Baylor put on a clinic last night in Waco, and for once this season, it wasn't an obscure opponent named Wofford State or Louisiana-Monroe on the losing end.
The Baylor Bears opened Big 12 conference play with an exclamation point, decimating the West Virginia Mountaineers with a 56-point route in two quarters and basically phoning it in for the second half. The final score — 73 to 42 — was a result of Baylor mercy and West Virginia moxie.
Historically, Baylor is no stranger to first-half blowouts. But the Bears have only been on the right side of them since 2010, when Art Briles and Robert Griffin III ushered in a new era of Baylor football. That game plan was on full display Saturday night in Waco, as a packed crowd at Floyd Casey Stadium hooted and hollered for all 617 yards of first-half offense.
Historically, Baylor is no stranger to first-half blowouts. But the Bears have only been on the right side of them since 2010.
The second half was much quieter, as Baylor put in its backup quarterback and running backs in short order. West Virginia, understandably, subbed only its bruised and battered quarterback Clint Trickett, who took more than his fair share of licks in the first half. Trickett entered the game with a sore shoulder and didn't have a chance to recover as Baylor's defense harassed him constantly. Trickett threw for 161 yards and completed just 9-of-28 passing attempts.
Meanwhile, Baylor's Bryce Petty made playing quarterback look easy. Petty put up 347 yards in three quarters. He was 17-of-25 with two touchdowns in the air and one more with his feet.
As it has in every game so far this season, Baylor scored 28 points in the first quarter. No other team has done it since 1996. Baylor has also scored 70 points in three-straight games — a record that dates back to 1930. And the Bears are doing it all with the second string finishing out the game.
Petty, who has thrown for more than 300 yards in every game this season, has yet to play four quarters. Running back Lache Seastrunk and wide reciever Tevin Reese both had 100-yard performances in the first quarter against West Virginia. Dating back to last season, Seastunk has had 100 yards rushing in eight straight games (you guessed it, another FBS record).
The only Baylor statistic that took a dive against West Virginia was points allowed. Head coach Dana Holgorsen and the Mountaineers admirably kept fighting in the second half, turning lateral trick plays into touchdowns and onside kicks into extra possessions.
Holgorsen may have looked like a man defeated with his exasperated expression on the sideline, but he didn't coach like one. He turned a 56-14 first-half score into a 17-28 second-half score. Heck, the 14 points the Mountaineers put up in the first half was already the most any team had scored on Baylor all season.
Next up, Baylor takes on Kansas State on October 12. The Wildcats — like all of Baylor's opponents so far this season — are unranked. In fact, Baylor's first ranked opponent is No. 11 Oklahoma on November 7. By all accounts, Baylor will still technically be the underdog heading into that game. But it sure doesn't feel like the Bears are chasing anyone anymore.
Quarterback Bryce Petty threw two touchdowns and rushed for one more.
