Baylor blows up Aggies as seniors savor final home game, 41-21
Sunday, November 16, 2008
By John Werner
Tribune-Herald staff writer
With fans swarming all around them following a riveting 41-21 win over Texas A&M, Baylor’s seniors huddled at midfield for a few moments of reflection.
They talked about what the last few years had meant to them. They remembered the painful times and the good times. They recalled the sacrifice each of them had made to make Baylor a better football program.
Then they all got on their knees and kissed the BU emblem.
“We sacrificed five years of our life,” Baylor senior offensive tackle Jason Smith said. “Some didn’t make it. But I’ve grown up and some other guys grew up, too. We love this place. We can come back 20 years from now with our wife and kids and say we won our last home game against Texas A&M.”
Playing before 43,549 fans at Floyd Casey Stadium, the Bears beat the Aggies for just the second time in the last 23 years. Saturday’s win wasn’t a heart-stopper like the 35-34 overtime thriller over the Aggies in 2004, but it meant a lot to a team that was eliminated from bowl contention last week after several close losses.
The seniors just wish they could be around to see where Art Briles’ program goes.
“I think I speak for a lot of seniors when I say I’d love to have four more years with the direction this program is going,” Baylor senior receiver Thomas White said. “We didn’t reach our goal, but we can see the promised land from here.”
Dominating from the start, the Bears (4-7, 2-5) rolled up 510 total yards and recorded their most rushing yards ever in a Big 12 game with 269. Baylor’s defense limited the Aggies (4-7, 2-5) to 308 total yards and forced five turnovers, while the Bears’ offense didn’t commit any miscues.
Even more importantly, the tour de force performance came against Baylor’s biggest rival.
“My uncle showed up in a maroon sweater,” White said. “By the third quarter, he had it zipped under a black jacket.”
“This gives us some credibility as a football program,” Briles said. “If they have Texas in their name, we need to beat them, and that’s just the way it is. It’s not going to change. It will be the same way in 2020.”
Baylor freshman quarterback Robert Griffin played superbly as he hit 13 of 23 passes for 241 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 56 yards. He found freshman Kendall Wright for a 31-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter and hit White for a 55-yard score in the third quarter.
“Robert played really poised today,” Briles said. “He was getting good protection and was able to make some plays with his ability, and he made some great plays. He really gave us an opportunity to score points and win the football game.”
Leading Baylor’s defense was middle linebacker Joe Pawelek, who intercepted two passes and collected seven tackles. With six interceptions this season, Pawelek has the most for Baylor since Michael McFarland collected six in 1991.
“What can you say?” Briles said. “The guy is uncanny. I’ve been around a bunch of them, and I don’t know how you can describe him. He’s a guy I’m glad wears green and gold because he’s a stud.”
Baylor’s win was even more lopsided than the final score indicated. With three third quarter touchdowns, the Bears opened up a 41-7 lead before the Aggies scored twice in the fourth quarter. Aggies quarterback Jerrod Johnson hit 19 of 30 passes for 244 yards, but was intercepted four times.
“It was big for us to come out here in front of our crowd and our students and get a big win against a rival school,” said Baylor senior cornerback Dwain Crawford, who intercepted a second quarter pass. “I thought we played our butts off. We had a swarming defense just like we have practiced and preached.”
Leading 20-7 at halftime, the Bears quickly turned the game into a rout. On the third play of the third quarter, Griffin rolled to his right and threw long downfield to White, who outjumped Johnathan Batson for the ball and turned it into a 55-yard touchdown.
Late in the third quarter, the Bears drove 99 yards for a touchdown with Jay Finley finishing it off with a 13-yard touchdown burst up the middle. Finley led all rushers with 116 yards on 23 carries.
After Pawelek’s first interception at Texas A&M’s 27, Jacoby Jones took a Griffin pitch down the right sideline for an 18-yard touchdown to push Baylor’s lead to 41-7. It was Jones’ second touchdown of the day after he scored on a 12-yard run in the second quarter.
“It was exciting to score two touchdowns for the first time in my career and leave on a good note,” Jones said. “With this being my last home game on this field, I wanted to make it as memorable as I could.”
Baylor’s offense played like it meant business from the start by moving 61 yards for a field goal on its first drive. After the drive bogged down at Texas A&M’s 25, Ben Parks nailed a season-long 42-yard field goal.
Senior defensive end Leon Freeman came up big twice to set up Parks’ second field goal. After sacking Johnson for an eight-yard loss back to the Bears’ 16 on first down, he recovered Johnson’s fumble at the 21 on third down after Zac Scotton stripped the ball.
The Aggies stiffened again before Parks drilled a 28-yard field goal with 12:13 left in the second quarter.
Following Crawford’s interception, the Bears drove 74 yards on eight plays for their first touchdown. Ernest Smith wrestled the ball away from Texas A&M defensive back Devin Gregg for a 49-yard pass play from Griffin to the 29.
Facing third-and-four at Texas A&M’s 12, Griffin appeared stopped before pitching the ball at the last second. Jones took the pitch around the right side for a 12-yard touchdown to open up a 13-0 lead with 6:39 left in the third quarter.
The Aggies’ offense finally showed some life when Mike Goodson made a diving catch of Johnson’s bomb for 51 yards to set up Jorvorskie Lane’s one-yard touchdown run.
But the Bears answered with a 78-yard drive that Wright finished off with a diving 31-yard touchdown catch from Griffin.
After the game, the Bears didn’t want to leave the field. Especially those seniors who who wanted just a few more minutes together to huddle at midfield.
“I came here with those guys and bled with them,” White said. “It was nice to soak it up one more time.”
Having witnessed multiple times the obnoxious taunting many Aggies participate in when they win sure makes it fun to read the whining comments of their supporters when they get their tails throroughly kicked like they did last Saturday. I hope "beating the h---" out of the Aggies becomes the norm for the Bears in the future years as well. Sic 'em Bears!!!!!!!
Don't talk about class and then proceed to whine and wallow all over the place....You said "Baylor sucks" and that, by implication, is just as bad, if not worse, than me telling you where to stick your thumb.....Come on aggie, quit the whining and take your loss like a man and let Baylor celebrate a victory....
Good job Trib Staff. Starting this week with an improved BAYLOR/Big 12 PODcast, that was truly Baylor first and then Big 12 coverage, it set the tone for a great week. I know you guys work like 7 days a week, and Sunday's is probably your biggest day off. I would just like to see one blog added to what you already do.........the day after blog entry. I think that would be cool. It might take like 10-15 minutes, but I think it would be a cool touch. And now that I know you guys listen to the voice of the people, I'm going to put that one little suggestion in there and that will be all for this year. Good work this season guys!, keep it up and I hope you keep the POD casts going through the Big 12 championship and Big12 coverage in bowl games.
You can always count on an Aggie whining about class after they lose. Pooooor oversensitive Aggies. You can dish it out but you can't take it. Here's a couple of tips on class: 1. Yelling "Beat the hell outta [opponent]" is not classy. 2. Running up the score to 73-10 is not classy.
Hey Fred don't you have anything better to do like uncover the conspiracy behind the alledged moonlanding or that Waco City Council was the real masterminds behind the 9/11?
BEARS MAUL AGGIES
Video: Bear Nation revels in victory
Comments
By Brazosdog
Nov 18, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this
You know, my grandaddy always said, "When you throw a rock into a pack of dogs the first one hit will yelp." Smart man, my grandaddy.
I think collies are dogs, right?
By Bear
Nov 17, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this
hjames, you shouldn't tell the Aggies to take it like a man, that would involve farm animals for them which paints an all too distrubing picture.
Enjoy reaping what you sow farmers!!
Sic'em Bears!!!
By Don
Nov 17, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this
Where's Fred? Oh wait...
By Houston Bear
Nov 17, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this
Having witnessed multiple times the obnoxious taunting many Aggies participate in when they win sure makes it fun to read the whining comments of their supporters when they get their tails throroughly kicked like they did last Saturday. I hope "beating the h---" out of the Aggies becomes the norm for the Bears in the future years as well. Sic 'em Bears!!!!!!!
By hjames
Nov 17, 2008 9:50 AM | Link to this
Hey aggie...
Don't talk about class and then proceed to whine and wallow all over the place....You said "Baylor sucks" and that, by implication, is just as bad, if not worse, than me telling you where to stick your thumb.....Come on aggie, quit the whining and take your loss like a man and let Baylor celebrate a victory....
By Trey Willis
Nov 17, 2008 9:24 AM | Link to this
Good job Trib Staff. Starting this week with an improved BAYLOR/Big 12 PODcast, that was truly Baylor first and then Big 12 coverage, it set the tone for a great week. I know you guys work like 7 days a week, and Sunday's is probably your biggest day off. I would just like to see one blog added to what you already do.........the day after blog entry. I think that would be cool. It might take like 10-15 minutes, but I think it would be a cool touch. And now that I know you guys listen to the voice of the people, I'm going to put that one little suggestion in there and that will be all for this year. Good work this season guys!, keep it up and I hope you keep the POD casts going through the Big 12 championship and Big12 coverage in bowl games.
By 91Bear
Nov 17, 2008 4:03 AM | Link to this
Funny how cowardly Fred never shows up when the Bears win.
By 91Bear
Nov 17, 2008 3:29 AM | Link to this
You can always count on an Aggie whining about class after they lose. Pooooor oversensitive Aggies. You can dish it out but you can't take it.
Here's a couple of tips on class:
1. Yelling "Beat the hell outta [opponent]" is not classy.
2. Running up the score to 73-10 is not classy.
Scoreboard. 41-21. Cry, Aggie, cry!
By McCavebear
Nov 17, 2008 1:13 AM | Link to this
Great job Baylor Bears! The team dominated everything: Defense, Offense and special teams! We even saw so razzle dazzle!
That long drive really killed the maroons. What abou the time of possession? A whopping MORE than a Quarter than the farmers had it!!!
That really euthanized 'em... Large Baylor crowd too! --and supportive!
Thanks Coach Briles and staff! This is one to build on.
By Nuff Said Fred
Nov 16, 2008 10:56 PM | Link to this
Hey Fred don't you have anything better to do like uncover the conspiracy behind the alledged moonlanding or that Waco City Council was the real masterminds behind the 9/11?
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