Halftime: Ainias Smith Finds End Zone For First Time, Texas A&M Aggies Lead 21-7 Over South Carolina

For the first time this season, Ainias Smith has found the end zone as a receiving threat.

COLLEGE STATION -- Well, at least Jimbo Fisher is being aggressive with the play-calling. 

Texas A&M leads 21-7 over South Carolina at the half after Fisher elected to rely on fourth-down conversions. Max Johnson picked up a pair of quarterback sneaks to extend drives, including one that led to a game-tying touchdown. 

The Aggies (4-3, 2-2 SEC) are a perfect 3-for-3 on fourth-down attempts. 

South Carolina's Spencer Rattler remains the "last man standing" behind a turnstyle offensive line. And drops from receivers not named Xavier Legette have turned promising drives into pitiful punts. 

But Rattler's inability to avoid A&M's pass rush also cost the Gamecocks downs on drives that should have been promising. He was credited with three intentional grounding calls deep in South Carolina territory, leading to a trio of punts right back to A&M. 

With Le'Veon Moss out due to an undisclosed injury, freshman phenom Rueben Owens became the face of the ground game, totaling () yards on (). Owens, the five-star from El Campo, tied the game at 7-7 with a 14-yard run with nine minutes remaining in the half. 

South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler delivers a pass downfield against Clemson at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C.  / USA Today

Ainias Smith moved into A&M's top 10 of all-purpose yards with a 26-yard reception to set the Aggies in the red zone. On 3rd-and-2, South Carolina (5-2, 1-3 SEC) was called for an offsides penalty to give A&M a fresh set of downs to set up a 1-yard touchdown run from Amari Daniels. 

Smith, who scored an 82-yard punt return touchdown against Arkansas in the Southwest Classic, reached the end zone for the first time offensively with a 42-yard score in the closing minutes. Smith finished the first half with four catches for 77 yards and the score. 

The Aggies benefitted from exceptional field position thanks to a fair catch interference call against the Gamecocks. 

Rattler finished 8-of-14 for 123 yards. He was sacked four times, two of which came from defensive back Bryce Anderson. Johnson finished 11-of-15 for 113 yards and a score. 

Combined, A&M and South Carolina are 6-of-18 on third-down conversions. The Gamecocks will receive the ball to begin the second half.