Game Log: No. 10 Baylor Bears Blowout Albany in Opener

Bears cruise to opening night victory

Coming off their winningest season in program history, the #10 Baylor Bears open their season at home against the Albany Great Danes. Saturday's matchup marks the first time in program history the Great Danes will square off against an FBS top 10 team.

The Bears return five starters on offense and will lean on sophomore quarterback Blake Shapen, who won the job in spring camp, beating out Gerry Bohanon, who is now the starter at USF. Shapen started twice in 2021 when Bohanon was out injured, going 2-0 and throwing for five touchdowns and no picks, leading Baylor to the Big 12 championship. 

The Great Danes come off a 2-9 season in 2021 where they lost their first eight games of the season. Albany struggled to run the ball, only rushing for 996 yards the entire season last year. Today, they will go up against a Bears front that returns four starters from a unit that was among the best in the Big 12.

This is the first matchup between the Bears and the Great Danes.

WHAT: Albany Great Danes vs. #10 Baylor Bears

WHERE: McLane Stadium, Waco, Texas (45,000)

WHEN: Saturday, September 3, 2022, 6 p.m. CT

TELEVISION: ESPN+, FuboTV (try it free)

RADIO: ESPN Central Texas 1660 AM

Make sure to follow along with in-game updates as they happen with InsideTheBears.com and on Twitter at @insidethebears_

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Albany won the toss and elected to receive.

Noah Rauschenberg's kick goes out of the end zone for a touchback. The Great Danes will start the game at their own 25 yard line.

FIRST QUARTER

Albany starts at their own 25, but is forced to punt after a 6 yard scramble from quarterback Reese Poffenbarger comes up a yard short of the line to gain.

change of possession

TOUCHDOWN BEARS: Baylor 7, Albany 0

After picking up two first downs, Blake Shapen completes a 47-yard touchdown pass to Monaray Baldwin to the Bears ahead.

change of possession. Albany starts at their own 25 with 10:59 remaining in the first quarter.

TURNOVER: Baylor 7, Albany 0

Poffenbarger's pass complete to Jackson Parker, fumble recovered by the Bears at the Albany 29.

change of possession, Baylor with the ball at the 29 yard line with 9:51 remaining in the first quarter.

TOUCHDOWN BEARS: Baylor 14, Albany 0

Swirl Williams takes the pitch and runs for a 4-yard touchdown. Hankins' extra point is good. Bears march 29 yards in 1:48. 8:03 remaining in the first quarter.

Change of possession, Rauschenberg's is taken out of the end zone by Julian Hicks. Great Danes start at their own 19-yard line with 7:59 remaining in the first quarter.

On 3rd & 7, Poffenbarger scrambles for 7 yards and a first down to the 29-yard line. After two incomplete passes and a short run, Albany is forced to punt. 

TOUCHDOWN BEARS: Baylor 21, Albany 0

Tyler Pastula's punt is fielded by Gavin Holmes at the 27-yard line, who takes it 73 yards for the touchdown. 5:37 remaining in the first quarter.

Change of possession, Rauschenberg's kick is fair caught in the end zone. Albany starts at their own 25 with 5:37 remaining in the first quarter.

Great Danes go 3-and-out and punt from their own 32.

Change of possession, Pastula's punt is fielded by Holmes at the 17, who returns it to the 40-yard line. A holding penalty means the Bears will start at their own 25 yard line with 4:01 to go in the first.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS: Baylor 21, Albany 0

Albany takes over at the Baylor 30 with 2:14 to go in the first quarter as Taye McWilliams is stopped for a loss on 4th and 1.

TOUCHDOWN GREAT DANES: Baylor 21, Albany 7

With the last play of the first quarter, Poffenbarger completes a pass to Julian Hicks for an 18-yard touchdown.

At the end of the first quarter, the Bears lead the Great Danes, 21-7.

SECOND QUARTER

Baylor starts at their own 25-yard line. Shapen completes passes to Armani Winfield and Baldwin for first downs. 

TOUCHDOWN BEARS: Baylor 28, Albany 7

Shapen's pass to Hal Presley for a 38 yard touchdown. Bears lead 28-7 with 11:55 left in the second quarter.

Change of possession, Rauschenberg's kick is returned by Lasalle Rose to the Albany 13-yard line with 11:49 left in the second quarter.

Poffenbarger's pass complete to tight end Thomas Greaney for 17 yards and a first down. Jaxon Player and Gabe Hall combine for a sack on the next play from scrimmage. On 3rd and 14, Poffenbarger's pass batted down by Hall and incomplete. Albany forced to punt.

Change of possession, Pastula's punt downed at the Baylor 19-yard line where the Bears will take over with 9:06 to go in the second quarter.

After an unnecessary roughness penalty gives Baylor a first down, Shapen is sacked by defensive lineman AJ Simon at the 38-yard line.

Change of possession, Isaac Power's punt , Aedan McDermott fair catches at the 5-yard line where the Great Danes will take over with 7:21 to go in the second quarter.

Poffenbarger's pass complete to Julian Hicks for a 20-yard gain to the 28-yard line. Another completion for 18 yards to Quinn Zinobile gets the Great Danes to the Baylor 42-yard line.

Alfonzo Allen sacks Poffenbarger at the Baylor 48-yard line.

Change of possession, Pastula's punt goes into the end zone for a touchback. Baylor takes over at their own 20 with 2:44 to go in the second quarter.

Shapen is sacked for a loss of 4 yards on second down. On third down, Shapen's pass completed to Ben Sims for a 21-yard gain. Ball at the Albany 46-yard line with 0:41 left in the second quarter.

TOUCHDOWN BEARS: Baylor 35, Albany 7

Shapen rushes for a 1-yard touchdown as time expires in the first half. Baylor drive: 80 yards in 2:44. Shapen goes 6-6 passing on the drive.

HALFTIME SCORE: Baylor 35, Albany 7

Halftime stats:

Blake Shapen (BU): 17-20, 214 yards, 3 total TD (1 rushing), 207.9 rating

Reese Poffenbarger (Albany): 8-18, 87 yards, 1 TD, 103.4 rating

Taye McWilliams (BU): 7 rush, 21 yards

Julian Hicks (Albany): 3 receptions, 46 yards, 1 TD

Monaray Baldwin (BU): 4 receptions, 84 yards, 1 TD

THIRD QUARTER

Sqwirl Williams takes kickoff from end zone to the Albany 48-yard line but a holding penalty brings the ball back to the Baylor 20 with 14:52 to go in the third quarter.

TOUCHDOWN BEARS: Baylor 42, Albany 7

Monaray Baldwin takes the jet sweep handoff 50 yards for the touchdown. Baylor drive goes for 80 yards on 6 plays in 3:12

Change of possession, Rauschenberg's kickoff goes out of the end zone for a touchback, Albany takes over at their own 25-yard line with 11:48 to go in the third quarter.

Poffenbarger's pass complete to Greaney for a 39-yard reception to the Baylor 14 with 7:22 to go in the third quarter.

FIELD GOAL GREAT DANES: Baylor 42, Albany 10

John Opalko hits a 25-yard field goal. Great Danes go 67 yards on 11 plays lasting 5:29. 6:19 left in the third quarter.

Change of possession, Opalko's kickoff returned by Kelsey Johnson for 16 yards to the Baylor 46 with 6:15 to go in the third quarter.

Kyron Drones replaces Shapen at quarterback for the Bears. Drones' pass intended for Josh Cameron is incomplete, but a defensive pass interference call moves the ball from the Albany 32 to the 17-yard line.

TOUCHDOWN BEARS: Baylor 49, Albany 10

QB Kyron Drones rushes for 9 yards on 4th and 2 for the touchdown. Baylor drive: 9 plays, 54 yards, 4:25. 1:54 left in the third quarter.

Change of possession, Rauschenberg's kickoff goes for a touchback. Albany starts at their own 25-yard line with 1:54 left in the third quarter.

Albany goes for five yards on three plays and is forced to punt.

Change of possession, Albany's punt gives Baylor the ball at their own 39-yard line.

END OF THIRD QUARTER: Baylor 49, Albany 10

After two first down runs by RB Richard Reese, the Bears have the ball at the Albany 15-yard line with 13:38 to go in the game. 

Drones pass complete to TE Drake Dabney for a 14-yard gain to the Albany 1-yard line.

TOUCHDOWN BEARS, Baylor 56, Albany 10

RB Richard Reese scores from 1 yard out. John Mayers' extra point is good. Baylor drive: 7 plays, 61 yards, 2:27 off the clock. 12:33 remaining in the game.

Change of possession, Albany signals for fair catch on kickoff, but ball bounced at 4-yard line and was downed.

Albany begins at their own 4-yard line with 12:01 to go in the game. On 3rd and 6, Poffenbarger's pass incomplete. Albany to punt.

Change of possession, Pastula's punt fielded by Jordan Nabors at the Albany 46, returned to the Albany 22-yard line with 11:09 remaining in the game.

TOUCHDOWN BEARS: Baylor 63, Albany 10

Richard Reese scores from 8 yards out, led by Kyron Drones' blocking. Mayers' PAT is good. Baylor drive: 4 plays, 22 yards, 1:59 off the clock. 9:10 remaining in the game.

Change of possession, Rauschenberg's kickoff goes for a touchback, Albany starts at their own 25-yard line with 9:04 left in the game.

On 3rd and 11, QB Joey Carino's pass is incomplete. Albany will punt.

Change of possession, Jordan Nabors returns Albany's punt from the Baylor 20 to the Baylor 38-yard line with 7:31 remaining in the game.

Drones' pass complete to Jaylen Ellis for a 52-yard gain to the Albany 27.

TOUCHDOWN BEARS: Baylor 69, Albany 10

RB Qualan Jones scores on a 27-yard rushing TD. Mayers' PAT is no good. Baylor drive: 4 plays, 66 yards, 1:45 off the clock. 5:46 remaining in the game.

Change of possession, kickoff goes for a touchback and Albany starts at their own 25-yard line.

Albany goes 6 yards in 3 plays and will punt.

Change of possession, Jordan Nabors returns punt for no gain, Baylor takes over at their own 19-yard line with 3:59 left in the game.

Luke Anthony takes over at QB. Baylor goes 9 yards on 3 plays and punts.

Change of possession, Rauschenberg's punt out of bounds at the Baylor 34-yard line. Net of 10 yards.

End of Game

Final Score: Baylor 69, Albany 10