A last-second interception snatches victory. Texas A&M agonizes over five yards, a season-ending heartbreak against Miami's relentless defense.
Texas A&M coach Mike Elko summarized Saturday's 10-3 loss to Miami in the College Football Playoffs at Kyle Field in three bitter words.
"Five more yards.''
The game pitting No. 7 A&M vs. No. 10 Miami was predicted to be all about defense ... and unfortunately for the Aggies, it was.
Miami essentially shut down Texas A&M’s offense for the entirety of the game before a late mad scramble saw Aggies QB Marcell Reed push his team to the 5-yard line with seconds remaining when a Reed interception - the Aggies' third turnover of the day - ended the comeback attempt.
Said Aggies coach Elko: “We weren’t able to get it done. We came up five yards short, and that’s something we’ll have to live with through the offseason.”
Of course, we could argue that there were other chances in this game to put up touchdowns, but we're not sure that's quite true. Neither team managed a TD until the 1:44 mark, when Miami receiver Malachi Toney recorded an 11-yard score to help Miami to go up 10-3. Texas A&M then made its drive before Miami freshman defensive back Bryce Fitzgerald picked off Reed in the end zone for his second interception of the day.
The Kyle Field crowd was a factor, but not enough of one.
The wind was a factor, too, as Miami kicker Carter Davis missed three field goals and Texas A&M kicker Jared Zirkel had a 22-yard attempt blocked early in the game before he was replaced by Randy Bond, who scored the Aggies’ only points on a 35-yard boot in the fourth quarter.
Another difference-maker? Miami running back Mark Fletcher rushed for a career-high 172 yards, including a 56-yard run on that late game-winning drive.
Miami (11-2) now advances to play No. 2 Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 31.
Texas A&M (11-2) ends its season with back-to-back losses after the school's first 11-0 start since 1992.
“A little disappointed,'' Elko said, "we didn’t finish at the end.''