COLLEGE STATION, Texas _ For all the breakdowns and head-scratching penalties, Texas A&M broke through against one of the SEC's elite in the Jimbo Fisher Era.
When Seth Small connected on a 26-yard field goal as time expired Saturday, Fisher had recorded a signature win at A&M, 41-38 over No. 4 Florida.
For Fisher and for senior quarterback Kellen Mond, the scrutiny had built in the week after a 28-point loss at Alabama. Great things had been expected of Fisher when A&M hired him away from Florida State with a 10-year, $75 million contract. Mond was the four-year quarterback who was expected to help the Aggies compete with the best in the SEC this season.
They may have taken an important next step before a noisy Kyle Field crowd that sounded like far more than 24,709.
"Definitely I feel like it can be a culture-changing win and can only give the team more confidence, especially with a lot the young guys we have," Mond said. "Just the ability we have to build on this."
Mond became A&M's career passing yards leader and completed 25 of 35 passes for 338 yards and three touchdowns in what might have been his best performance as an Aggie.
Fisher was asked about the criticism Mond had faced from fans and media.
"That's what we live," Fisher said.
"When a quarterback in Division I quarterback, you live in adversity. When you're a coach, you live in adversity. You can't worry about it. You have to play your games.
"I'm not saying it ain't hard. I'm not saying it ain't tough. I'm very proud of him."
It was Fisher's first win over an AP top five team since coming to A&M from Florida State after the 2018 after seven losses, and the first for the No. 21 Aggies (2-1) since beating third-ranked Auburn in 2014. A&M hadn't beaten a top five team Kyle Field since its upset of No. 1 Oklahoma in 2002.
"We threw it, we ran it, we did the things we had to do and scored at a critical point at the end in a very good win," Fisher said.
It wasn't easy. Florida (2-1) put together touchdown drives of 75, 75, 75 and 60 on its first four possessions and didn't punt unit late in the third quarter.
But Mond was able to match Florida quarterback Kyle Trask (23-of-32, 312 yards, four touchdowns) and sophomore Isaiah Spiller delivered 174 very hard yards on 27 carries. His 19-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter _ when he bulldozed Florida linebacker Ventrell Miller _ gave A&M its first lead, 31-28.
"I feel like we really gained our identity and our confidence today," Florida tied the game on a 53-yard field goal by Evan McPherson and regained the lead on a Trask 1-yard pass to Dameon Pierce after an Ainias Smith fumble.
A&M tied the game when Monday hit Caleb Chapman (nine receptions, 151 yards) on a 51-yard touchdown with 4:30 left.
Then it was up to the Aggie defense that had struggled most of the game. "Our defense wasn't great today," Fisher said, "but they were very opportunistic. They got the stops when they had to stop."
Senior linebacker Buddy Johnson forced a Malik Davis fumble at midfield and DeMarvin Leal recovered.
"I think it was huge, not only for me but this defense and this team," said Johnson, who finished with a team-high 11 tackles.
"I knew somebody had to step up. I knew I had to continue to lead these guys and make plays ... I punched the ball and it came out."
A&M ran the clock down to two seconds before Small's kick. "I was a little nervous but more excited than anything," Small said.
Amidst a major celebration, Fisher offered a little perspective, noting next week's game at Mississippi State.
"It shows you what you're capable of," Fisher said. "Now what do you follow up with?"
