Texas A&M bounces back in 48-10 rout of UL Monroe

Following a controversial 28-26 loss to the No. 2 Clemson Tigers at home last week, the Texas A&M Aggies were faced with the task of preparing for a UL Monroe Warhawks team situated between a heartbreaking defeat and a rendezvous with top-ranked Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

After a slow start in the first half, the Aggies (2-1) managed to pull away behind the arm and legs of Kellen Mond, en route to a 48-10 bounce-back win at Kyle Field over the Warhawks (2-1).

Less than seven minutes into the first quarter, Mond led Texas A&M on a nine-play, 84-yard drive in 3:47 drive that was capped off by a 2-yard Trayveon Williams touchdown run to give the Aggies an early 7-0 lead.

Texas A&M would score three more times in the half with a Mond rushing touchdown, a 40-yard Seth Small field goal and a blocked field goal returned 78 yards for six from Tyrel Dodson. The Warhawks managed a first quarter field goal and a touchdown just before the half to only be behind by two scores, 24-10.

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Midway through the third quarter, Mond rushed for his second score of the day to extend the lead to 31-10. Then again late in the period, Small’s third field goal of the night pushed it up to 34-10.

With eight minutes left in the fourth, Mond connected with Jace Sternberger on a 20-yard scoring strike for his second passing touchdown of the game. It effectively put the Aggies ahead, 41-10.

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Mond finished 16-24 for 210 yards and two touchdowns with 67 yards rushing and two rushing touchdowns, while Williams lead the way on the ground with 128 yards and a score of his own on 22 carries.

UL Monroe managed nearly 330 yards of offense with 230 of it coming through the air, despite the loss. That’s something the Texas A&M defense will have a week to clean up before facing Tua Tagovailoa and an Alabama Crimson Tide team that posted a 62-7 win in Oxford over the Ole Miss Rebels on Saturday.