Baylor’s defense was geared up to try to shut down Texas A&M whether sophomore Jerrod Johnson or injured senior Stephen McGee was at quarterback.
McGee never saw the field and Johnson saw nothing but trouble from the Bears.
Johnson, who had only thrown six interceptions all season, was picked off four times Saturday by the Bears and fumbled once as Baylor’s defense dominated the Aggies in the 41-21 victory.
That was how they hoped it would play out, Baylor senior defensive tackle Vincent Rhodes said.
“We came out (during practice earlier in the week) and said the defense really had to step up and win the game,” Rhodes said. “Stop the run and make it hard for Jerrod (Johnson) to throw the ball and not use his feet.”
Johnson made a few plays with his feet (seven carries for a team-high 31 yards) and he finished with 244 yards on 19-of-30 passing, but Baylor’s defense thwarted him time and again with critical interceptions.
“I thought the defense played great,” Baylor coach Art Briles said. “A&M has been a good football team. They’ve been scoring some points. Forty-nine points on Iowa State; 28 on Oklahoma State. They’ve been pointing up.”
But Baylor’s defense made sure that trend didn’t continue, especially with five A&M turnovers to none by the Bears.
“You don’t have to be a very good coach when you’re 5-0 on turnovers,” Briles quipped.
Even Rhodes expressed some surprise about the Bears’ turnover success for the game.
“Two turnovers will help you win the game,” he said. “But then you get five? That helped seal the deal and let the defense know that we had a good game.”
Senior defensive end Leon Freeman corralled the first turnover of the game early in the second quarter after Zac Scotton stripped a scrambling Johnson of the football. Freeman fell on the ball at the A&M 21, which led to Ben Park’s second field goal of the game and gave Baylor a 6-0 lead.
“I didn’t get to the quarterback, but I turned around, was hustling to the ball and it just so happened that I was there,” said Freeman, who also had one of the two sacks on Johnson.
He said he considered the game Baylor’s most complete defensive performance of the season.
“We just wanted to come out and finish the season, especially at home, with a win,” Freeman said.
Senior cornerback Dwain Crawford killed the Aggies’ next possession, running stride for stride with A&M receiver Ryan Tannehill and being in the perfect spot to grab the Bears’ first interception at the A&M 26.
The Bears turned that interception into the game’s first touchdown eight plays later.
“We had a swarming defense just like we practiced and preached,” Crawford said. “The turnovers were big for us today.”
Jordan Lake’s interception with 48 seconds to go before halftime made certain that the Bears’ 20-7 lead would hold up. The Aggies had just crossed midfield and were driving to cut into the lead.
Senior defensive back Jake La Mar said Lake’s diving pick at the 26-yard line was indicative of the kind of game the Bears were playing.
“Tim Atchison makes the hit on the guy, the ball pops out and you see Jordan flying in there,” La Mar said. “That’s just a guy running to the ball and hustling.”
A&M’s running game never got untracked against the Bears, gaining just 64 yards on 21 carries. Junior linebacker Joe Pawelek had the last two interceptions for the Bears. He swiped Johnson’s pass on the first play from scrimmage after the Bears’ 99-yard drive to go up 34-7 late in the third quarter and he thwarted the Aggies early in the fourth quarter when he stepped in front of a Johnson pass in the end zone.
It was Pawelek’s first two-interception game of his career. He now has six on the season, the most by any linebacker in the Football Bowl Subdivision this year.
“The guy’s uncanny,” Briles said. “I don’t know how you describe him. He’s just a guy that makes plays. . . . He is a stud.”
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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