BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – The No. 20 Texas A&M soccer staff fell to No. 7 Notre Dame, 23-13, in its 2024 season opener Saturday night time in entrance of a raucous crowd of 107,315 at Kyle Discipline.
Le’Veon Moss compiled 72 yards on a career-best 20 carries to guide 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 area 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 area objective to even the rating at 3-3. Following a pair of punts from each side, the rating remained locked on the finish of the primary quarter.
In the identical style as the primary, a pair of area objectives 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 area 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 night time, 13-6, on the 6:50 mark of the third quarter behind a 47-yard speeding landing from Jadarian Value.
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 exhibiting 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 area objective to make the ultimate 23-13.
Crew 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 staff 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 an extended of 62, to complete with a mean of 54.0.
- Graduate Okay Randy Bond made a number of area objectives in a recreation for the thirteenth time in his profession, upping his profession complete to 41 made area objectives, good for ninth all-time.
transcript courtesy Caption Professionals
COACH ELKO: First off, hats off to Notre Dame. They got here in right here they usually beat us. There was actually no two methods round it.
To the Aggie followers, I thanks. Thanks for exhibiting up tonight. Thanks for making this a extremely big day. 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 develop into the product that you just 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 numerous profitable video games. We had some actually crucial penalties within the first half that I assumed ended some drives once 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 may by no means go on the market and get issues going persistently. 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 work out easy methods to repair it and get higher.
So from there, questions.
Q. I heard you say in the course of the recreation that Conner [Weigman] wanted to calm down. What does he want do transferring ahead after tonight?
COACH ELKO: Yeah. I simply suppose we have to return to the tape, and we have to determine easy methods to put him in higher conditions to get him comfy.
You recognize, the problem tonight was they had been going to play us in man all night time. So there’s not numerous quick access throws to get him comfy and get him in rhythm. Individuals are going to should win to do 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 massive over route and type of overshot him by a bit bit and received the decide or guys not getting the separation that we would have liked to get.
A method or one other, we simply weren’t capable of get it executed. 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 onerous as a result of he was not in rhythm, and there was nothing simple to get. And so we saved attempting, we saved attempting, we simply could not get there.
Q. Yeah, Mike [Elko], you spoke concerning the run protection. Off the highest of your head, excellent off the sphere, do you’ve 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 may have executed a greater job up entrance controlling the road of scrimmage for certain. We missed-fit some issues. I feel that created among the giant runs. There was some crack-replace conditions the place we did not present up the best way we would have liked to. After which on the 2 lengthy runs, we simply missed tackles and missed tackles.
On the primary landing, they received 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 executed.
After which on the final one, we missed the deal with within the gap, and the child scored it by way of as a result of we had been in zero, attempting 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 a bit bit going within the run recreation, not a ton, however we had been capable of get a bit bit going within the run recreation. It definitely felt like that was a bit bit extra impartial than it was them having the entire higher hand.
Q. Understanding you wanted to attain a landing on the finish of the sport, did you’re feeling such as you wanted to be in passing conditions although you had all three timeouts?
COACH ELKO: Effectively, we ran it on the second and ten to get it to fourth and two. After which on fourth and two, we known as the play that we thought was the most effective play to get us the primary down.
We definitely felt like popping out within the drive, we needed to get going with the throw recreation. Once more, on the third and ten, we did run it. We received it to eight, received it right 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 executed.
Q. Within the second half, the little heavier rotation of extensive receivers, how a lot of that was your plan? How a lot of it was looking for a man who would possibly may get the separation?
COACH ELKO: Most likely a bit little bit of each. Because it began to go on and the warmth and mugginess on the market, and also you wish to simply hold guys contemporary. Once more, you are attempting to seek out the rhythm of who may 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 situations outdoors, or one thing you introduced in —
COACH ELKO: Yeah, that was him. Within the warmth of the second, he received a bit 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 recreation. I instructed him I cherished him after the sport. I can 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 transferring ahead?
COACH ELKO: Once more, it was going to be a difficult night time operating the soccer. There was going to be seven folks within the field just about each single snap.
So, I assumed, for essentially the most half, he pushed the pile ahead. I assumed he ran onerous. We’ll have to determine easy methods to get him a bit bit extra space to get him going a bit bit higher.
I assumed, for essentially 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 many of the night time — for all the night time, 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 opening. What did you see they had been capable of do within the superb moments to make these performs once they hadn’t essentially been having that success all through the night time?
COACH ELKO: We had been actually, actually dangerous off schedule tonight on protection. Second and eight to second and ten. Once we return and watch the movie, I feel it will be one of many worst down-and-distances of the night time.
I feel we have to take a look at what we’re doing. We’ve to take a look at how we’re difficult throws. I feel we received actually tender in our protection in these down-and-distance.
You recognize, virtually like we type of received on our heels a bit bit as a result of we gained first down, and that is the precise reverse of what you need to do. Once more, we had been conscious of it. We had been attempting to get it fastened and corrected. We simply could not get it executed.
However finally 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 recreation.
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 the ball with an opportunity to go down and win it. We do not make the play. After which abruptly, they get some runs going, they get some rhythm, the child makes an ideal catch on their sideline. The following 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 stay recreation in a brand new system and getting acclimated to it?
COACH ELKO: I am certain it is all of it. Whenever you go take a look at it, it will be the performs that we known as and ensuring we’re doing the correct issues to get children in the correct spots to achieve success. It is going to be Conner delivering the ball in the correct 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 finally results in the success that you just’re not having.
What I instructed the fellows within the locker room is for us to get this program over the hump, we will should learn to put ourselves in place to play the sport the best way we have to in these moments, and we simply did not try this.
Q. Trey, it appeared such as you guys had been capable of get some push and a bit momentum at instances. What had been they doing that prevented you guys from persistently getting the ball down the sphere?
TREY ZUHN, III: I do not suppose it was something they did. I feel it was ourselves. We beat ourselves. We weren’t constant mentally and bodily. So we have simply received stuff to scrub up to verify we’re the identical staff 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’re feeling the run recreation was going?
TREY ZUHN, III: I simply suppose we had been centered, and we had been straining as onerous as we may. And we purchased into, hey, we will get this in the long run zone. And we simply want to do this each single drive. Did not execute it on the opposite drives.
Q. Trey, what do you’re feeling like the largest takeaway was from an opener like this that you just guys are going to be taught from transferring ahead?
TREY ZUHN, III: You recognize, I feel that was staff. Scoreboard confirmed they had been the higher staff. However I do not suppose they had been the higher staff. I feel we beat ourselves.
We realized that now we have glimpses the place we’re a extremely good soccer staff. However we have to learn 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 a bit bit extra from tonight. Does that add a bit bit extra sting to the locker room? Is that type of the way you felt?
TREY ZUHN, III: Proper. It stings. It stings dangerous. However we’re protecting our heads up. We’ve numerous 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 persistently carry out on the stage y’all wish to. Nevertheless it did appear to be y’all had been capable of hold them from simply utterly having a heyday defensively.
Is that what kind of offers y’all perception into the truth that this was extra us beating ourselves? It is not like they had been ending eight, 9 sacks and simply manhandling us?
TREY ZUHN, III: Yeah, proper. Positively. 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 tricky night time. What did you say to him as a staff captain?
TREY ZUHN, III: You recognize, issues weren’t going nice the entire time. I simply mentioned, hey, hold your head up. Hold throwing the ball. Hold being assured.
He is an ideal participant, and he’ll take us to nice locations this season. I feel he did an ideal job staying composed all through the entire recreation. I am unable to wait to see what he does the remainder of the season.
Q. Hey, Taurean. Whenever you take a look at what occurred within the run recreation, 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’d in all probability say three quarters of that was within the second half. So we received 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: We’ve to get a cease. They had been attempting to run the four-man drill. And we’re attempting 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 right down to the two-minute warning. We’ve 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 gang anticipating a sack, revving up, even when y’all received off the sphere after a brief achieve, y’all had been having hassle getting an enormous 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 take care of 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, in fact, however our protection, we received to get turnovers. We’ve to power it. The ball is the sport, finally, we did not get the ball out tonight.
Q. Simply type of speaking about getting strain on the quarterback, not numerous strain on Riley Leonard tonight. How do you guys type of go about fixing that and simply getting extra penetration, I assume, into the backfield like that?
TAUREAN YORK: Clearly, affecting the quarterback is an enormous key to affecting the sport finally. You noticed final yr we misplaced our quarterback and the trajectory of how our season went. So if we will have an effect on the quarterback, we felt we might be in good arms.
We needed to reap the benefits of clearly — what was it — six profession begins. We simply did not try this tonight. We simply received to get again to the chalkboard and prepare for McNeese [State].
Q. Taurean, what did you’re feeling such as you realized about your staff on this season opener?
TAUREAN YORK: We received the struggle. We received to struggle. The important thing to victory is within the fourth quarter. We misplaced that finally.
I take satisfaction within the protection as properly. So for them operating 198 yards, that is no bueno. It begins with me, so it is going to be fastened.
Q. Taurean, as a frontrunner of this locker room, what do you say to your guys to type of compartmentalize this one, put it prior 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, in fact, we will be our largest critics, in fact. Sunday, we’ll watch the movie, prepare for McNeese.
However, I imply, the sport is over with, and we simply received to get our focus proper for Saturday.
Q. Taurean, are you able to discuss a bit 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 Discipline 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 they usually confirmed out all week. In fact, you noticed the ticket pool line. So I hate to allow them to down, however it’s a part of the sport. So simply received to get again prepared for subsequent week.
Q. Simply as a staff, as an entire, did this really feel like a chance misplaced?
TAUREAN YORK: Alternative misplaced? I imply, yeah, you are on an enormous stage. You’ve gotten all people on the earth coming to observe this recreation. All people world wide might be watching this recreation tonight. And also you hate to lose it. But when our season goes how we predict it is going to 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 suppose 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 finally going to take the blame. You swing massive; you miss massive. However it’s what it’s. You have to transfer on.