6 takeaways from Texas A&M-Arkansas: Achane, Stewart and the defense flip the script

The Texas A&M Aggies (3-1, 1-0 SEC) defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks (3-1, 0-1), 23-21, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on Saturday.

Here are six takeaways from the win/loss:

Terrible start to the game

The Aggies had one of the worst starts to a game in a while. The first four drives of the game led to punts, with three of those drives being three-and-outs. By the end of the first quarter, A&M hadn’t put up a single first down while Arkansas had seven.

The Razorbacks had 170 yards by the end of the first 15 minutes while A&M had a mere 28. Quarterback KJ Jefferson didn’t hesitate to show off his skills with back-to-back touchdowns on the second and third drives of the game. Meanwhile, quarterback Max Johnson completed 2-for-5 passes for only 15 yards.

The Aggies finally managed to snag a first down early in the second quarter after a 63-yard run from running back Devon Achane.

Another first down allowed the team to finally get into the red zone where freshman Evan Stewart recorded his first career receiving touchdown. Prior to the runs from Achane, A&M had 13 rushing yards compared to Arkansas’s 112. The junior made quick work of that differential and brought the Aggies to 96 rushing yards.

Now that SEC play has come around, the team must come into the game ready to play. With opponents like Alabama only two weeks away, the Aggies can’t afford to decide to finally play after a quarter.

Who is he throwing to?

Johnson seemed to throw to everything, living or not, during the first half. He threw over and under his receivers several times and it seemed like he couldn’t find an open receiver despite Stewart being open on several plays. Even when the Aggies managed to get on the board, Johnson’s throw to Stewart was strange and risky despite it doing the job.

This could prove worrisome if Johnson continues to be the Aggies’ starter as the season draws on as a quarterback who’s able to see down the field is critical to success for the rest of the season.

One of the weirdest plays all day

When Arkansas made it back into the endzone towards the end of the first half, most fans were expecting the Razorbacks to increase its lead. However, the unexpected happened in front of the 63,580 fans packed into AT&T Stadium.

Yes, you’re seeing that right. Despite the Hogs being on the three-yard line, Jefferson attempted to launch himself over the defense but fumbled off the arms of defensive back Tyreek Chappell who caught the ball before running down to the 18-yard line. Defensive back Demani Richardson grabbed the ball from Chappell and took it to the house for an 82-yard touchdown return.

While the extra point was no good following the miraculous score, the defense proved that even when the offense can’t exactly get things going, they’re working every angle they can to get points on the board.

Penalties are an Achilles heel

The offense had a ridiculous 65 yards lost on nine penalties during the game with six out of the nine being pre-snap penalties and more needs to be done to reduce these. It is semi-understandable for flags like holding or an illegal block to take place, but pre-snap penalties should not be happening this late in the season. One or two would be acceptable, but eight penalties when Arkansas only had two for a total of 20 yards lost is inexcusable.

Offensive core improvements

The receiving and rushing units had a great game against Arkansas as five players managed to snag a pass for a total of 151 yards and Achane ran for a season-high 149 rushing yards.

Tight end Donovan Green led the squad, hauling in three catches for 50 yards. Stewart and Achane weren’t far behind with three receptions for 36 and 15 yards, respectively, and Stewart adding a touchdown.

The variety of wideouts that were able to make a connection with Johnson is a great indicator of the comfortability between the players. A great example of this is with Stewart and Johnson as this game was the duo’s first matchup together since Stewart was suspended last week. As time goes on, the connections will only grow stronger and this is going to come in handy when defenses choose to focus on specific players.

Capable of a comeback

The situation looked doomed at the end of the first quarter. The Aggies couldn’t get down the field and every aspect of the offense didn’t look too good. After Achane’s 63-yard run, the team came alive rapidly and didn’t hesitate on the gas.

Right after the halftime break, A&M got right back on the board after a 3:19 drive that ended with a 9-yard rushing touchdown from none other than Achane.

In just over a quarter, the Aggies scored 20 unanswered points while the defense held the Hogs off the board until the fourth quarter.

This is a great sign for the team as they begin to take on other SEC opponents. While it’s most optimal for a team not to have to make a comeback, the fact that the Aggies are capable of doing so is an added benefit. It is no easy task to take the lead after such a lackluster first quarter and it’s much harder to flip a game 180 before halftime even begins.

If A&M can use the momentum and energy they would use to come back against a team from the beginning, they could be an unstoppable force in the SEC West.