Player's Club: Avenging Loss and Exceeding Air Force's Physicality
Coming off a 23-12 loss to No. 11 Utah on the road, not all is bad for head coach Dave Aranda’s squad. While the offense had a rough showing over the weekend, the team, particularly on defense, competed hard throughout the contest and showed tangible things to build upon for the rest of the season.
“I feel like [the defense] played really good,” safety Devin Lemear (RJr.) told the media on Tuesday. “I don't think we did enough to win. Utah's defense played really good as well. They had a turnover where they forced a fumble and [later] blocked the kick. I think we played well, but we need to get [turnovers] to help the offense and put them in better field position.”
Despite the Utes jumping out to an early 23-0 lead, Baylor clawed back into the game, mostly thanks to the defense’s effort. The Bears shut Utah out in the second half and limited them to 84 yards on five possessions in that span.
“We're resilient, and we didn't quit,” Lemear said. “In the past, I've been on teams where you could definitely feel the shift. It would be like, ‘Oh, here we go again. We're going to fold.’ But this game showed that we have a lot of fight in this team, and I'm really proud of that.”
On offense, the Bears struggled immensely. Quarterback Dequan Finn (6Sr.) had difficulty with accuracy all afternoon, completing just 9-of-21 passes for 115 yards. Running backs Richard Reese (Jr.) and Dawson Pendergrass (So.) didn’t see much success pounding the rock, combining for 84 yards on 18 carries – a number significantly boosted by a 46-yard run from Pendergrass in the third quarter.
“We learned that we still have a lot of work to do,” offensive lineman Omar Aigbedion (Jr.) said. “We had an unsuccessful game, and I think our team is very hungry, and we're determined not to let that happen again.”
The focus now moves to Air Force in a rematch of the 2022 Armed Forces Bowl, the coldest recorded bowl game in history. The temperature was 13 degrees Fahrenheit, with a negative-1 wind chill. Amidst the infamous Artic playing conditions, the Bears left Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth with a 30-15 loss to the Falcons. Now, they’re looking to avenge their defeat nearly two seasons later.
“Whenever you lose to a team, the next time you play them, you want to beat them, you know,” Aigbedion said. “It's definitely that. I used to be an academy kid, so I know they're going to come and play super hard and give everything they've got. We’ve got to be focused this weekend and locked in on what it takes.”
In the 2022 Armed Forces Bowl, Baylor was outgained on the ground, 276-to-42. This time, the Bears are looking to make a statement on defense and prove that they can handle the physicality of playing a service academy with a run-centric offense.
“It's just to prove a point that we're a physical team,” Lemear said. “That's the reputation that Air Force and all the teams that run the triple option have. There have been a lot of doubts in the past couple of years about our physicality, so this is a time to prove that we can match up with them, not even match up, but just exceed anything that they bring.”
Traditionally, Air Force is one of the tougher opponents to prepare for due to its run-heavy offense, which includes many different formations and looks. However, some of the veterans on Baylor’s roster got plenty of experience preparing for the Falcons a couple of seasons ago.
“I've experienced it before in 2022; we practiced for [the triple option] for an entire month,” Lemear added. “You go into it knowing it's going to be a physical game and knowing that you need to read your keys. They're going to do a lot of moving, so if you don't have your eyes in the right place, the ball can get out fast.”
While the Bears have improved considerably on defense, the offense is still a work in progress, especially with Finn’s struggles on the road in Salt Lake City. Another storyline to monitor this weekend is the offensive line. Midway through the game against the Utes, left tackle Alvin Ebosele (RSo.) was benched in favor of Kaden Sieracki (RSo.), which made a statement to the team and fanbase alike that starting positions are still up for grabs.
“Every week, we’ve got to go and compete for our job,” Aigbedion said. “That's the way Coach Miller wants it to be. During the game, we have people rotating in and out, so that competition piece is definitely still there, and it's definitely evident in the O-line room. Everybody has to stay hungry, and everybody has to do their job.”
Baylor (1-1) will return to Waco and take on Air Force (1-1) at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, at McLane Stadium. The Bears will wear their new anthracite jerseys during the game, and fans are encouraged to wear black.