RECAP: Baylor Bears 31, Texas Longhorns 24

The Texas Longhorns lost a double-digit lead for the third consecutive game.

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FIRST QUARTER

Baylor began with the football and picked up a first down with a play-action pass from Gerry Bohanon to RJ Sneed. His next pass ended up in the hands of BJ Foster, who is not his teammate.

Texas moved inside the red zone with a pass from Casey Thompson to Joshua Moore. A few plays later, the duo repeated their connection for a 10-yard score to make it 7-0 early.

On Baylor’s second drive, the Bears moved into Texas territory with passes to Drew Estrada and Tyquan Thornton. But facing 3rd-and-6 on the Texas 38, the Bears ran a speed option to pick up the first and move to the Texas 20. Three plays later, some trickery earned six points when Thornton found Sneed for a six-yard score.

Texas’ second drive started poorly, first with a delay of game then a sack of Thompson. The drive ended quickly after three plays and a Cameron Dicker punt.

Baylor moved in to Texas territory with another big run by Abram Smith. They moved closer to the end zone with a personal foul penalty on Moro Ojomo. The Bears eventually faced 3rd-and-13 and failed to convert after a short pass to Sneed. Texas forced a field goal, converted by Isaiah Hankins, to make it 10-7 Bears.

Texas took over on its own 25 with under a minute left in the first. Thompson found Moore for another first down. The next throw was a perfect slot fade from Thompson to Xavier Worthy for a 63-yard score, making it 14-10 Texas.

Worthy moved one behind Roy Williams school record of eight touchdown receptions as a freshman with the score.

Baylor ran one play for a gain of a handful as the quarter expired with Texas leading 14-10.

SECOND QUARTER

The quarter started hot for the Bears with a 32-yard gain by Smith to move into Texas territory. But the Bear offense stalled on the Texas 32 after several stops by the Longhorn defense. The stop was crucial as Hankins shanked a 51-yard attempt.

Texas; drive moved into BU territory quickly with a Thompson scramble. A few short gains set up 3rd-and-7, then a 4th-and-4. Thompson stepped up in the pocket but his pass was broken up by Al Walcott and the Bears took over.

Baylor took over on its own side of the 50, and faced 3rd-&-6 out of the gate. Texas held them short on 3rd, then again on 4th down for a trade of possession. Jerrin Thompson was credited with the tackle for loss.

Texas faced 3rd-and-short after a handoff to Juan Davis and a pass to Marcus Washington. Texas picked up the first with a direct snap run to Roschon Johnson.

Another 3rd-and-6 approached, and Thompson appeared to find Moore again for a first down. But after a spin move, Moore lost possession of the football and Jalen Pitre recovered the football to give Baylor the ball back with 6:06 left.

Despite the repeated shifts in momentum, the Texas defense held firm again and received an opportunity to score before halftime with 3:39 left, needing to travel 75 yards to do so.

The Longhorns picked up 23 with a pass to Worthy, then a few more with a pass to Washington. But the Bears eventually forced a 3rd-and-5, and Texas could not convert.

Baylor began on its eight-yard-line after Cameron Dicker’s punt. They picked up a first, but Bohanon threw his second pick to Luke Brockermeyer with 27 seconds left in the half.

Texas began on the Baylor 34. Cade Brewer picked up five with a reception. Thompson went for Moore in the end zone, but Moore could not haul it in for another score. On 3rd-and-5, Thompson threw a ball to Moore that deflected off his hands and into those of Baylor’s JT Woods.

Woods returned the ball to the Texas 39, but Bohanon’s halftime Hail Mary attempt fell short with it 14-10 Texas at the half.

THIRD QUARTER

Texas began the second half with a pass to Worthy for 19 yards. The Horns were stopped on 3rd-and-1, but converted on fourth with Roschon Johnson again. Texas picked up a first and moved into the red zone with a pass to Washington, then nine with Brewer.

Texas made it 4th-and-goal from the one and brought in heavy personnel, with Robinson getting across to make it 21-10.

Two big play-action passes from Bohanon moved Baylor to the Texas 25. Facing a fourth down a few plays later, Bohanon completed a pass over the middle to make it 1st-and-goal Bears. On 2nd-and-goal, Bohanon finished the drive with a six-yard touchdown run to make it 21-17.

Needing momentum, Texas started the drive with a 25-yard run by Thompson but followed it with a four-yard loss by Robinson. Texas couldn’t pick up the 14 needed and sent on the punt team.

Baylor picked up a first down to start the drive, then another on a pass from Bohanon to Thornton. Bohanon picked up a first down with his legs after avoiding a bltiz from Ovie Oghoufo, and then picked up five as the third quarter ended.

FOURTH QUARTER

Starting with 2nd-and-5 on the Texas 43, Bohanon went through his progressions on play-action to find Ben Sims to move to the Texas 15. A Smith run moved inside the five, and a handoff to Sims found the end zone to make it 24-21 Baylor with 12:48 left.

Texas picked up a first down with a couple of completions to Washington to start the ensuing drive. Then Jared Wiley gained enough to move the sticks in Baylor territory. But Texas moved backwards on a mishap between Robinson and Thompson to make it 2nd-and-16.

Thompson helped gain back 10, setting up a third down. But they lost five on a false start, and Thompson’s prayer intended for Washington downfield fell incomplete.

Sarkisian elected to call a fake punt that was quickly snuffed out by the Baylor defense, giving BU the ball on its own 47.

By that point, momentum belonged fully to those in green and gold. Texas had surrendered another fourth quarter lead, with Smith making it worse for the Longhorns with a 32-yard run to make it 31-21 with 7:59 left.

In response, Texas drove 66 yards on 10 plays to add three points to make it 31-24 Baylor with 4:40 left.

Dicker kicked the ensuing kickoff deep and Baylor took it out to the 16. But two rushes picked up 16 yards for Baylor to pick up one first down. Texas began to play the timeout game on the ensuing play, taking its first. It eventually stopped Baylor and took over with no timeouts on its own 32.

First down resulted in an incompletion. Second down did too, but Thompson and Washington almost completed a huge gain that would have put Texas inside the Baylor 25. Third down was thrown away.

Fourth down was intended for Worthy, and fell incomplete.

Baylor knelt out the clock to end the game and drop Texas to 4-4.