Baylor vs Texas Tech Football Cliff Notes

A Play by Play Guide, minus the Boring Stuff

The Beginning

College Football fans woke up clamoring on Saturday morning as the Baylor Bears squared off against the high-powered offense of the Texas Tech Red Raiders at At&t Stadium in Arlington. Both teams sitting at five wins, a victory would secure either squad’s ticket to a bowl game, while a loss would send them packing for the season. The stakes are high, and the pressure is on.

The Red Raiders came into the game hobbled, starting Junior McLane Carter under center. After sensational play from Freshman Alan Bowman for most of the year, injuries depleted their depth chart at Quarterback.

The Bears, on the other hand, entered Saturday’s game relatively healthy. Starting QB Charlie Brewer looked spry as the Bears took the field, throwing darts and bombs alike in pregame warmups. Baylor looked determined and motivated as they stormed onto the field before kickoff.

Let the Games Begin

The Red Raiders came out firing on all cylinders, completing a 54-yard touchdown heave only 3 minutes into the first half of play.

Baylor: 0
Texas Tech: 7

The Bears did not stay down for long though, systematically marching down the field toward the opposing end zone with a balanced attack through the air and on the ground. Being primarily a passing team, it was refreshing to see the Bears’ run game clicking. Matt Rhule showed good balance on this drive by utilizing Sophomore RB John Lovett to keep the defense guessing in fact, this 19-play drive became the longest drive of the entire game, by either team. Once the Bears finally found themselves in the redzone, there was nothing to do but give the ball to Denzel Mims. Mims, as he has done all year, delivered.

Baylor: 7
Texas Tech: 7

It did not take long for Kliff Kingsbury’s squad to fire back, as the Red Raiders strung together a 51-yard drive in only 9 plays. The Baylor defense, however, did not break, and Tech settled for a 42-yard field goal.

Baylor: 7
Texas Tech: 10

Baylor made quick work of the Red Raiders defense, as Charlie Brewer sliced upfield, ultimately tossing a feathery 41-yard pass to freshman WR Tyquan Thornton in the end zone. Baylor takes the lead, and Brewer’s arm is officially wound up

Baylor: 14
Texas Tech: 10

Texas Tech spoiled Baylor’s excitement by rattling off a few big plays in a row. A 32-yard reception put the Red Raiders only 7 yards from the end zone. Baylor’s defense faltered n 1st & Goal, as Texas Tech RB Dermacus Felton gutted the line of scrimmage en route to a TD.

Baylor: 14
Texas Tech:17

After Texas Tech’s touchdown at the 12-minute mark of the second quarter, we actually saw some pretty good defense by both teams. In fact, neither team notched another point for the rest of the half. Entering the 3rd Quarter, Texas Tech still lead by 3.

Matt Rhule must have lit a fire under the Bears after halftime, as they causally strolled downfield in only seven plays after the break. The drive was highlighted by an amazing catch by Chris Platt, who would finish the game as the Bears’ leading receiver with 114 yards.

Charlie Brewer quickly scored with a QB sneak a few plays later. Advantage, Baylor.

Baylor: 21
Texas Tech: 17

Texas Tech began to show signs of weakness after Brewer’s deflating TD run. This energy bled onto the other side of the ball, as Kliff Kingsbury’s offense continued to struggle against a suddenly motivated Baylor defense. The Bears got the ball back in no time, quickly scoring on a John Lovett run. Lovett would finish the game’s leading rusher with 125 yards on the ground.

Baylor: 28
Texas Tech: 17

The Red Raiders made things interesting to begin the fourth quarter with a 14-play drive. Converting time and time again on third down, Tech battled forward and eventually snuck in a touchdown pass to Seth Collins to narrow the gap.

Baylor: 28
Texas Tech: 24

The Bears, however, would not be denied their Bowl game. Brewer and Co. outplayed the Texas Tech defense for a final time, shooting down the field in a little over two minutes in total. Brewer capped a three-touchdown effort with a rifle to Mims for a 16 yard TD.

Bears: 35
Texas Tech: 24

Neither team would score after the Mims touchdown, which came at the twelve-minute mark. The Bears chewed clock and locked down the defensive side of the ball, coming to a climax with Blake Lynch’s game sealing interception with a little over two minutes remaining. Lining up in victory formation, the Bears would kneel their way to 6 wins. Shortly after the loss, Texas Tech announced the firing of head coach Kliff Kingsbury.

Final Score

Baylor: 35 (6-6)
Texas Tech 24 (5-7)

Sic Em Bears!