Shapen shines as Baylor defeats UAlbany 69-10 in season opener

WACO, Texas – Blake Shapen threw for 214 yards and two touchdowns to lead the No. 10 Bears (1-0) to a 69-10 victory over UAlbany (0-1) in the 2022 season opener on Saturday night at McLane Stadium.

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Blake Shapen threw for 214 yards and two TDs in his season debut.

Shapen, a redshirt sophomore who won the Bears’ starting QB job in the spring, was as good as advertised, completing 17-of-20 passes for an 85% completion percentage. Out wide and on the ground, Monaray Baldwin impressed in his first career start, totaling two touchdowns and 130 all-purpose yards.

As anticipated, Baylor controlled their FCS opponent for most of the game, limiting the scrappy Great Danes to 236 yards on offense. Al Walcott led the way on defense, recording four tackles and a pass breakup. While Jaxon Player, an offseason transfer from Tulsa, added half of a sack in his Baylor debut.

BU got on the board right out of the gate when Shapen connected with Baldwin for a 47-yard touchdown to give the Bears’ offense their first points of the season. 

The following two drives were capped with scores by Craig “Sqwirl” Williams and Gavin Holmes, their first TDs since 2020. Williams added a 4-yard rushing touchdown while Holmes returned a punt 72 yards into the endzone.

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Gavin Holmes had an electric 72-yard punt return TD in the 1st quarter.

UAlbany added a score late in the first quarter, but Baylor responded with a Shapen to Hal Presely 38-yard touchdown on the next drive. With the second quarter winding down, Shapen led the green and gold 80 yards down the field and dove into the endzone to put BU up 35-7 as time expired in the first half.

Baldwin started the second half with a bang, blazing his way down the sideline for a 50-yard rushing TD to add to the Bears' lead, 42-7. 

Redshirt freshman Kyron Drones replaced Shapen at quarterback midway through the third quarter and impressed, rushing for a touchdown and throwing for 100 yards on 5-for-7 passing. Freshman running back Richard Reese led the ground game in the second half, totaling 62 rushing yards and two touchdowns.