Bryce Fitzgerald had a game-sealing interception with 24 seconds left, and No. 10 Miami (Fla.) beat No. 7 Texas A&M, 10-3, on the road in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday.This matchup was a defensive battle, with both offenses struggling to score. At halftime, the game was scoreless, and Texas A&M coach Mike Elko told the broadcast that “someone’s going to have to find a way to win it.” That’s what the Hurricanes did. Wide receiver Malachi Toney made up for a fourth-quarter fumble by scoring the winning touchdown with 1:44 remaining. And while the Aggies looked dangerous driving in the final moments, quarterback Marcel Reed threw his second interception of the game, this time in the end zone.[Best Teams in the College Football Playoff Era: Creating the Ultimate 12-team CFP]While there weren’t a lot of points, the game was still quite entertaining. Here are my takeaways: 1. Miami freshmen come through for the win Malachi Toney totaled 82 yards on four punt returns and scored Miami’s only touchdown on Saturday. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) With the game knotted 3-3 in the fourth quarter, Toney, a freshman, fumbled immediately after catching a pass from quarterback Carson Beck. With the game on the line, Toney was crushed, and TV cameras showed teammates consoling him on the sideline. The Hurricanes’ defense forced the Aggies to punt on the next drive, and on the ensuing possession, Toney got redemption.Miami running back Mark Fletcher Jr. pounded the Aggies’ defense in the run game, piling up 172 yards on 17 carries. On the first play of the go-ahead drive, Fletcher went 56 yards and carried the ball four more times to set Miami up on the 11-yard line. Then with Miami facing third-and-5 from, Beck found Toney for what would ultimately be the game-winning touchdown (as well as the only touchdown scored all game).”[My teammates] were depending on me to make a play, so that’s what I did,” Toney told the broadcast after the game. “I appreciate the coaches trusting me like that.”After Toney’s touchdown, Texas A&M had less than two minutes to drive down the field and try to tie it up. The Aggies looked in control and found themselves facing third-and-5 from the Hurricanes’ 5-yard line. That’s when defensive back Fitzgerald, also a freshman, came up big and intercepted Reed in the end zone to finish the game.”The defense was phenomenal, holding them to three points,” Toney said. “Bryce, we text each other…
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2025-12-20 22:05:26
