Bears Massacred in Manhattan, Fall 59-25 to No. 25 K-State

MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Dave Aranda-led Bears will finish with a losing record for the third time in four seasons.

Jack Mackenzie - SicEm365

After losing Saturday to No. 25 K-State, Baylor has officially been eliminated from bowl contention.

Saturday’s 59-25 drubbing to No. 25 Kansas State (7-3, 5-2) at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium officially eliminated Baylor (3-7, 2-5) from bowl contention.

The Bears were dominated in every facet of the game in the defeat. Kansas State outgained Baylor in total yardage, 451-to-332. The Bears' offense was 4-of-17 on third downs, turned the ball over three times and failed on multiple two-point conversions.

Baylor’s offense opened the contest with, arguably, its most orchestrated drive of the season. Quarterback Blake Shapen (RJr.) found tight end Drake Dabney (Sr.) for two huge plays and capped off the drive with a 12-yard slip screen touchdown to running back Dawson Pendergrass (Fr.). For the first time this season, the Bears scored a touchdown on their opening drive. 

On the ensuing Baylor drive, Shapen was leveled in the pocket from behind, and K-State linebacker Desmond Purnell (So.) scooped up the fumble and returned it 15 yards for the touchdown.

The Baylor defense, however, struggled mightily in the first half. Kansas State scored at will and found the end zone on each of its first four offensive possessions. The Wildcats scored 28 unanswered points and outgained Baylor in first-half yardage, 237-to-108.

Running back DJ Giddens (So.) had 76 first-half rushing yards and finished the contest with 115 yards on 18 touches. Quarterback Will Howard (Sr.) threw for 235 yards and three touchdowns on 19 of 29 passing.

Jack Mackenzie - SicEm365

Saturday was the first time Kansas State has hung 50 on an opponent since 2020 (Kansas).

Baylor regained some momentum late in the second quarter when wide receiver Josh Cameron (RSo.) returned a punt 70 yards to the K-State 16-yard line. After a 14-yard bruising carry from running back Dominic Richardson (Jr.), Shapen found Pendergrass in the end zone for his second touchdown of the contest to cut the Wildcat lead to 35-13. The Bears then elected to go for two but could not convert.

Aranda continued to pull out all the stops in an attempt to get Baylor back into the game, including a successful onside kick with just under two minutes remaining in the first half. 

With an opportunity to make it a two-possession game, the offense couldn’t get anything going, and instead of a 51-yard field goal from Isaiah Hankins (RSo.) on fourth down, Hankins tried to connect with tight end Jake Roberts (Jr.) on a fake but the ball went through the outstretched arms of Roberts.

Baylor’s lone third-quarter score came on a trick play where Richardson took the handoff and threw the ball back to Shapen; Shapen then hit Dabney down the right sideline for a 63-yard touchdown. The Bears again elected to go for two but could not convert and trailed K-State 38-19 midway through the third.

Jack Mackenzie - SicEm365

For the third time in four seasons, the Dave Aranda-led Bears will finish the year with a losing record.

Kansas State continued to pour it on in the second half and added 17 points in the third quarter, including an interception returned for a touchdown on a Shapen pass that was intended for Cameron. 

The Wildcats' backup quarterback, Avery Johnson (Fr.), found tight end Garrett Oakley (RFr.) for a 28-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 59-19 with less than four minutes remaining in the contest.

Baylor (3-7, 2-5) will travel to Fort Worth next Saturday to play rival TCU (4-5, 2-4). Kickoff time has yet to be announced.

Passing

Rushing

Receiving

Defense

Kicking/Punting