Max Johnson Relieves Injured Conner Weigman, Aggies Beat Auburn

The Texas A&M Aggies were without starting quarterback Conner Weigman for the entire second half, but still opened Southeastern Conference play with a victory against the Auburn Tigers.

Texas A&M quarterback Max Johnson threw for 123 yards and two touchdowns in relief of an injured Conner Weigman, as the Aggies defeated the Auburn Tigers 27-10 at Kyle Field Saturday.

Texas A&M (3-1, 1-0 SEC) utilized a strong third quarter in which it outscored Auburn (3-1, 0-1 SEC) 14-0 and out-gained it 146-2 to help build a big enough cushion to cruise in the fourth quarter.

The Tigers mounted a comeback attempt in the fourth, as cornerback Kayin Lee put his helmet on the football forcing Texas A&M running back Rueben Owens to fumble. The ball popped up into the air and into defensive lineman Eugene Asante's arms, who returned it 67 yards for a touchdown dodging head coach Jimbo Fisher in the process to trim the Tigers' deficit to 10 points.

Auburn drove down to Texas A&M's 28-yard line but after a five-yard loss and a holding penalty, the Tigers were forced to punt which allowed the Aggies to seal the game.

Running back Amari Daniels' 79-yard run helped set up a 4-yard touchdown run by Le'Veon Moss to extend the lead to 27-10 with just under four minutes to go in the game.

The Aggies only held a 6-3 advantage at halftime after kicker Randy Bond nailed 51- and 32-yard field goals, but the more important thing on their mind was the health of Weigman, who exited in the first half with an ankle injury.

He limped to the locker room early to get evaluated but did not return to the game. Weigman completed 8-of-14 passes for 70 yards before his injury.

Texas A&M's defense kept all three Auburn quarterbacks — Payton Thorne, Robby Ashford and Holden Geriner — uncomfortable, recording five sacks and holding the Tigers to 56 passing yards as a team.

The Aggies head to Dallas, Texas, where they will take on the Arkansas Razorbacks in the 80th rendition of the Southwest Classic next Saturday.