Max Johnson Leads Texas A&M Aggies to 17-6 Halftime Lead vs. Arkansas Razorbacks
The Texas A&M Aggies walk into the locker room in the 80th meeting with the Arkansas Razorbacks with a 17-6 lead. The story in AT&T Stadium so far through 30 minutes of play has been the play of the Aggies' defense as they've managed to keep Arkansas out of the endzone.
The Aggies' defense started the game off with a stop as they held the Razorbacks' offense to just a field goal on a long 15-play opening drive. After Arkansas kicker Cameron Little connected on his 52-yard field goal to take an early 3-0 lead, a Conner Weigman-less offense didn't take long to respond.
Aggies QB Max Johnson
In his first start since getting hurt last season against Mississippi State, Max Johnson was perfect on the Aggies' opening drive, completing all five of his passes before finding sophomore sensation Evan Stewart for a 32-yard touchdown to take a 7-3 lead.
The Razorbacks would then answer with another field goal on a 10-play drive. A 36-yard completion from K.J. Jefferson to Raheim Sanders helped set up Arkansas's second field goal.
With the Aggies' lead trimmed to just a point, Johnson started their second drive with a 29-yard pass to Ainas Smith on first down. Yet, following another new set of downs, thanks to an Amari Daniels run, the A&M drive stalled in Arkansas territory as two straight incomplete passes, the first of the game for Johnson, saw the Aggies turn to Randy Bond to hit a 42-yard field goal.
Following an Arkansas punt and an Aggies drive that came up empty after Bond missed a 49-yard field goal that hit the uprights, the A&M defense forced a turnover on downs to give the offense another chance at points before halftime.
Johnson and the Aggies offense made the most of a second chance as he completed four of his five passes for 28 yards before finding Earnest Crownover for a two-yard score.
The Aggies will look to double-dip as they will get the ball to start the second half.