Baylor Picks Up First Conference Win, Dominates Texas Tech in Lubbock, 59-35

LUBBOCK, Texas – Head coach Dave Aranda and Baylor (3-4, 1-3) picked up their first conference victory of the season with a 59-35 win over rival Texas Tech (5-2, 3-1) on Saturday afternoon at Jones AT&T Stadium.

Baylor quarterback and Lubbock native Sawyer Robertson (RJr.) kept up his stellar play with 274 yards through the air and a career-high five touchdowns on 21-of-32 passing.

Wide receiver Josh Cameron (RJr.) was Robertson’s primary target in the victory, catching six passes for 75 yards while hauling in a career-high three touchdowns.

Saturday’s win improved Aranda’s record to 2-1 over former Baylor assistant and current Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire and was the Bears’ largest margin of victory over a conference opponent since Oct. 29, 2022, against Texas Tech, 45-17. 

In the win, Baylor’s defense collected six tackles for loss. Linebacker Matt Jones (6Sr.) led the defense with nine tackles and a sack.

Baylor’s defense hung tough to open the game and got back-to-back stops, giving Robertson and the Bears the ball near midfield halfway through the first quarter.

Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images

Baylor is 2-1 since Joey McGuire took over as Texas Tech’s head coach.

Running back Bryson Washington (RFr.) broke through Texas Tech’s defense for a career-long 44-yard rush up the left sideline. Washington was knocked out of bounds at the one-yard line but finished the drive on the following play with a rushing touchdown.

After leaving the contest against No. 16 Iowa State with an injury, Washington rebounded on Saturday with a career-high 116 rushing yards on just 10 attempts for an average of 11.6 yards per carry.

Texas Tech responded with a scoring drive and tied the game at seven apiece.

Early in the second quarter, Cameron continued his stellar season on special teams with a season-long 73-yard punt return but was tackled inches from the goal line. Cameron has returned 11 punts this year for an average of 22.72 yards per return.

Washington finished the drive from one yard out with his second score.

On the ensuing Jack Stone (Jr.) kickoff, the Red Raider’s returner, Drae McCray (Sr.), muffed the recovery, and it was promptly scooped up by Baylor’s Rara Dillworth (Sr.). 

The Bears couldn’t find the end zone but extended their lead to 17-7 after a 31-yard field goal from kicker Isaiah Hankins (RJr.).

Texas Tech fought back with a four-minute, 80-yard drive that was capped off by a trick play where tight end Jalin Conyers (Sr.) took a handoff but paused and then delivered a dime to wide receiver Caleb Douglas (Jr.) for a 20-yard score.

With less than two minutes remaining in the first half, Robertson carried the Bears down the field, completing 5-of-6 passes and finishing the drive with back-to-back beautiful throws to tight end Michael Trigg (RJr.) and Cameron for a six-yard touchdown.

Baylor led 24-14 going into the half-time locker room.

The Bears opened the third quarter with a three-and-out, and the Red Raiders quickly got the momentum back with a scoring drive that was finished off with a 31-yard rushing touchdown from star running back Tahj Brooks (Sr.) on fourth and short.

Brooks ended the game with 125 yards on 25 carries.

From that point forward, Baylor dominated, scoring 28 unanswered points with touchdown grabs from Cameron, Hal Presley (Sr.) and Monaray Baldwin (Sr.).

Cornerback Caden Jenkins (So.), who has missed the last several games with an injury, picked up his first interception of the season midway through the third quarter.