Baylor Downs Kansas on Homecoming, Snaps Losing Streak
WACO, Texas — The Baylor Bears (4-3) snapped a two-game losing streak with a dicey 35-23 win over the Kansas Jayhawks (5-3) on homecoming.
Baylor opened up a 28-3 lead to start this game. The offense was clicking, and the defense owned the field. It was smooth sailing for the Bears.
But all good things must come to an end, and that was the case for most of the second half. Blake Shapen owned three turnovers in the game, and it allowed Kansas to linger.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Jayhawks used a 13-0 run to climb back within two possessions. This was followed up by stopping Baylor on fourth and inches in the red zone. Then this happened:
Yep. Just like that, Kansas boasted a 20-0 run. It was up to the Bears to respond, and respond they did. Walk it in, Richard Reese.
That was all she wrote.
Now, let's dive into this one. If you prefer your first half recaps in the form of a singular word, I present to you: dominant.
Baylor scored touchdowns on four of its six possessions, and the defense was as sharp as it's been all season. How sharp you may ask? Try allowing just six rushing yards and .5 yards per carry.
Kansas could not throw. Kansas could not run. Kansas could not special teams. Kansas could only hope that Baylor would turn the ball over, and two Shapen interceptions kept the game within... 25?
This was the most dominating half Baylor has played against an FBS team this season, and it's not very close.
The second half obviously got hairy, but focus on the positive: Baylor won, and it did it on the back of a true freshman.
On a day where Shapen was not sharp, Reese picked up the slack with a wild 186 yards and two scores on an even wilder 31 carries. That assisted Baylor in gaining 280 yards on the ground.
Kansas finished with 56 rushing yards and just 279 total yards. This 35-23 Baylor win is one the defense can be proud of.
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