Last night could have been Johnny Manziel’s last performance in an Texas A&M jersey last night. Manziel and the Aggies beat Duke last night a thrilling 52-48 game against the Blue Devils in the Chick-fil-A-Bowl. Both teams racked up 1,202 total yards of offense last night. Manziel and the Aggies capped off a 21 point comeback that left Duke fans stunned and College Football fans saying, “Did you just see that?”
Things looked bleak for Manziel and Texas A&M, they trailed 38-17 at halftime and were getting outperformed by a gritty Duke team that scored TD’s on each of it’s first four possessions in the 1st half. Manziel rallied the troops imploring his never say die attitude on both sides of the ball. Trailing 38-17 midway through the 3rd quarter, Johnny Manziel leaped over on oncoming defensive linemen rolled left fired a TD pass to wide receiver Travis Labhart. The Aggies defense got a stop and after running back rambled 21 yards for a touchdown, the score read 38-31. Duke responded with a 21 yard TD pass from Anthony Boone to David Reeves. Manziel just wouldn’t go away, he brought his team back one last time as connected with Derel Walker for a 44 yard TD pass, the Aggies trailed 48-45.
Defensive Back Tony Hurd Jr who was playing in his last game for Texas A&M cut in front and picked off a pass intended for Duke receiver Johnell Barnes. Hurd outraced Duke on his way to the end zone for 55 yd interception return TD. Duke had one last gasp but QB Anthony Boone was picked off by linebacker Nate Askew and just like that game over. Manziel and the Aggies had capped an amazing comeback.
Manziel’s stats read like this: 30-38 for 382 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also ran for 73 yards and a score.In his two year reign as Texas A&M QB, Johnny Manziel has racked up highlights, stats and awards. He won the Heisman Trophy, brought Texas A&M back into national prominence and got Head Coach Kevin Sumlin a brand new contract extension. It was his play on the field that gained him fame and notoriety wild beyond his dreams. He was the most exciting players ever in College Football History. His name will be mentioned along with Vince Young, Tim Tebow and Cam Newton as quarterbacks who put their teams on their backs and willing them to victories.
During his two years years as starter he passed for 7,820 yards and 63 touchdowns. It was on the ground where he terrified defenses with his scrambling ability and get outside the pocket. He ran for 2,169 yards and 30 touchdowns. Manziel electrified Aggie fans week in and week out and even if you hated the Aggies you just had to watch Johnny Football. He also became a full fledged celebrity on social media and in the public eye. It seemed like everywhere you went everyone was talking about Johnny Football. He even rubbed shoulders with Lebron James, Tom Brady and David Letterman just to name a few. He was what we loved about College Football the passion, the emotion, the heart, the desire was everything that Johnny Manziel was all about. He wore his heart on his sleeve and more importantly he played like it. Manziel left everything he had out on the field and was his teams unquestioned leader. Manziel’s Houdini acts were things that you see on the playground, he had innate sense to get out of trouble and make big plays throwing and running.
Johnny Manziel is probably a top 10 pick in next May’s NFL Draft and should probably leave for the NFL. We’ll all miss him as College Football Fans but he made an impact on the game few have ever seen before. If last night was his final performance as Texas A&M Aggie he left us with a masterpiece and the stuff of legends. Thank You Johnny Manziel for two breathtaking and jaw dropping years
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