Francis Mauigoa is looking forward to another gutsy battle against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl quarterfinals. It could be another matchup decided by the big guys at the line of scrimmage.
The Miami Hurricanes had an extreme outing against the Texas A&M Aggies in the first round of the College Football Playoffs, which resulted in victory, with a final score of 10-3. It wasn't a game determined by which team would score more touchdowns, but rather, which offensive and defensive linemen would execute better. It was a battle of the "trenches," which is a common theme with Mario Cristobal.
Edge rushers Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor wreaked havoc, combining for 10 total tackles, five solos and five assists, 4.5 sacks, and 5.5 tackles for loss.
The Hurricanes also got great contributions from cornerback Keionte Scott, finishing with 10 total tackles, five solos and five assists, two sacks, three tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. It was an outstanding performance from the redshirt senior, who missed the last couple of regular-season games due to a lower extremity injury.
Meanwhile, on the other side, the offensive line did more than a good enough job of protecting quarterback Carson Beck. They only allowed two sacks, which was something the Aggies specialized in throughout the regular season, leading the nation with 41, alongside the Oklahoma Sooners.
It was a difficult environment to execute offensively. However, the offensive line led the charge in the fourth quarter, creating a gap for junior running back Mark Fletcher Jr. to explode for a 56-yard rush, which resulted in a Malachi Toney game-winning touchdown.
Junior Francis Mauigoa recalled the "good feeling" of the explosive play:
"The o-line always wants to run the ball," he said. "I feel like that's the model for every offensive lineman out there. It's a good feeling to not only contribute in pass blocking, but run blocking feels different because you're paving the way. That's one thing that we take pride in. We were excited to help Mark Fletcher do his thing. You see him, he's a bad guy out there. We're just grateful to be a part of him, being able to do his own thing."
The 20-year-old has played a crucial role in the Hurricanes' success this year, especially with making Beck one of the least pressured quarterbacks in the nation. He earned First-Team All-ACC honors and won the ACC's Jacobs Blocking Trophy.
The Aggies were tough, but Mauigoa showed respect to the big guys on the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Hurricanes' opponent in the Cotton Bowl quarterfinals.
"Their d-line is the power of their defense," he added. "These guys work so hard and they're who they are because of them—a lot of All-Americans all around the board."
However, Buckeyes' defensive tackle Kayden McDonald didn't share the same courtesy.
"I feel like the preparation I put in," the junior All-American said. "I won't be blocked. Whatever they got for us, we're coming."
The Hurricanes had a lot said about them from the Aggies before the matchup, then responded on the field. There's history between the two programs, with anticipation already building, and more fuel being added to the fire. It's going to be an exciting game on New Year's Eve, Dec. 31st, 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPN.
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