Underrated Performer for Baylor against TCU: Ryan Lengyel

Baylor is riding high into their second bye week of the season after walking off TCU 37-34 behind a 34-yard Isaiah Hankins (RJr.) field goal on Saturday night at McLane Stadium. The Bears were able to win in the trenches all night, which allowed running back Bryson Washington (RFr.) to put on a show with 26 carries for 196 yards and four touchdowns, while Dawson Pendergrass (So.) punched in a one-yard touchdown run as well.

It was pretty evident early on that TCU’s defensive line would be in for a long night against a much-improved Baylor offensive line that was opening up running lanes with ease. Our underrated performer this week was the catalyst of that dominance, as the Frogs had nobody that could match Baylor left guard Ryan Lengyel (RSo.).

During pass protection, Lengyel did an excellent job against the stunts thrown his way by the TCU three-man front. He also regularly got to the second level while bulldozing every Frog that stepped in his path. 

Following a debacle by the officials that stalled a Baylor drive at the goal line, Lengyel opened up the hole for Pendergrass to find paydirt and tie the game at 20 with 5:09 remaining in the third quarter. Following another TCU touchdown, Lengyel was able to get leverage on his defender and open up the hole that sprung another Washington touchdown to knot things up at 27.

The offensive line has received a lot of flack for its inability to block over the past couple of seasons, but it seems to be finally coming into form as a unit. Baylor will need Lengyel and the rest of the big uglies up front to continue to get better as they push toward bowl eligibility.

Baylor (5-4, 3-3) has this week off to get healthy before heading to Morgantown on November 16th to face West Virginia (5-3, 2-2) with the kickoff time TBD.