Bears Too Much For Cats

Jake Waters completed 22 of 27 passes for 300 yards and two touchdowns and Tyler Lockett set yet another school record, but in the end it wasn’t enough as sixth-ranked Baylor used a potent offensive attack to pull out a 38-27 win over ninth-ranked Kansas State before 47,934 Saturday night at the brand new McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas. The win allowed Baylor to win its second consecutive Big 12 title, sharing the crown with TCU a 55-3 winner over Iowa State earlier Saturday.

Baylor struck early on the first possession of the game driving 81 yards in eight plays in just over 90 seconds finishing the drive with a one-yard run by Quarterback Bryce Petty and a 7-0 advantage. K-State avoided falling behind by two touchdowns when on Baylor’s next drive, Randall Evans stepped in front of a Petty pass for an end zone interception. However the reprieve was only temporary as Baylor scored on its next possession and led 14-0 on Shock Linwood’s one-yard run.

K-State got on the scoreboard early in the second quarter on a Charles Jones one-yard run to make the score 14-7 but the explosive Bears responded with an 11-play 70-yard drive that culminated in Johnny Jefferson’s two-yard run for a 21-7 lead. K-State drew closer yet again when Waters connected with Tight end Zach Trujillo for a 36-yard touchdown pass with just over four minutes left before halftime to make it a seven-point deficit. Baylor however got the last points of the first half when they drove 48 yards in seven plays setting up a 46-yard Chris Callahan Field Goal as time expired.

A key moment of the second half came right after Matthew McCrane booted a 24-yard Field Goal to make the score 24-17. Right after that the Bears needed just two plays to find the end zone again when Petty found a wide open Antwan Goodley from 58 yards out to make the score 31-17 in favor of the Bears. The Field Goal followed by the opponent’s touchdown scenario bit the Wildcats again when Jefferson scored his second touchdown of the game from three yards out after McCrane had hit a 47-yard Field Goal and Baylor led 38-20 after three quarters.

K-State would not quit however as Waters connected with Lockett for an eight-yard touchdown pass to draw the Cats to within 11 points. The touchdown was Lockett’s 27th receiving score allowing him to pass his father Kevin in yet another category. After K-State forced a Baylor punt, it appeared the Wildcats were set to make the game an exciting finish as they drove into Bear territory with less than five minutes remaining. However, all hopes for a miracle ending vanished when Waters was intercepted on a pass intended for Deante Burton and Baylor was able to run out the clock.

Petty was a big part of Baylor’s win despite coming off a concussion suffered in last week’s victory over Texas Tech. He completed 34 of 40 passes for 412 yards and the touchdown. K-State’s rushing attack while not dominating was a respectable 103 yards with Charles Jones leading the way with 13 attempts for 45 yards. Lockett had another huge game with 14 receptions for 158 yards while Trujillo caught two passes for 88 yards.

Kansas State (9-3, 7-2) will find out on Sunday its bowl destination while Baylor waits to see if their win over the Wildcats was enough to convince the Playoff Committee to place them in the top four. TCU started the week at #3 while Baylor was #6 but the Bears won the head to head meeting with a dramatic 61-58 comeback win in Waco on October 11. The Playoff announcement is also set for Sunday.

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