No. 3 Texas A&M football shocked the Southeastern Conference and the 12th Man on Nov. 15 when it overcame a 27-point deficit to complete the largest comeback in school history against South Carolina. Sitting atop the AP Top 25 at third in the country for five consecutive weeks and ranking the same in the College Football Playoff committee’s watchful eye, the Aggies are riding high on their undefeated record toward the end of their schedule and into a possible spot in the SEC Championship Game and the playoffs. But what follows that Hallmark-movie ending against the Gamecocks is a date with the 1-10 Samford Bulldogs out of the FCS’ Southern Conference this Saturday, Nov. 22. “We talk a lot about playing to our standard regardless of opponent,” coach Mike Elko said in Monday’s press conference. “It’s not something we’ve been good enough at. So this is an opportunity for us to take a maturity step and go out there and play the game at the level that we’re capable of playing it, regardless of who we’re playing.” A lot of analysis can be done over the late-game scares A&M has inflicted on the Aggie faithful this season namely against Notre Dame, Arkansas and South Carolina but none of those can drown the lofty expectations of success that fans have for the Maroon and White against the Bulldogs. Nearly all projections point toward a lopsided score in the Aggies’ favor. But the game holds more importance than just moving onto an 11-0 record and a rivalry weekend against No. 17 Texas; it represents possibly the last time the seniors on the roster will compete at Kyle Field if A&M doesn’t host a first-round playoff game. “There’s going to be a lot of kids walking across that field for the last time, and that’s a memory that they’ll take with them forever,” Elko said. “ . It’s an opportunity for them to end their senior season undefeated at home, and that hasn’t happened around here in a long time.” One of the many players departing Aggieland after this season, multi-talented graduate student offensive lineman Trey Zuhn III has left an astounding impact on the program during his tenure donning maroon and white. “He’s what you want an Aggie to be,” Elko said. “For him to come back again, be a captain again, for him to be as consistent as he is, as tough as he is. He plays through pain, he plays through injury. He’ll play through anything. This place means an awful lot to him.” No matter the opponent, Elko has preached making plays in critical moments throughout the season. “The thing that makes seasons successful is your ability to make those plays in those moments to win football games,” Elko said. “And I think that’s what this team is doing.” The SEC leader in sacks who ranks second in the country at 11. 5 redshirt senior defensive end Cashius Howell showed off his ability to be that playmaker during A&M’s second-half comeback against South Carolina. On the Gamecocks’ last third-down effort, he sacked redshirt sophomore quarterback LaNorris Sellers and then secured the tackle on the next play, forcing a turnover on downs. “That play he made at the end of the game to win that football game,” Elko said. “That is an elite-level play. That’s just unbelievable awareness, unbelievable feel to close space and close the gap on the quarterback before he could get going and then an unbelievable feel to not yank the horse collar as he was kind of getting his hand around it.” Facing one of the most dominant defenses in the country, which ranks No. 1 in third-down conversion percentage and total sacks, the Bulldogs have their bowls full this weekend under the high-pressure atmosphere in the confines of an SEC stadium. But defense isn’t the only thing to strike fear into the Dogs’ hearts, as the Aggies’ offense ranks sixth in passing yards per completion with 14. 93 and is tied for 14th in points per game at 37. 1. This 1-7-in-SoCon-play Samford squad is staring down the barrel of its season in its last matchup in a classic david-and-goliath situation at Kyle Field bright and early at 11 a. m. on SEC Network+.
https://thebatt.com/sports/texas-am-hosts-senior-day-against-samford/