GAMEDAY: 2019 Texas Bowl
HOUSTON, Texas - In somewhat bittersweet fashion, Texas A&M will close out their decade at home. The Aggies (7-5, 4-4 SEC) began the 2010s in the Big 12 and will end it against a former rival just up the road from College Station.
For Oklahoma State (8-4, 5-4 Big 12), all focus will be on running back Chuba Hubbard, who sits just 64 yards away from eclipsing the 2,000-yard mark this season. :The Alberta native would be the first runner from 2015 to surpass the record and the first running back since Barry Sanders to do so in Stillwater.
The two schools have a long history with the Texas Bowl and each other. The Aggies have played in NRG Stadium three times this decade while Oklahoma State was the first team to play in the stadium back in 2002. All-time, A&M holds a 17-10 advantage over the Pokes while the orange and black hold a four-game win streak heading into Friday's game.
Aggie Maven, as part of the Sports Illustrated family, is here for your coverage surrounding the final game of the season. Follow us here and on our social media platforms throughout the game for live updates, highlights and much more surrounding the Aggies and Cowboys.
PREGAME
FIRST QUARTER
Coin Toss: Oklahoma State wins the toss, they defer to the second half. The Aggies will start the 2019 Texas Bowl on offense.
Aggies Ball: Definitely not the way you want to start a game. Kellen Mond tried to rush and was immediately was stripped sacked by the Cowboys. Oklahoma State takes a gamble and it pays off.
Cowboys Ball: Dru Brown would start the game at quarterback and the Cowboys would lose yards. A Tyree Johnson sack on third down forced a 53-yard field goal attempt from Matt Amendola. He would miss, leaving the score tied at zero.
Aggies Ball: An Ainias Smith and Isiah Spiller run combined for 15 yards and the team's first down. Mond would overshoot Jalen Wydermyer on third down, forcing a Braden Mann punt and ending the second drive on a sour note.
Cowboys Ball: A 37-yard run from Chuba Hubbard set the drive up nicely. Brown would connect with Braydon Johnson two plays later for a 42-yard touchdown to give the Pokes an early lead.
Scoring Drive: (97 yards, 5 plays, 1:57)
Oklahoma State 7, Texas A&M 0
Aggies Ball: A 12-yard gain from Spiller gave the Aggies life following the touchdown. A pass interference call on Rodarius Williams tacked on 15 yards and put the Aggies inside Oklahoma State territory. A&M continued to struggled picking up yards inside Cowboys territory as the team would go backwards. Mann would come out to punt for the second time in the quarter.
Cowboys Ball: A Debione Renfro unsportsmanlike conduct call cost A&M 15 yards on a negative run. They'd gain some back with a hold call two pays later. A 57-yard pass to Johnson set the Pokes up inside the red zone. Brown would keep it for a 9-yard touchdown run on the next play. The Cowboys are not messing around early.
Scoring Drive: (4 plays, 82 yards, 1:48)
Oklahoma State 14, Texas A&M 0
Aggies Ball: A Kendrick Rogers hold pushed A&M back 10 yards. They're pick up the first down with a Quartney Davis 11-yard gain to end the quarter.
END OF FIRST QUARTER: Oklahoma State 14, Texas A&M 0
SECOND QUARTER
Aggies Ball: The Aggies catch a break on a Williams hold. Smith continued to make strides rushing, picking up 15 yards on two carries for first down. Mond would grab the first down in the red zone to keep the drive alive. Mond and Spiller would miss on the handoff, leading to a fumble recovery by Amen Ogbongbemiga. Pokes ball to end the team's best drive.
Cowboys Ball: Ripping the hearts out of the Aggie faithful, the Cowboys wanted to end the game in the second quarter. Another third down Johnson sack would lead to a 4th and 21, putting some life back in the Aggie faithful.
Aggies Ball: Smith would start the drive with an 11-yard pick up. On third down, Mond would keep it for a six-yard run and later pick up the first on a sneak. Finally A&M would punch it in the end zone with a 1-yard run from Spiller.
Scoring Drive: ( 6 plays, 22 yards, 2:24)
Oklahoma State: 14, Texas A&M 7
Cowboys Ball: Spencer Sanders finally entered the game to pick up the first down with his legs. A holding call on Refro would keep the drive alive. Hubbard would surpass the 2,000 yard mark on a 16-yard run. Demani Richardson would stop Dylan Stoner for a loss of seven and force a timeout. The Pokes would be stopped short and miss a 46-yard field goal attempt by Amendola. Aggies walk away with only allowing history to happen instead of points.
Aggies Ball: A quick runs sends A&M trailing into halftime.
HALFTIME: Oklahoma State 14, Texas A&M 7
THIRD QUARTER
Cowboys Ball: Finally some life for A&M's defense as the Cowboys would go three and out on two passes intended for Johnson. This would be the second time the Pokes would punt.
Aggies Ball: Mond connected with Jalen Wydermyer for a 20-yard gain to put A&M in Cowboys territory. Smith would keep it on the option for a gain of 19, placing A&M in the red zone. It took three plays, but Mond would find Jhamon Ausbon for a 10-yard touchdown. It's tied in NRG Stadium to begin the third quarter.
Scoring Drive: (60 yards, 7 plays, 3:32)
Texas A&M 14, Oklahoma State 14
Cowboys Ball: Things just aren't going well for the Cowboys. Another drive ends with another three-and-out. A&M's defense is finally making key plays and holding the Cowboys' dangerous offense.
Aggies Ball: Mond connected with Davis on third down to put the Aggies at midfield. The offense stall on the next three plays, leading to the first punt from Mann since the early second quarter.
Cowboys Ball: Landon Wolf would keep the drive alive with a 4-yard gain for the team's first down of the third quarter. Buddy Johnson would make a key stop on the ensuing set to force another punt. Still a tie game with only seconds left in the third quarter.
END OF THIRD QUARTER: Texas A&M 14, OKLAHOMA STATE 14
Aggies Ball: The team is moving backwards as Mond would take a pair of sacks in the third and fourth quarter. Mann comes up with a 40-plus yard punt.
Cowboys Ball: Brown tried to go for the long ball on first down, but Charles Oliver stepped up for a pass deflection. A Michael Clemons sack made in third and long for the Cowboys, who would miss on third down. It's another three-and-out stop for Texas A&M.
Aggies Ball: Mond would run for 17 yards to pick up the first down. Two play later, the junior would rely on his legs for a 67-yard touchdown run to give A&M their first lead of the game.
Scoring Drive: (88 yards, 3 plays, 1:23)
Texas A&M 21, Oklahoma State 14
Cowboys Ball: Hubbard finally made his presence felt since passing the 2K mark with a 42-yard gain. DeMarvin Leal would record his second sack and force a fourth down play. Leal stepped up again with a stop on Sanders for a turnover on downs, giving A&M the ball at their own 30.
Aggies Ball: Davis would gain 15 yards before Mond broke upfield for another 30. Inside the red zone, the team couldn't punch it in with three plays. Settling for a 24-yard Seth Small field goal, the Aggies would go up 10 with under three minutes to play.
Scoring Drive: (9 plays, 59 yards, 5:08)
Texas A&M 24, Oklahoma State 14
Cowboys Ball: Hold on everyone because this game is not over. Following a Johnson 38-yard kickoff return, Brown would find three different receivers for a gain of 29 yards. On third and goal, the Hawaiian transfer would connect with Johnson for the second time to make it a three-point game.
Scoring Drive: (8 plays, 59 yards, 1:48)
Texas A&M 24, Oklahoma State 21
Onside kick: Aggies recover thanks to Spiller. They'll hold on to win.
Final: Texas A&M 24, Oklahoma State 21
