Baylor gets run over by the Aggies

Baylor Bears 2009 ... Head Coach: Art Briles

2009 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 4-8
2009 Record: 4-7

9/5 at Wake Forest W 24-21
9/12 OPEN DATE
9/19 Connecticut L 30-22
9/26 NW State W 68-13
10/3 Kent St W 31-15
10/10 at Oklahoma L 33-7
10/17 at Iowa St L 24-10
10/24 Okla St L 34-7
10/31 Nebraska L 20-10
11/7 at Missouri W 40-32
11/14 Texas L 47-14
11/21 at Texas A&M L 38-3
11/28 Texas Tech

2008 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 1-11
2008 Record: 4-8

9/30 W Forest L 41-13
9/6 NW State W 51-6
9/13 Wash St W 45-17
9/19 at Conn L 31-28
9/27 OPEN DATE
10/4 Oklahoma L 49-17
10/11 Iowa St W 38-10
10/18 at Okla St L 34-6
10/25 at Nebr. L 32-20
11/1 Missouri L 31-28
11/8 at Texas L 45-21
11/15 Tex A&M W 41-21
11/22 OPEN DATE
11/29 at T Tech L 35-28

Baylor Bears

Nov. 21
at Texas A&M 38 … Baylor 3
Texas A&M ran for 375 yards with Christine Michael tearing off a 97-yard touchdown run for the longest play from scrimmage in school history. The Aggies got two Jerrod Johnson touchdown passes and a one-yard run, while the defense stuffed Baylor throughout forcing three turnovers and allowing a 31-yard field goal in the first quarter. The two teams combined for 25 penalties.
Player of the Game: Texas A&M RBs Cyrus Gray and Christine Michael combined for 223 yards. Michael ran for two scores.
Baylor: Passing: Nick Florence, 21-31, 177 yds, 2 INT
Rushing: Jay Finley, 8-41, Receiving: David Gettis, 5-30
Texas A&M: Passing: Jerrod Johnson, 19-25, 153, yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Christine Michael, 11-116, 2 TD, Receiving: Ryan Swope, 4-38
What It All Means: Baylor appears to be the only team unable to crank out big yards against the Texas A&M defense. Three turnovers and 12 penalties were part of the problem, but the inability of QB Nick Florence to keep the chains moving, and the inability of the defense to come up with enough key stops, meant an ugly loss. There’s still one more game to try to pull off a win with Texas Tech coming to Waco, but to have any shot, Florence and the passing game have to start bombing away. The offense has to prove that the late run against Missouri wasn’t a fluke. 

Nov. 14
Texas 47 … at Baylor 14
Texas had no problems a Cody Johnson ran for two short scores and Colt McCoy connected with Jordan Shipley from three and seven yards out on the way to a 40-0 halftime lead. The Texas defense extended the advantage with a 60-yard Eddie Jones interception return for a score in the fourth quarter. With most of the starters on the bench, Texas gave up two late scores highlighted by a 19-yard Brad Taylor touchdown catch. With the win, McCoy tied Georgia’s David Greene as the winningest FBS starting quarterback ever with his 42nd victory.
Player of the Game: Texas RB Cody Johnson ran 19 times for 109 yards and two scores, and he caught three passes for 19 yards
Baylor: Passing: Nick Florence, 28-45, 240 yds, 1 TD, 3 INT
Rushing: Jay Finley, 10-16, Receiving: Kendall Wright, 7-57
Texas: Passing: Colt McCoy, 23-34, 181 yds, 2 TD 
What It All Means: Whatever … Texas might be the best team in America. Nick Florence and the offense kept on pressing, but with a struggling run defense and no pass rush, Baylor wasn’t going to have a shot to make this interesting. It’s going to take wins over Texas A&M and Texas Tech to get bowl eligible, and the only way that will happen is by bombing away, and Florence can do that. The defense doesn’t have a chance in the final few games, so get ready for the shootouts.

Nov. 7
Baylor 40 … at Missouri 32
Baylor rallied back from an 11-point halftime deficit to put up 24 second half points on Kendall Wright touchdown catches from 13 and 59 yards out and a Terrance Ganaway one-yard run. Missouri got 468 passing yards from Blaine Gabbert, but the offense only came up with a field goal in the second half. Grant Ressel hit three field goals for the Tigers and Danario Alexander took a pass 84 yards for a score. But Baylor kept bombing away with Nick Florence throwing for 427 yards with three touchdown passes including an eight-yarder to Lanear Sampson late in the first half to keep up the pace. Mizzou only netted ten rushing yards.
Player of the Game: Baylor QB Nick Florence completed 32-of-43 passes for 427 yards and three touchdowns, and he ran for a score.
Missouri: Passing: Blaine Gabbert, 30-51, 468 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: DeVion Moore, 4-16, Receiving: Danario Alexander, 13-214, 1 TD
Baylor: Passing: Nick Florence, 32-43, 427 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: Terrance Ganaway, 14-35, 1 TD, Receiving: Kendall Wright, 10-149, 2 TD 
What It All Means: Well, now what do you do with the Baylor quarterback situation next year? Assuming that Robert Griffin is back and healthy from his knee injury, Nick Florence still has to be in the mix in some way. He showed why in his brilliant performance in the win over Missouri, and now the Bears are on the map again … at least until Texas comes to town. There’s no running game and the pass defense is non-existent, but if Florence is able to bomb away like he did in Columbia, BU has a chance to play with Texas A&M and Texas Tech over the final weeks.

Oct. 31
Nebraska 20 … at Baylor 10
Justin Blatchford returned a blocked punt for a score and Jared Crick came up with five sacks as Nebraska’s special teams and defense helped out a rookie quarterback making his first start. Freshman Cody Green got the start for the Huskers and threw for 128 yards helping lead the team to a 20-0 first half start with Alex Henery kicking two field goals and Dontrayevous Robinson scoring from a yard out. However, Green threw one interception with Cliff Odom took for a 45-yard touchdown, but that was the only excitement for the Bears. Nebraska only gained 273 yards.
Player of the Game: Nebraska DT Jared Crick made 13 tackles with five sacks and six tackles for loss with a broken up pass.
Baylor: Passing: Nick Florence, 19-38, 222 yds, 2 INT
Rushing: Jay Finley, 8-19, Receiving: David Gettis, 7-124
Nebraska: Passing: Cody Green, 12-21, 128 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Dontrayevous Robinson, 13-61, Receiving: Dontrayevous Robinson, 3-22
What It All Means: The defense came up with a nice day against a lifeless Nebraska attack, but the offense can’t move the ball. QB Nick Florence was badgered and pressured all game long, and the running game wasn’t able to help him out with just 54 yards on the ground, saved by Florence’s mobility to overcome seven sacks. On a four game losing streak with just 34 points in the run, the O has to find something, anything that works or else the last four games are going to get ugly. Missouri, Texas, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech can all put points on the board. Baylor can’t.

Oct. 24
Oklahoma State 34 … at Baylor 7
Oklahoma State and QB Zac Robinson were nearly perfect on the way to a 34-0 lead with a 22-yard touchdown catch from Wilson Youman, a 16-yarder from Dameron Fooks, and a 19-yarder from Cooper Bassett. Keith Toston ended the Cowboy scoring with a one-yard touchdown run to put the game well out of reach. Baylor finally got on the board midway through the fourth quarter on a 17-yard David Gettis touchdown catch. Baylor managed just 284 yards.
Player of the Game: Oklahoma State QB Zac Robinson completed 23-of-27 passes for 250 yards and three touchdowns
Baylor: Passing: Nick Florence, 21-35, 235 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Jay Finley, 10-31, Receiving: Justin Akers, 5-62
Oklahoma State: Passing: Zac Robinson, 23-27, 250 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: Keith Toston, 15-109, 1 TD, Receiving: Hubert Anyiam, 9-83
What It All Means: There simply isn’t enough offensive pop to keep up. Nick Florence wasn’t bad throwing the ball, but Jay Finley wasn’t able to get any room to move and the defense didn’t provide nearly enough help. As rough as things have been, the Bears have a shot to come up with a stunning win next week against a suddenly punchless Nebraska. But the offense has to find something, anything that works after scoring just 24 points in the last three games. Controlling the clock is a must after holding on to the ball for just 21:35 against the Cowboys. 

Oct. 17
at Iowa State 24 … Baylor 10
Baylor scored first on a 38-yard Ben Parks field goal, and then it was all Iowa State with Austen Arnaud running for a one-yard score and connecting with Derrick Catlett for a four-yard score in the second quarter. Jerome Tiller closed off the 24-point Cyclone run with a 20-yard scoring dash. Baylor turned it over three times and didn’t get into the end zone until Justin Akers caught a three-yard pass with nine seconds to play.
Player of the Game: Iowa State LB Jesse Smith made 11 tackles and a tackle for loss
Baylor: Passing: Blake Szymanski, 23-38, 223 yds, 3 INT
Rushing: Jarred Salubi, 10-44, Receiving: Ernest Smith, 7-125
Iowa State: Passing: Austen Arnaud, 18-28, 166 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Alexander Robinson, 19-83, Receiving: Marquis Hamilton, 9-97 
What It All Means: Baylor simply didn’t have enough offensive pop to keep up. It’s not like Iowa State is a juggernaut, but the Bear defense couldn’t keep the Cyclones from keeping the chains moving and the offense didn’t go on enough good drives. The offense came up with 364 yards, but three turnovers and eight penalties proved to be too costly. Jordan Lake continues to have an All-America season with 12 tackles, but the defense has to do a better job of getting off the field. If it couldn’t handle Iowa State, can it stop Oklahoma State, Texas or anyone else left on the schedule? This was the game the team needed to have to go to a bowl, and now that dream might be done.

Oct. 10
at Oklahoma 33 … Baylor 7
Sam Bradford’s shoulder held up just fine but he didn’t throw a touchdown pass until the game was well out of hand. Jimmy Stevens hit second half field goals from 35, 25, 21 and 24 yards out and Chris Brown started off the scoring with second quarter touchdowns from one and four yards away. Baylor got a three-yard Andrew Judy touchdown catch in the second, but never threatened to push the Sooners. OU outgained the Bears 586 yards to 268.
Player of the Game: Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford completed 27-of-49 passes for 389 yards and a touchdown.
Oklahoma: Passing: Sam Bradford, 27-49, 389 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Chris Brown, 26-95, 2 TD, Receiving: Brandon Caleb, 7-139
Baylor: Passing: Nick Florence, 22-41, 220 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Terrance Ganaway, 4-8, Receiving: Ernest Smith, 6-71
What It All Means: It might be time to just keep the head down and get through the storm. Baylor was never going to beat Oklahoma, and without Robert Griffin under center and with RB Jay Finley limited, at best, there’s just no firepower to keep up with a good offense. Defensively, Jordan Lake had a huge game making plays all over the field, but the D couldn’t make up for the ineffective O. If the Bears don't beat Iowa State next week, it might be hard to get a win the rest of the way.

Oct. 3
at Baylor 31 … Kent State 15
Down to third string quarterback Nick Florence, Baylor overcame an early 7-0 deficit to score 28 straight points highlighted by a 45-yard Jarred Salubi touchdown run and scoring dashes from six and 29 yards out from Florence. Kent State hit on two big plays, starting off the scoring with a 35-yard Jameson Konz touchdown catch to start and getting a 61-yard Jacquise Terry touchdown run in the third, but never threatened over the final three quarters. Both teams committed 11 penalties.
Player of the Game: Baylor QB Nick Florence completed 20-of-27 passes for 216 yards, and he ran 11 times for 60 yards and two scores.
Kent State: Passing: Spencer Keith, 21-39, 206 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Jacquise Terry, 12-109, 1 TD, Receiving: Jameson Konz, 4-53, 1 TD
Baylor: Passing: Nick Florence, 20-27, 216 yds
Rushing: Jarrred Salubi, 17-64, 1 TD, Receiving: Kendall Wright, 9-125
What It All Means: Baylor was able to come up with a relatively easy win considering the offensive backfield had undergone a makeover. With Robert Griffin out, backup Blake Szymanski needed to get in some reps before the Oklahoma game, but he wasn’t able to go with a shoulder injury and RB Jay Finley remained on the sidelines hurt. Nick Florence did a great job under center, but the offense needs a veteran in Szymanski to have any hope against the Sooners. The secondary will have to be far tighter next week to keep the game close, while the penalties have to stop after committing 11 for 91 yards. 

Sept. 26
at Baylor 68 … Northwestern State 13
Baylor won the game easily, but lost its superstar as Robert Griffin played on a hurt knee only to learn later that he had a torn ACL. The Bears overcame a 7-0 deficit with 41-point first half with Kendall Wright scoring on catches from 42 and 38 yards out and David Getting scoring from 42 yards away with two seconds to play in the half. Terrance Ganaway added two short scores, and the defense scored twice in interception returns in the third quarter.
Player of the Game: Baylor QB Robert Griffin completed 13-of-19 passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns, and he ran for 16 yards
Northwestern State: Passing: Tyler Wolfe, 13-21, 89 yds, 2 INT
Rushing: William Griffin, 19-74, 1 TD, Receiving: Thomas Jackson, 4-23
Baylor: Passing: Robert Griffin, 13-19, 226 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: Jarred Salubi, 7-131, 1 TD, Receiving: Kendall Wright, 5-105, 2 TD
What It All Means: On the plus side, there’s a game against Kent State to get the offense up to speed without the star. The loss of Robert Griffin for the year to a knee injury is devastating, but at least there’s a little time to get Blake Szymanski more acclimated with the offense before dealing with road trips to Oklahoma and Iowa State. Griffin was the X factor who gave the Bears a puncher’s chance against anyone, but now the offense will need to find other playmakers. Getting RB Jay Finley back is a start, but Szymanski will have to be efficient, and he has to stay healthy, for the Bears to have any hope of getting to a bowl game.

Sept. 19
Connecticut 30 … at Baylor 22
Andre Dixon ran for 149 yards and three touchdowns and Jordan Todman added 103 more yards as Connecticut rumbled its way to the win. Dixon scored on two one-yard runs and a ten-yarder on the way to a 27-7 lead, but Baylor came back with Robert Griffin running for two short scores to make it an eight point game. But the Bears wouldn’t get another shot to pull off the comeback. BU’s other score came on a 72-yard Jay Finley run in the first quarter.
Player of the Game: Connecticut RB Andre Dixon ran 31 times for 149 yards and three touchdowns.
Connecticut: Passing: Cody Endres, 12-23, 147 yds
Rushing: Andre Dixon, 31-149 yds, 3 TD, Receiving: Isiah Moore, 4-76
Baylor: Passing: Robert Griffin, 17-26, 119 yds
Rushing: Jay Finley, 8-121, Receiving: Kendall Wright, 6-67
What It All Means: This was a game the Bears had to win. It was at home against a good Big East team, but the defense couldn’t hold up against the power of UConn while the offense couldn’t do enough to open things up for the ground game. Outside of one big run from Jay Finley early on, the ground game did nothing the rest of the way and the passing attack couldn’t pick up the slack. As good as Robert Griffin is, he has to go from being an efficient short range passer to an effective midlevel thrower; he needs his receivers, at least outside of Kendall Wright, to start doing more.

Sept. 5
Baylor 24 ... at Wake Forest 21
Baylor got quirky on offense and stingy on defense as Kendall Wright took a long option pitch for a 37-yard touchdown  and Lanear Sampson caught a 33-yard touchdown pass off a pass from Ernest Smith, who took a pass from Robert Griffin on the way to a 24-7 lead. Wake Forest came back with Riley Skinner throwing two touchdown passes to close the gap to three, but the final drive fizzled out deep in Demon Deacon territory. Skinner threw three interceptions, while Baylor committed ten penalties.
Player of the Game: Baylor LB Joe Pawelek made seven tackles, a sack, and an interception.
Baylor: Passing: Robert Griffin, 15-24, 136 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Jay Finley, 14-91, Receiving: David Gettis, 5-65, 1 TD
Wake Forest: Passing: Riley Skinner, 20-31, 143 yds, 2 TD, 3 INT
Rushing: Devon Brown, 8-46, Receiving: Jordan Williams & Marshall Williams, 4-42
What It All Means: Baylor committed too many penalties and let Wake Forest back in the game late, but to go on the road and come up with a nice win over a bowl team shows just how far the program has come. The Bears aren't going to power over anyone, but they showed excellent speed on both sides of the ball, and outside of a fumble and the penalties, they didn't make a slew of big mistakes. Robert Griffin was sharp early, but he didn't get his running game going nearly as well as he needs to, but that's nitpicking. With home games against Connecticut, Northwestern State, and Kent State ahead, a 4-0 start is now within reach.