BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – The No. 20 Texas A&M soccer group fell to No. 7 Notre Dame, 23-13, in its 2024 season opener Saturday evening in entrance of a raucous crowd of 107,315 at Kyle Subject.
Le’Veon Moss compiled 72 yards on a career-best 20 carries to steer the bottom assault for the Aggies. Quarterback Conner Weigman completed 12-of-30 passing for 100 yards and two interceptions.
On the defensive finish, Taurean York and Will Lee III led the Maroon & White with 9 tackles every. Switch Nic Scourton topped Texas A&M with 1.5 tackles for loss in his Aggie debut.
After Texas A&M gained the toss and elected to obtain the opening kick, the Maroon & White struck first with a 34-yard discipline objective courtesy of Randy Bond. The graduate pupil’s fortieth profession make capped off a ten play 58-yard drive. The Combating Irish responded on the following drive with a 46-yard discipline objective to even the rating at 3-3. Following a pair of punts from either side, the rating remained locked on the finish of the primary quarter.
In the identical trend as the primary, a pair of discipline targets accounted for all of the scoring within the second quarter as the 2 sides headed into the break tied at 6-6. Within the opening minute of the second quarter, Bond knocked in a 49-yard discipline objective. Notre Dame later responded with a 26-yarder with 8:32 remaining within the half.
The Combating Irish took their first lead of the evening, 13-6, on the 6:50 mark of the third quarter behind a 47-yard speeding landing from Jadarian Worth.
After a scoreless third, the Aggies discovered paydirt as Moss punched it in from a yard out to cap off a ten play 65-yard drive. Bond’s further level tied the sport at 13-13 with 11:49 displaying on the clock. Following a pair of punts from each groups, Notre Dame pieced collectively an eight play 85-yard drive to leap again in entrance for good, 20-13, on a 21-yard Jeremiyah Love landing run.
The Maroon & White had been unable to reply on the following drive as they turned it over on downs at their very own 33-yard line. Regardless of holding the Combating Irish from a primary down, Notre Dame was capable of tack on a 46-yard discipline objective to make the ultimate 23-13.
Group Notes
- The Texas A&M-Notre Dame matchup marked the fourth-largest crowd in program historical past with 107,315 in attendance.
- Tonight’s captains towards Notre Dame had been season-long captains sophomore LB Taurean York and junior OL Trey Zuhn III.
Particular person Notes
- Junior RB Le’Veon Moss registered double-digit carries for the sixth time in his profession. His career-high 20 totes resulted in 67 yards and one TD, the seventh of his profession.
- Junior DB Will Lee III tied his profession excessive with 9 tackles, together with a game-high eight solo takedowns. He added one PBU and 0.5 TFL.
- Sophomore LB Taurean York shared the group lead with 9 tackles.
- Senior DL Shemar Turner registered a career-high seven tackles, together with 4 solo takedowns and 0.5 TFL.
- Freshman P Tyler White boomed a pair of 60-plus yard punts, together with a protracted of 62, to complete with a median of 54.0.
- Graduate Okay Randy Bond made a number of discipline targets in a sport for the thirteenth time in his profession, upping his profession complete to 41 made discipline targets, good for ninth all-time.
transcript courtesy Caption Execs
COACH ELKO: First off, hats off to Notre Dame. They got here in right here and so they beat us. There was actually no two methods round it.
To the Aggie followers, I thanks. Thanks for displaying up tonight. Thanks for making this a extremely special occasion. You deserved higher, and we did not give it to you. So we’ll return to work, and we’ll proceed to drive this factor to turn into the product that you simply guys need this and deserve for this program to be.
When it comes to the sport, we misplaced the turnover battle 2-0. That is not going to result in loads of profitable video games. We had some actually essential penalties within the first half that I assumed ended some drives after we had some issues going within the second half. Within the third quarter, we actually struggled to get into rhythm on offense. We put the one drive collectively to tie it and actually simply might by no means go on the market and get issues going constantly. After which defensively, I assumed the best way we defended the run was actually poor. We gave up virtually 200 yards speeding. You are not going to win soccer video games on this convention doing that. So we’ll determine find out how to repair it and get higher.
So from there, questions.
Q. I heard you say through the sport that Conner [Weigman] wanted to calm down. What does he want do shifting ahead after tonight?
COACH ELKO: Yeah. I simply assume we have got to return to the tape, and we have got to determine find out how to put him in higher conditions to get him comfy.
, the problem tonight was they had been going to play us in man all evening. So there’s not loads of easy accessibility throws to get him comfy and get him in rhythm. Persons are going to must win to try this, and we simply weren’t capable of get it going.
It appeared like whether or not it was him lacking — you realize, we had an opportunity to hit Noah [Thomas] on the large over route and type of overshot him by slightly bit and obtained the decide or guys not getting the separation that we wanted to get.
A method or one other, we simply weren’t capable of get it finished. We tried to do some various things to create some rubs and picks, and that did not get it going.
Yeah, it was actually, actually exhausting as a result of he was not in rhythm, and there was nothing straightforward to get. And so we saved making an attempt, we saved making an attempt, we simply could not get there.
Q. Yeah, Mike [Elko], you spoke concerning the run protection. Off the highest of your head, good off the sphere, do you’ve gotten any ideas, any theories what the issue was and particularly on that next-to-last scoring drive from Notre Dame went 85 yards?
COACH ELKO: Yeah, it was a litany of issues. I assumed we might have finished a greater job up entrance controlling the road of scrimmage for certain. We missed-fit some issues. I feel that created a few of the giant runs. There was some crack-replace conditions the place we did not present up the best way we wanted to. After which on the 2 lengthy runs, we simply missed tackles and missed tackles.
On the primary landing, they obtained him to 13. I feel we missed three tackles with guys that had been proper there and will have downed the soccer. We did not get it finished.
After which on the final one, we missed the deal with within the gap, and the child scored it via as a result of we had been in zero, making an attempt to promote out to cease the run there. So there wasn’t a lot protection behind the primary line.
Q. Mike, what did you consider your offensive line and the way it held up towards Notre Dame’s defensive entrance?
COACH ELKO: It did not really feel just like the pocket was soiled. It felt like we had time to throw. It felt like we had been capable of get slightly bit going within the run sport, not a ton, however we had been capable of get slightly bit going within the run sport. It definitely felt like that was slightly bit extra impartial than it was them having the whole higher hand.
Q. Understanding you wanted to attain a landing on the finish of the sport, did you are feeling such as you wanted to be in passing conditions although you had all three timeouts?
COACH ELKO: Properly, we ran it on the second and ten to get it to fourth and two. After which on fourth and two, we referred to as the play that we thought was one of the best play to get us the primary down.
We definitely felt like popping out within the drive, we needed to get going with the throw sport. Once more, on the third and ten, we did run it. We obtained it to eight, obtained it all the way down to fourth and two. We felt just like the fourth and two was the easiest way to get us the 2 yards, and we simply did not get it finished.
Q. Within the second half, the little heavier rotation of vast receivers, how a lot of that was your plan? How a lot of it was looking for a man who would possibly might get the separation?
COACH ELKO: Most likely slightly little bit of each. Because it began to go on and the warmth and mugginess on the market, and also you need to simply preserve guys contemporary. Once more, you are attempting to search out the rhythm of who might get on the market the separation that we have to get the factor gone.
Q. The ESPN cameras caught Conner [Weigman] getting sick. Was that only a matter of the circumstances exterior, or one thing you introduced in —
COACH ELKO: Yeah, that was him. Within the warmth of the second, he obtained slightly bit sick and puking rally.
Q. Coach, how was going through Riley [Leonard] once more? And the way did his speeding potential have an effect on you on the protection?
COACH ELKO: Yeah. It wasn’t enjoyable. I knew it would not be. He made a bunch of big-time performs. He made a play on the third and 5. He made some runs on the final drive. He did what he did and made sufficient performs to win the soccer sport. I advised him I liked him after the sport. I will probably be rooting for that child for the remainder of his life.
Q. What did you see from Le’Veon Moss tonight? And what are your exceptions of him shifting ahead?
COACH ELKO: Once more, it was going to be a difficult evening working the soccer. There was going to be seven individuals within the field just about each single snap.
So, I assumed, for probably the most half, he pushed the pile ahead. I assumed he ran exhausting. We’ll have to determine find out how to get him slightly bit more room to get him going slightly bit higher.
I assumed, for probably the most half, he did what we requested him to do.
Q. Coach [Mike Elko], defensively, y’all had been actually good on third down for a lot of the evening — for the entire evening, two for 12. However they did have a few drives. They weren’t essentially third downs, particularly the primary and 25 popping out of the outlet. What did you see they had been capable of do within the fantastic moments to make these performs after they hadn’t essentially been having that success all through the evening?
COACH ELKO: We had been actually, actually unhealthy off schedule tonight on protection. Second and eight to second and ten. After we return and watch the movie, I feel it is going to be one of many worst down-and-distances of the evening.
I feel we have got to have a look at what we’re doing. Now we have to have a look at how we’re difficult throws. I feel we obtained actually comfortable in our protection in these down-and-distance.
, virtually like we type of obtained on our heels slightly bit as a result of we gained first down, and that is the precise reverse of what it’s best to do. Once more, we had been conscious of it. We had been making an attempt to get it mounted and corrected. We simply could not get it finished.
However in the end on the finish of the day, we had the third and 5 backed up and had an opportunity to make a play to get off the sphere and did not do it. On the finish of the day, that is the turning level within the sport.
We have them third and 5 on the 20-yard line, and we do not get them off the sphere. I feel if we get them off the sphere there, they’re punting to us, and we have got the ball with an opportunity to go down and win it. We do not make the play. After which impulsively, they get some runs going, they get some rhythm, the child makes an important catch on their sideline. The subsequent factor you realize, they’re lining up in field-goal vary and they also hit the run.
Q. Mike [Elko], going again to Conner [Weigman] getting comfy, how a lot of that do you attribute to, such as you mentioned, receivers not getting the win? However, additionally, is there a few of that attributing to first reside sport in a brand new system and getting acclimated to it?
COACH ELKO: I am certain it is all of it. While you go have a look at it, it is going to be the performs that we referred to as and ensuring we’re doing the fitting issues to get children in the fitting spots to achieve success. It is going to be Conner delivering the ball in the fitting spots on time. It is going to be receivers creating separation. It is occurring the O-line defending. There’s going to be a breakdown on each play that in the end results in the success that you simply’re not having.
What I advised the fellows within the locker room is for us to get this program over the hump, we’ll must discover ways to put ourselves in place to play the sport the best way we have to in these moments, and we simply did not do this.
Q. Trey, it seemed such as you guys had been capable of get some push and slightly momentum at occasions. What had been they doing that prevented you guys from constantly getting the ball down the sphere?
TREY ZUHN, III: I do not assume it was something they did. I feel it was ourselves. We beat ourselves. We weren’t constant mentally and bodily. So we have simply obtained stuff to wash up to ensure we’re the identical group each single down.
Q. You guys actually dedicated to the run on that landing drive. What was actually working for you guys? And the way did you are feeling the run sport was going?
TREY ZUHN, III: I simply assume we had been centered, and we had been straining as exhausting as we might. And we purchased into, hey, we’ll get this in the long run zone. And we simply want to try this each single drive. Did not execute it on the opposite drives.
Q. Trey, what do you are feeling like the largest takeaway was from an opener like this that you simply guys are going to study from shifting ahead?
TREY ZUHN, III: , I feel that was group. Scoreboard confirmed they had been the higher group. However I do not assume they had been the higher group. I feel we beat ourselves.
We realized that we’ve got glimpses the place we’re a extremely good soccer group. However we have to discover ways to focus and pressure each single play, each single down, each single drive to achieve success.
Q. Coach (Mike Elko) talked about he felt just like the followers deserved slightly bit extra from tonight. Does that add slightly bit extra sting to the locker room? Is that type of the way you felt?
TREY ZUHN, III: Proper. It stings. It stings unhealthy. However we’re protecting our heads up. Now we have loads of soccer this season. It is time to get to work tomorrow.
Q. Trey, you talked about — I do know you guys weren’t capable of constantly carry out on the degree y’all need to. Nevertheless it did look like y’all had been capable of preserve them from simply utterly having a heyday defensively.
Is that what kind of provides y’all perception into the truth that this was extra us beating ourselves? It isn’t like they had been ending eight, 9 sacks and simply manhandling us?
TREY ZUHN, III: Yeah, proper. Undoubtedly. It was all on us. We simply beat ourselves. There’s actually nothing else to it.
Q. Simply out of your perspective, what was Conner [Weigman]’s demeanor all through the sport? Had a troublesome evening. What did you say to him as a group captain?
TREY ZUHN, III: , issues weren’t going nice the entire time. I simply mentioned, hey, preserve your head up. Preserve throwing the ball. Preserve being assured.
He is an important participant, and he’ll take us to nice locations this season. I feel he did an important job staying composed all through the entire sport. I am unable to wait to see what he does the remainder of the season.
Q. Hey, Taurean. While you have a look at what occurred within the run sport, particularly as the sport went on, they began to get chunks of yardage. The place had been the breakdowns, in your opinion?
TAUREAN YORK: I really feel just like the breakdown was me. I missed the deal with on the lengthy landing. And naturally, I do know they ran for 200 yards. I might most likely say three quarters of that was within the second half. So we obtained to lock in additional. I really feel prefer it’s on me on the finish of the day. I’ve to get these guys proper.
Q. As they had been actually marching down the sphere on the final landing drive, what had been you simply telling your guys on the market to attempt to cease the bleeding?
TAUREAN YORK: Now we have to get a cease. They had been making an attempt to run the four-man drill. And we’re making an attempt to bleed the clock down as a lot as we did. And we see that is why they ran the clock all the best way all the way down to the two-minute warning. Now we have to get a cease, get off the sphere.
Q. Regardless that y’all had been doing rather well on third down. It appeared like each time a predictable passing state of affairs and possibly the group anticipating a sack, revving up, even when y’all obtained off the sphere after a brief acquire, y’all had been having bother getting a giant splash play and placing these collectively. It appeared like that was a part of some frustration towards the second half because it constructed up. How did y’all attempt to cope with that?
TAUREAN YORK: We misplaced the turnover battle 2-0. And our primary key to victory is to win the turnover margin, and we misplaced that tonight. So the offense is its personal separate deal. I’ve my religion in Conner Weigman, after all, however our protection, we obtained to get turnovers. Now we have to power it. The ball is the sport, in the end, we did not get the ball out tonight.
Q. Simply type of speaking about getting stress on the quarterback, not loads of stress on Riley Leonard tonight. How do you guys type of go about fixing that and simply getting extra penetration, I suppose, into the backfield like that?
TAUREAN YORK: Clearly, affecting the quarterback is a giant key to affecting the sport in the end. You noticed final 12 months we misplaced our quarterback and the trajectory of how our season went. So if we are able to have an effect on the quarterback, we felt we’d be in good palms.
We needed to make the most of clearly — what was it — six profession begins. We simply did not do this tonight. We simply obtained to get again to the chalkboard and prepare for McNeese [State].
Q. Taurean, what did you are feeling such as you realized about your group on this season opener?
TAUREAN YORK: We obtained the battle. We obtained to battle. The important thing to victory is within the fourth quarter. We misplaced that in the end.
I take pleasure within the protection as nicely. So for them working 198 yards, that is no bueno. It begins with me, so it is going to be mounted.
Q. Taurean, as a frontrunner of this locker room, what do you say to your guys to type of compartmentalize this one, put it up to now and transfer on to McNeese [State]?
TAUREAN YORK: I imply, it is already over. You are going to kill your self all week if you consider it, attempt to beat your self up about it. So, after all, we’ll be our largest critics, after all. Sunday, we’ll watch the movie, prepare for McNeese.
However, I imply, the sport is over with, and we simply obtained to get our focus proper for Saturday.
Q. Taurean, are you able to speak slightly bit about what communication was like not simply between you and your teammates but in addition what it was like utilizing the in-helmet communication, the way you felt that labored tonight?
TAUREAN YORK: I prefer it. I prefer it rather a lot. It was loud on each play as a result of we’re at Kyle Subject and twelfth Man confirmed up.
I imply, I am unhappy that we could not get them the victory tonight as a result of they confirmed up and so they confirmed out all week. After all, you noticed the ticket pool line. So I hate to allow them to down, but it surely’s a part of the sport. So simply obtained to get again prepared for subsequent week.
Q. Simply as a group, as an entire, did this really feel like a chance misplaced?
TAUREAN YORK: Alternative misplaced? I imply, yeah, you are on a giant stage. You could have all people on this planet coming to observe this sport. All people world wide might be watching this sport tonight. And also you hate to lose it. But when our season goes how we expect it’ll go, we’ll be again on the stage. And I’ve all the religion within the Texas A&M Aggies to be again on the stage.
Q. Taurean, y’all held Notre Dame to 65 yards speeding within the first half however then gave up 133 within the second. Do you assume they made an adjustment, or was it one thing else that had that occur?
TAUREAN YORK: Lack of focus, and it begins with me. And I will proceed to harp on that, that it begins with me on the finish of the day.
I imply — what was it — a 50-yard landing run due to a missed deal with on my finish. So I am in the end going to take the blame. You swing large; you miss large. However it’s what it’s. You have to transfer on.