After a first quarter where A&M jumped out to a 14-0 lead before the Crimson Time had time to settle, the second quarter began with another dangerous Alabama drive.
Just three plays into the quarter, AJ McCarron handed the ball off, and with the entire A&M defense rushing in to stop the run, the back pitched it straight back to McCarron, who found DeAndrew White cruising downfield into the end zone. Less than a minute into the quarter, the Tide had tied things up at 14.
The next Aggies drive typified the best and the worst of Johnny Manziel. On a second down from A&M's 48, Manziel spun out of a tackle, spun backwards, reversed his field, and floated a pass into a crowd of players over the middle. Somehow, A&M receiver Derel Walker was the one to come down with it, but there was a real feeling that Manziel was pushing his luck.
After A&M drove all the way to Alabama's four-yard line, Manziel tossed up another ill-advised pass, but this time it was an Alabama player who came up with the ball. Cyrus Jones picked off Manziel in the end zone after the pass sailed over Manziel's intended receiver, and with 11 minutes left in the quarter the Crimson Tide took over at their own 20.
Three plays into the drive, Alabama had reached midfield. Kenny Bell, the Alabama wide receiver who last week announced he'd be stepping away from the team (only to return days later) was lined up to the left, and managed to sprint past his marker into open space. AJ McCarron found him with a perfect pass up the seam, and 51 yards later Alabama had scored their third unanswered touchdown to go up 21-14.
On the first play of the next series, Manziel was brought down behind the line for a five yard loss. The Aggies weren't able to recover, and were forced into a three-and-out.
Alabama running back TJ Yeldon started to assert himself on the next drive, starting off with three straight runs, two of which moved the chains. After ten plays that put the Crimson Tide in position for a first-and-goal (five of which were punishing runs by Yeldon), Yeldon himself finished off the drive with a five-yard rumble into the end zone.
The touchdown, Alabama's fourth straight unanswered score, put the Tide up 28-14 with just under a minute left in the first half.
The final drive of the half went nowhere, and at halftime Alabama led Texas A&M 28-14.
First half MVP: AJ McCarron - 13 of 18 for 250 yards and 3 TDs so far, McCarron completely outshone "Johnny Football" in a first half where he picked apart the A&M defense time and time again. Down 14-0 early, McCarron coolly brought the Crimson Tide back and helped the Tide score 28 unanswered points.
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