Texas & Baylor Teams Fight as Benches Clear

Baylor football began its 2015 campaign with hopes of making the College Football Playoff, but a bevy of crucial injuries proved too costly as the Bears finished their season 9-3. They finally let large and in charge LaQuan McGowan run the football. He ran for 106 yards on 28 carries to become the 12th freshman in school history to post at least two 100-yard rushing games. McGowan looked significantly less nimble than Michigan State’s Jack Allen.

The Longhorns would take a 20-0 lead over Baylor into the locker room at halftime. Some players on the Texas sideline weren’t happy about it and knocked Hawthorne down, which prompted the Baylor players to leave their sideline and join the madness. “They are scary fast and that’s a concern”, Texas defensive coordinator Vance Bedford said. Johnson finishes with 20 yards passing, 25 yards rushing, and one lost fumble. “Defensively, you give up 86, but I thought we did some good things offensively”. Fifteen minutes to hold on to a 20-10 lead. There’s not a lot we can do when they lob it in over our heads.

Texas defenders Naashon Hughes (40), Poona Ford (95), Bryce Cottrell (91) and Derick Roberson (49) block a field goal attempt by Baylor place kicker Spencer Evans (39) and holder Cole Edmiston (83) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, in Waco, Texas. His first didn’t go well in the season opener against Notre Dame as he and the Longhorns were blown out, 38-3.

Senior kicker Nick Rose had one of the best games of his career as he went 3-for-4 on field goals, including a career-long 53-yarder.

After allowing Hawthorne to attempt 13 passes in the first half, Baylor came out in the second half with a much better game plan, using a single-wing offense behind its physical offensive line to consistently blugdeon Texas on the ground and only attempting five passes until the final drive. Player of the Game: Texas QB Tyrone Swoopes completed 12-of-19 passes for 151 yards and a score, and ran ten times for 52 yards and a score.

Late in the first quarter Duke Thompson intercepted Hawthorne and was tackled by Hawthorne near the Texas bench. Down six, Baylor converted a fourth down on its side of the field, but Johnny Jefferson fumbled and Texas recovered.