Texas A&M freshman running back Isaiah Spiller enjoyed a breakout performance, running for 217 yards and 3 touchdowns on 20 carries during a 45-14 victory over Texas San Antonio on Saturday afternoon. The Aggies offensive line provided ample blocking, resulting in wide running lanes at Kyle Field.
Spiller moved into the spotlight after starter Jashaun Corbin went down early in the season with an injury. Spiller recorded his third 100-yard rushing game, and first 200-yard game, in just his ninth college outing. He effectively put the game out of reach, 28-7, in the Aggies’ first drive of the second half. Spiller ran four times in a 5-play, 80-yard drive, including a 50-yard touchdown run — his second long scoring jaunt of the game.
It was the second multi-touchdown game of his young career. His 8-yard TD run midway through the third quarter boosted the lead to 35-7 and gave Spiller his first 3-TD game. Spiller played one series into the fourth quarter and tied Texas A&M’s single-game freshman rushing record held by Trayveon Williams.
Piling on in the fourth quarter, Aggies QB Kellen Mond scored on a 1-yard run and Seth Small tacked on a 45-yard field goal to increase the lead to 45-7 with 9 minutes left.The Roadrunners (3-5) tacked on a late interception return for a TD.
Texas A&M (6-3) became bowl eligible for the 11th consecutive season. With Saturday’s tune-up game in their rear-view mirror, the Aggies can begin to set their sights on a stretch run that includes conference games with South Carolina next week before ending the regular season on the road at Georgia and LSU in order.
After spotting the visiting Roadrunners a 7-0 lead, the Aggies woke up from the 11 a.m. Central time start to take charge and roll past UTSA in just the second meeting between the two schools. The Aggies won the only other encounter, 23-10 in 2016.
In the sluggish start, the Aggies trailed 7-0 but needed just one play to wake up and tie the score. That’s when Spiller asserted himself and hinted at what was to come. He took a handoff as the Aggies’ offensive line sealed off the Roadrunners defense, opening a wide lane. The emerging RB raced 60 yards untouched to the end zone.
Texas A&M took the lead for good on its next possession as the offensive line began to impose its will. This time Cordarrian Richardson found the end zone, completing a 9-play, 63-yard drive with a nifty 19-yard touchdown run.
Spiller carried 3 times for 10 yards on the drive, but after gaining 7 yards on his first carry of the game, Richardson sliced through the Roadrunners defense on his way to the end zone and a 14-7 lead for the Aggies.
Defensively, the Aggies found difficulty in containing Roadrunners QB Lowell Narcisse. The LSU transfer completed 4 of 7 passes for 84 yards, including three consecutive completions for first downs, and rushed 8 times for 9 yards in the opening quarter. He was knocked out of the game on a hard hit by Anthony Hines III early in the third quarter, injuring the left-handed passer’s right thumb.
After its slow start, Texas A&M methodically took control over the outmanned Conference USA foe. Using a short field, Texas A&M drove 42 yards in 4 plays for a touchdown to take a 21-7 lead at halftime.
An 18-yard punt return by Ainias Smith set up the Aggies for a short scoring drive in which he contributed to with a 25-yard pass reception. One play later, Mond threw 7 yards to TE Jalen Wydermyer for the score.
Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.
