61 Days till Kickoff: Trestan Ebner’s 61-yard TD against Texas Tech

As always, keep track of both the stats and roster countdowns in the Offseason Hub!

Editors note: Since most people are on vacation or spending time with family for the 4th of July, we are doing the 61-58 victory over TCU on Day 58, which will be Thursday.

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Blake Shapen made his first career start against Texas Tech last season.

Heading into the final week of the 2021 regular season, Texas Tech (6-5) traveled to Waco to take on the No. 9 Baylor Bears (9-2). There was a lot riding on this particular late-November rivalry weekend for Baylor. In order for BU to make the Big 12 title game, they needed to take care of business against Texas Tech, and they needed No. 7 Oklahoma State to beat No. 10 Oklahoma in Bedlam.

Throughout the week leading up to the game, Baylor had struggled with a flu outbreak amongst the team. On top of that, starting quarterback Gerry Bohannon had injured his hamstring the week prior in the gritty victory over Kansas State. The Bears then had to turn to redshirt freshman QB Blake Shapen to potentially clinch a spot in the Big 12 title game in his first career start. 

On the first drive of the game, Blake Shapen showed his natural ability to throw the ball with a perfectly placed 61-yard touchdown to Trestan Ebner up the left side to put the Bears up 7-0 early. 

Both defenses stood strong, but Tech fumbling twice on their side of the field allowed Baylor to take a 17-10 lead going into halftime. 

After forcing a Red Raider three and out to start the second half, Shapen led the offense 66 yards down the field into scoring position, but Isiah Hankins missed a 41-yard field goal to make it a two-score game. 

Before the momentum completely shifted to Texas Tech’s sideline, Shapen cooled down the pressure with an incredible 9-yard touchdown to Ben Sims. The Bears went back up 27-17, but the Red Raiders responded with a 75-yard touchdown two plays later. 

The Bears had the opportunity to ice the game on fourth and two on Tech’s 12-yard line, but the stingy Red Raider defense stopped BU to get the ball back down three with under a minute and a half remaining. 

Donovan Smith hurriedly led the Tech offense down the field to put them in scoring position. Jonathan Garibay, the Texas Tech kicker, who had kicked a game-ending 62-yarder to beat Iowa State two weeks prior and was 13-for-13 for field goals on the season, had a chance to send the game into overtime with a 53-yard field goal. Garibay lifted the ball with plenty of leg but pushed the kick wide left, allowing the short-handed Bears to escape Waco with a victory. 

Later in the evening, No. 7 Oklahoma State defeated No. 10 Oklahoma allowing Baylor to clinch a spot in the Big 12 Championship game the following week.

Blake Shapen finished his first career start going 20-34 passing with 254 yards and two touchdowns. Abram Smith carried the ball 30 times for 117 yards and a touchdown. Trestan Ebner was the Bears leading receiver with four receptions for 118 yards and a touchdown while adding 38 rushing yards of his own.