Halftime: Texas A&M Aggies Trail Big Against Oklahoma State Cowboys In Texas Bowl
HOUSTON -- Beaten and bruised, Texas A&M marched its way to a 7-5 finish in the regular season.
The sentiment carried over into bowl season.
Starting quarterback Jaylen Henderson left the game after suffering a shoulder injury on the first play from scrimmage in the TaxAct Texas Bowl against No. 20 Oklahoma State. The Cowboys lead 24-6 at the half and will receive the ball to begin the third quarter.
Henderson, who started the final three games for A&M in place of Conner Weigman and Max Johnson, rolled outside the pocket to connect with Jahdae Walker for an 11-yard gain. As the ball left his hands, Henderson left the ground, colliding with an Oklahoma State defender before hitting the turf.
Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed (10) runs with the ball as Oklahoma State Cowboys linebacker Nickolas Martin (4) attempts to make a tackle during the first quarter at NRG Stadium.
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Henderson would be placed in an air cast and immediately left the field at NRG Stadium for further evaluation. True freshman Marcel Reed took over with the first-team offense for the remainder of the half.
Reed finished 8 of 15 passing for 124 yards. Moose Muhammad led A&M with two catches for 51 yards.
Forced to contain Doak Walker Award winner Ollie Gordon between the tackles, A&M was met with a challenge early. For the most part, consider the mission accomplished. Gordon finished with 60 yards on 15 carries, with his longest play coming on a 22-yard run in the first quarter.
Alan Bowman wasted little time building a rapport with Rashod Owens against an A&M secondary missing both of its starting cornerbacks. Owens finished with five catches for 97 yards and a 13-yard touchdown.
Bowman finished the first half 18 of 27 passing for 215 yards and a touchdown. Backup quarterback Gunnar Gundy took over play-calling duties inside the red zone during the second quarter for a 10-yard touchdown run.
The Cowboys converted on 4th-and-2 to keep the drive alive with just over a minute to play. Bowman found Braden Cassity for a gain of 17 to set up a Gordon 1-yard touchdown run, extending OSU's lead by 18.
The Aggies entered Saturday down nearly a dozen starters, including defensive lineman Fadil Diggs and Walter Nolen, tight end Jake Johnson, and receiver Evan Stewart, who all entered the transfer portal. Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, defensive lineman McKinnley Jackson, and offensive lineman Layden Robinson opted out of the game to prepare for the NFL draft.
Senior receiver Ainias Smith was ruled out earlier this month after undergoing surgery for a broken finger suffered against No. 13 LSU in the regular-season finale.
