Hunting for its first Big 12 Conference victory, Baylor hammered Texas Tech 59-35 on Saturday in Lubbock, Texas, 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.
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 11 1/2 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