Bears Open Season With Dominant Win Over Albany
WACO, Texas — The No. 10 Baylor Bears (1-0) rout UAlbany (0-1), 69-10, to remain undefeated in season openers under Dave Aranda.
UAlbany won the coin toss and elected to receive. A three and out ensued. It took Baylor six plays to gain the 76 yards needed to score. Thus began a long evening of playing from behind for the Great Danes.
The Bears were bigger, faster and stronger, and it was evident early. Alongside Blake Shapen's strike to receiver Monaray Baldwin, running back Sqwirl Williams bulled in a touchdown from four yards out and Gavin Holmes flexed the play of the game with a punt return touchdown.
It was 21-0. The clock still read 5:37 remaining in the first quarter. Mercy was abundant, though. Baylor would allow a UAlbany touchdown on the final play of the first quarter to cut the lead to 21-7.
Despite a slower second quarter, the Bears did answer with a 38-yard touchdown from Shapen to Hal Presley with 11:55 remaining in the half. The Green and Gold then closed the quarter with a one-yard Shapen touchdown run to take a 35-7 lead into the break.
Shapen finished the first half 17-20 with 214 yards and three total scores, a bright spot considering Baylor only rushed for 43 yards on 15 carries in the opening 30 minutes.
Surprisingly, Baylor only had one player with a full sack in the first half. Maybe even more surprisingly, it was freshman safety, Alfonzo Allen.
It is worth mentioning Gabe Hall and Jaxon Player shared a sack, coining the phrase 'Grand Piano Sack,' or GPS for short.
The second half was more of the same — Baylor having its way. The Bears took six plays to gain 80 yards on the opening drive of the half, capped by a 50-yard touchdown run by Baldwin.
It was 42-7. Parlaying the humidity, crickets and lopsided score, Bears fans felt it wise to hit the exits. They did not miss much the rest of the way.
A healthy portion of Baylor starters saw their night end in the middle of the third quarter. Shapen didn't throw a ball on the one drive he got in the second half. His stats closed right where they sat at halftime.
To close things out, Kyron Drones scored. Richard Reese scored. Then he scored again. And Qualan Jones added the exclamation point.
Baylor finished with 573 yards. UAlbany was held to 236. The Bears had seven rushing touchdowns. UAlbany will have to wait until next week for its first. Baylor's completion percentage ended at 81%. Albany will board a flight with their QBs at 43%.
Baylor rolled 69-10. The Bears won, Dave Aranda collected his third opening game wins in three tries and the Line stayed.
It's Baylor and BYU in Provo, Utah next week. The rubber hits the road there.
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