Aggies Recap & Takeaways: Texas A&M Wastes 457 Yards, Fails to Score TD in 17-9 South Carolina Loss

For three quarters, Texas A&M looked capable of stealing a road win at South Carolina ...

But then the fourth quarter arrived.

The Texas A&M Aggies fell 17-9 to No. 21 South Carolina on Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., after 457 yards of offense produced three field goals, a missed fourth attempt and zero touchdowns.

Two weeks to prepare ... and that's the result?!

Marco Jones sacked LaNorris Sellers for a 16-yard loss on South Carolina's opening possession.

Owens answered with a 40-yard run, immediately putting the Aggies in scoring position.

Then came a head-scratcher.

On fourth-and-7 from the Gamecocks' 30, kicker Olano ran for three yards.

Turnover on downs.

Both defenses forced punts before Reed put together a long possession that carried into the second quarter.

Scoreless after one.

1. What was that call? - Olano running on fourth-and-7 wasted an opportunity created by Owens. The gamble never came close.

2. Jones sets the tone - His 16-yard sack helped kill South Carolina's opening drive.

3. The warning signs were early - A 40-yard run and excellent field position somehow produced nothing.

Olano connected from 40 yards.

3-0 Aggies.

Sellers answered with a 40-yard completion to Brady Hunt before finding Mazeo Bennett Jr. for a one-yard touchdown.

7-3 Gamecocks.

Bryce Perry-Wright later strip-sacked Sellers, and Brandon Davis-Swain recovered.

Texas A&M moved inside South Carolina's 20, but consecutive negative plays pushed the Aggies backward.

Olano made a 46-yarder as time expired.

7-6 South Carolina at halftime.

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1. A takeaway wasted - The defense got the ball back. The offense gained 50 yards and still settled for three.

2. Backward at the worst time - Texas A&M reached the 20, then lost eight yards on consecutive plays.

3. Olano kept them alive - Without his two field goals, the Aggies would've been shut out at halftime.

Owens opened the half with a 44-yard run.

An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty disrupted the drive, but Olano connected from 44 yards.

9-7 Aggies.

Reed then led a 15-play drive to South Carolina's 7.

Consecutive false starts pushed Texas A&M backward, and Olano missed a 30-yard field goal.

South Carolina's Mason Orsan also missed from 49 yards.

1. Owens did his part - Two runs totaling 84 yards. Just three points from the resulting possessions.

2. Self-inflicted damage - Two false starts turned second-and-goal from the 7 into second-and-goal from the 17.

3. A gift thrown away - South Carolina's penalty gave A&M first-and-goal at the 7. The Aggies left with nothing.

READ MORE: Aggies Head Back to Columbia With an Ugly Problem Mike Elko Must Fix

Orsan's 43-yard field goal put South Carolina ahead.

10-9 Gamecocks.

Texas A&M couldn't answer, punting after Reed threw consecutive incompletions.

Given another opportunity, Reed found TK Norman for 19 yards, but a 14-yard sack on fourth down ended the possession.

One play later, Sellers broke free for a 41-yard touchdown.

17-9 Gamecocks.

Texas A&M reached the 10 on its final possession, but two incompletions ended the game.

1. No fourth-quarter answer - Texas A&M entered the quarter leading and never scored again.

2. Protection breaks down - The fourth-down sack ended the Aggies' last realistic chance to take the lead.

3. Sellers finishes it - His 41-yard run turned a one-point deficit into an eight-point hole.

Owens finished with 137 yards on 19 carries, while Isaiah Horton caught five passes for 78 yards.

Now 4-5 overall and 1-5 in SEC play, Texas A&M needs two wins in its final three games — Tennessee, Oklahoma and Texas — to become bowl eligible. Tennessee visits Kyle Field on November 14.

Owens ran through South Carolina. Reed moved the ball. The Aggies spent four quarters finding ways not to score.

And with three games remaining, Elko is running out of chances to fix it.

There's no shortage of yards on the stat sheet, but just nine points on the scoreboard?

Tennessee, Oklahoma and Texas won't care how many yards his offense gains.

Neither should anybody else.

The Aggies look to secure their first win of of the month in upset fashion when it plays host to No. 13 Tennessee on Nov. 14.