seems more like when than if now. Do the Gators wait for a bye week or pull the rip cord after another home embarrassment?

Up next Texas A&M: Hosts Bowling Green next Saturday.

Florida: Leaves home for the first time this season when it plays at Mississippi State next Saturday.

How To Watch

How can I watch Texas A&M Aggies vs. Florida Gators?
  • TV Channel: Aggies at Gators 2021 College Football, week 3, is broadcasted on ESPN3.
  • Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.

Matchup Prediction

Gators: 40.6%
Aggies: 59.4%
*According to ESPN's Basketball Power Index

Scoring Summary

TA&M FG 1st Period 8:14 Randy Bond 31 Yd Field Goal
TA&M TD 1st Period 0:18 Theo Melin Ohrstrom 29 Yd pass from Marcel Reed (Randy Bond Kick)
TA&M FG 2nd Period 9:47 Randy Bond 48 Yd Field Goal
TA&M TD 2nd Period 0:44 Marcel Reed 1 Yd Run (Randy Bond Kick)
FLA TD 3rd Period 11:49 Elijhah Badger 14 Yd pass from Graham Mertz (Trey Smack Kick)
TA&M TD 3rd Period 11:00 Cyrus Allen 73 Yd pass from Marcel Reed (Two-Point Run Conversion Failed)
TA&M TD 3rd Period 5:29 Bryce Anderson 45 Yd Interception Return (Randy Bond Kick)
FLA TD 3rd Period 1:04 Chimere Dike 7 Yd pass from DJ Lagway (Trey Smack Kick)
FLA TD 4th Period 5:13 Ja'Kobi Jackson 2 Yd Run (Two-Point Pass Conversion Failed)

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/ncaa/500/245.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originTA&M https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/ncaa/500/57.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originFLA
27 1st Downs 19
5-13 3rd down efficiency 2-9
2-2 4th down efficiency 1-2
488 Total Yards 301
178 Passing 249
11/17 Comp/Att 18/29
10.5 Yards per pass 8.6
310 Rushing 52
55 Rushing Attempts 25
5.6 Yards per rush 2.1
13-110 Penalties 7-65
0 Turnovers 3
0 Fumbles lost 0
0 Interceptions thrown 3
37:46 Possession 22:14

Game Information

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

Location: Gainesville, FL
Attendance: 89,993 · Capacity:
Full Standings

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