Johnson steps in, No. 24 Texas A&M beats No. 13 Miami 17-9

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — On the lookout for a solution to get his crew again on observe after an upset final week, Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher benched quarterback Haynes King for Max Johnson, and the LSU switch got here by to assist the Aggies down the Miami on Saturday night time.

Johnson threw for 140 yards and a landing in his first begin for No. 24 Texas A&M and the Aggies beat No. 13 Miami 17-9.

Johnson changed King after his subpar efficiency in Texas A&M’s gorgeous loss to Appalachian State final week.

“We have nonetheless received to get a heck of lots higher on offense,” Fisher stated. “However I believed that was what was finest for us to win the sport and that’s what we did.”

Fisher was requested if the victory Saturday might be a lift to his crew because it opens SEC play subsequent week.

“It was a shot we wanted,” he stated. “We didn’t want one other shot the opposite method.”

Miami (2-1) was down by 8 and needed to punt after two holding calls stalled a drive with about three minutes left. The Hurricanes had a shot to get the ball again when Ainias Smith fumbled the punt on the 12. However he pounced on the ball earlier than Miami might get to it to permit A&M to maintain the ball.

The Hurricanes received the ball again once more after that, however Brashard Smith dropped a move on fourth-and-4 with about 30 seconds left to permit the Aggies (2-1) to expire the clock for the victory.

“We confirmed plenty of guts, plenty of coronary heart,” Fisher stated, including blocking out the skin noise was the important thing to with the ability to rebound this week.

Dropped passes had been a theme of the night time for Miami because the crew struggled with out star receiver Xavier Restrepo, who missed the sport with a foot damage. Tyler Van Dyke had 217 yards passing, however could not get the Hurricanes in the long run zone.

Devon Achane had 88 yards dashing and prolonged the result in 17-3 with about 10 1/2 minutes left within the third quarter when he grabbed a brief move and shed 4 defenders en path to a 25-yard rating.

A 22-yard discipline aim by Andres Borregales minimize the result in 17-6 with about 4 minutes left within the third quarter. Borregales received Miami inside 8 with a 34-yard discipline aim with 8 1/2 minutes to play.

The Hurricanes, who scored 100 factors mixed of their first two video games, moved the ball properly at occasions, however couldn’t convert within the crimson zone, settling for discipline targets repeatedly as they misplaced for the primary time below new coach Mario Cristobal.

“We have to get higher,” Cristobal stated. “We confirmed that we will compete in a troublesome surroundings, however competing in itself is simply not sufficient. You have to execute. You have received stop taking pictures your self within the foot on some issues.”

Cristobal stated after the sport that Restrepo will miss at the very least six weeks together with his foot damage.

Johnson, who was the starter at LSU final season earlier than transferring to A&M, wasn’t nice, finishing simply 10 of 20 passes. However he appeared to present the Aggies a shot within the arm after final week’s loss despatched them tumbling from No. 6 to No. 24 within the AP Prime 25.

“The gamers round me made plenty of nice performs… I believe it was simply an total nice crew win,” Johnson stated.

Smith had 4 receptions for 74 yards to assist the Aggies to the win in entrance of a crowd of 107,245, which was the third-largest crowd in Kyle Subject historical past and the biggest for a non-conference sport.

The Aggies misplaced two gamers within the secondary within the first quarter due to focusing on penalties. Cornerback Brian George was ejected with about 3 1/2 minutes left within the interval for a success on Henry Parrish.

Security Demani Richardson was kicked out for a success on Michael Redding III after a catch simply earlier than the tip of the quarter.

Borregales, who missed a 49-yard discipline aim try within the first quarter, had one from blocked from 36 yards with about 11 1/2 minutes left within the second.

It was tied after the groups exchanged early discipline targets Tyrique Stevenson muffed a punt and it was recovered by Chris Russell on the Miami 25.

Texas A&M cashed in on the error three performs later when L.J. Johnson scored on a 1-yard landing run to make it 10-3. Achane arrange that rating with a 22-yard run on the earlier play.

THE TAKEAWAY

Johnson appeared rather more assured and cozy main the offense than King has this season and will enhance with extra time because the starter.

The Hurricanes should discover a solution to end off drives after failing to attain a landing Saturday night time.

SUSPENDED

Texas A&M receivers Evan Stewart and Chris Marshall and cornerbacks Smoke Bouie and Denver Harris missed the sport after being suspended for violating crew guidelines.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

The Aggies might transfer up a few spots after rebounding in opposition to the Hurricanes. Miami will definitely drop within the rankings after its first lack of the season.

UP NEXT

Miami: Hosts Center Tennessee State subsequent Saturday.

Texas A&M: Meets No. 10 Arkansas subsequent Saturday night time in Arlington, Texas within the first of 4 straight video games away from house.