SEC Football

Aggies rout SMU to stay undefeated

SMU quarterback Kolney Cassel (17) is sacked by Texas A&M linebacker Shaan Washington (33) in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

DALLAS (AP) — Kenny Hill accounted for 322 yards of offense in just the first half, Jeremy Tabuyo turned two short passes near the sideline into long touchdowns, and sixth-ranked Texas A&M rolled to a 58-6 victory Saturday over an SMU team playing its first game without coach June Jones.

Trey Williams ran for a pair of touchdowns for the Aggies, who are 4-0 for the first time since 2006 and will be back in North Texas next week.

Jones resigned Sept. 8, two days after the second game of his seventh season on The Hilltop. SMU's only score those first two games came on what turned out to be his final play as coach, a 33-yard touchdown pass in a 43-6 loss at North Texas.

Hill, the thrilling sophomore who succeeded 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel as the starting quarterback, completed 16 of 22 passes for 265 yards with two touchdowns and his first interception at Texas A&M. He also had a 58-yard run that set up another touchdown as the Aggies built a 38-3 halftime lead in SMU's home opener.

Texas A&M led 17-0 in the first quarter after Tabuyo caught a short pass near the sideline, managed to stay in bounds and then weaved through defenders, including two that ran into each other after he got by for a 30-yard touchdown.

By then, the Aggies already had 254 of their 663 total yards — and SMU (0-3) had minus-7 in its first game with defensive coordinator Tom Mason also serving as interim coach. The Mustangs finished with 241 yards.

On his only other catch of the game, Tabuyo turned a short pass from freshman quarterback Kyle Allen into a 50-yard score in the third quarter. The sophomore from Hawaii again caught the ball along the right sideline near defenders before breaking free.

Allen finished 8-of-15 passing for 130 yards.

Late in the first half, SMU receiver Der'rikk Thompson was bumped after an incomplete pass near the sideline, and his momentum sent him toward Texas A&M's live mascot, Reveille VIII. But a Texas A&M cadet stepped in front of the collie and kept Thompson from running into her.

The Aggies will play about 25 miles west next Saturday for a neutral-site SEC game against Arkansas at the Dallas Cowboys' stadium that will host the national championship game in January.

Hill threw an interception on Texas A&M's second possession, his first in 150 career attempts — 128 this season.

The Mustangs then went three-and-out, and on the next drive Hill faked a handoff to Williams, followed him through the same hole and broke several tackles for a 58-yard gain before Williams scored on an 8-yard run.

Kolney Cassel got his first start for SMU but went 1 for 5 for 2 yards and was sacked three times. Garrett Krstich, the fourth different Mustangs quarterback already this season, was sacked five times while completing 13 of 24 passes for 137 yards.

Neal Burcham, the starter the first two games, is out for the season after injuring his elbow against North Texas.