Baylor Thrashed by TCU in First Bluebonnet Battle, 42-17

FORTH WORTH – In the first rendition of the “Bluebonnet Battle” and the 119th matchup between Baylor (3-8, 2-6) and TCU, the Horned Frogs (5-6, 3-5) came away victorious, 42-17, Saturday at Amon G. Carter Stadium.

In the defeat, Baylor’s defense was dismantled by the high-flying TCU offense. The Horned Frogs totaled 531 yards on the afternoon, including 412 yards and two touchdowns on 24-of-29 passing from quarterback Josh Hoover (RFr.).

Jack Mackenzie

The Horned Frogs offense totaled 531 yards on the afternoon – their second-highest mark of the season.

TCU did not have to punt a single time and was 9-of-11 on third-down conversions compared to the Bears, who were 5-of-14 on third down and 2-of-6 on fourth-down conversions.

On the Horned Frogs’ opening drive, TCU marched down the field and was about to find the end zone before Baylor defensive lineman Cooper Lanz (RSo.) stripped the ball from running back Emani Bailey (Jr.); cornerback Caden Jenkins (Fr.) scooped up the loose football and returned it to the Baylor 31-yard line.

The Bears' offense rebounded and struck first when quarterback Blake Shapen (RJr.) connected with running back Dominic Richardson (Jr.) for his first touchdown of the season on a 10-yard swing route.

Despite getting inside the Baylor five-yard line twice, it wasn’t until the Horned Frogs’ third possession that they were able to get on the scoreboard. On the fifth play of the drive, Bailey weaved through the right side of the Bears’ defense for a 27-yard touchdown to tie the game at seven apiece.

On fourth and three from the TCU eight-yard line, Baylor’s offense coordinator, Jeff Grimes, appeared to dial up a “Philly Special” play call, but it was blown up before Richardson could toss the ball back to tight end Drake Dabney (Sr.).

Jack Mackenzie

Running back Dawson Pendergrass (Fr.) totaled 43 all-purpose yards on 15 touches.

Two plays later, Hoover took advantage of a Baylor busted coverage and found tight end Jared Wiley (Sr.) wide open over the middle for an 81-yard touchdown.

Running backs Dawson Pendergrass (Fr.) and Richardson led the Bears back down the field with a handful of bruising runs, and kicker Isaiah Hankins (RSo.) nailed a 48-yard field to cut TCU’s lead to 14-10 going into the halftime locker room.

To open the third quarter, the Horned Frogs' offense was backed into a third and 25 before Hoover connected on a slip screen with an untouched Wiley for a 28-yard touchdown. Wiley finished the contest with a career-high seven receptions and 178 receiving yards.

Baylor responded on its drive, which was sparked by a trick play where Shapen threw a dime up the left sideline to Dabney for a 48-yard gain. On the following play, Shapen capped off the possession with a two-yard rushing touchdown to shorten TCU’s lead to 21-17.

From that point forward, it was all Horned Frogs for the rest of the afternoon. TCU scored 21 unanswered points on its next three possessions, including rushing touchdowns from Bailey, Hoover and running back Trey Sanders (Jr.).

Baylor (3-8, 2-6) will return to Waco to close out the 2023 season with a matchup against the West Virginia Mountaineers (7-4, 5-3). Kickoff time has yet to be announced.

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