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A&M Defense Dominates Late to Blank Arizona State 48-20

Texas A&M used a stifling fourth-quarter defense to secure a 48-20 victory over Arizona State at Kyle Field, with two defensive touchdowns sealing the win.

Sasha Yoder

September 13, 20262 min read

NCAA FootballFinal
Arizona State Sun Devils20
Texas A&M Aggies48

September 12, 2026

A Late Surge Seals the Victory

Texas A&M Aggies defeated the Arizona State Sun Devils 48-20 on Saturday at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. The Aggies controlled the final ten minutes of action, outscoring the Sun Devils 24-0 in the fourth quarter to put the contest away.

The decisive stretch of the game featured two defensive touchdowns that highlighted Texas A&M's ability to take over the field when it mattered most. With a home attendance of 107,523, the Aggies extended their winning streak to start the season, finishing the day with a 2-0 record. Conversely, Arizona State dropped to 1-1 after the loss on the road.

Early Back-and-Forth

The first half was competitive, with both teams exchanging blows. Rueben Owens II opened the scoring for Texas A&M with a two-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter. Arizona State responded immediately, as Cutter Boley found Reed Harris for a 21-yard passing touchdown to tie the game at 7-7.

The Sun Devils took a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter when Marcel Reed connected with Isaiah Horton on a four-yard pass. However, the Aggies reeled off points in quick succession. Carson Smith kicked a 30-yard field goal to cut the deficit, followed by David Olano’s 22-yard field goal to give Texas A&M a 17-10 lead before the halftime break.

The first half saw both defenses struggle to stop the opposing offenses, resulting in a total of 27 points scored by the Aggies and 14 by the Sun Devils.

Defensive Dominance in the Fourth

The third quarter saw Arizona State pull within three points, with Carson Smith booting a 35-yard field goal to make it 17-14. But Texas A&M answered with another Marcel Reed-Isaiah Horton touchdown connection, followed by a long drive capped by a Reed Harris touchdown catch off a Boley pass. This brought the score to 24-20 in favor of the Aggies.

The fourth quarter was defined by Texas A&M’s defensive unit. Mario Craver scored on a 33-yard pass from Reed, extending the lead to 31-20. The momentum shifted completely when Marco Jones returned an interception 55 yards for a touchdown, and later, Julio Humphrey returned another interception 45 yards for a score.

David Olano added a 39-yard field goal to cap the scoring, leaving the Sun Devils scoreless in the final period.

Statistical Standouts

Marcel Reed led Texas A&M offensively, completing 15 of 25 passes for 163 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Rueben Owens II rushed for 35 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, while Terry Bussey caught four passes for 58 yards. For Arizona State, Cutter Boley threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns on 21 of 34 attempts, though he also threw two interceptions.

Kyson Brown rushed for 66 yards on 13 carries, and Reed Harris was a dynamic threat, catching nine passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns.

Sources

ESPN

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Sasha Yoder

Sasha Yoder covers Richardson high school and area college sports.

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