Desperation and motivation were prominent to Baylor’s game plan Saturday against Texas Tech, and the Bears used both elements very well.
Hunting for its first Big 12 Conference victory, Baylor hammered Texas Tech 59-35 in Lubbock, TX in a game that was sewn up with 10 minutes to go.
Bears’ quarterback Sawyer Robertson dissected the Red Raiders for 274 yards and five touchdown passes to lead the way and a long second-quarter punt return turned the tide. Robertson went to high school in Lubbock at Coronado High School.
Baylor (3-4, 1-3 Big 12) scored on five straight second-half possessions after a three-and-out series to begin the third quarter. The Bears finished with 529 total yards, with 311 in the second half.
Texas Tech (5-2, 3-1), which was off to its best start in the Big 12 since 2007, pulled within 24-21 with a long drive after that stop, culminating with Tahj Brooks’ 31-yard dash to the end zone. But that turned out to be the Red Raiders’ last gasp.
Robertson took over after that, completing 8-of-9 passes in the second half for 133 yards with TD tosses of 11, 35, 24 and 12 yards – the first and last to Josh Cameron, who was a game-changer on special teams as well.
With the score tied 7-7 early in the second period, Baylor’s defense forced a punt. Cameron collected a low line-drive kick, evaded the first defender he encountered and raced 73 yards to the 1-yard-line. Bryson Washington plowed in from there for his second short TD of the day and Texas Tech never got closer than three points.
Baylor led 24-14 at halftime and answered the Red Raiders’ third-quarter touchdown with four answered scores in 11½ minutes.
Texas Tech’s offense finished with 455 yards, paced by Brooks’ 125 rushing yards. Behren Morton passed for 286 yards and three touchdowns but also had a costly third-quarter interception during the Bears’ game-turning onslaught.
–Field Level Media
