Bears Clinch Bowl Eligibility, Beat Mountaineers 49-35 in Morgantown For First Time

MORGANTOWN, W.V. – Baylor (6-4, 4-3) clinched bowl eligibility with a thrilling 49-35 win over West Virginia (5-5, 4-3) at Milan Puskar Stadium on Saturday evening.

In the Bears' first win in Morgantown, the offense exploded for 512 total yards.

Quarterback Sawyer Robertson (RJr.) led the way with a career-high 329 yards through the air on 26-of-36 passing and three touchdowns. Running back Bryson Washington (RFr.) continued his excellent season with his third 100-yard rushing game in his last four contests.

Washington totaled four touchdowns and 182 all-purpose yards on 23 touches; he’s racked up eight scores across his last two games.

“To be where we were at after the Iowa State game, sitting at 2-4 going into the bye week. Now, here we are. It’s kind of crazy,” Robertson said after the win. “It's a testament to the guys in the locker room and the coaches for putting us in a position to succeed. I couldn’t be prouder of the guys.”

Baylor’s defense struggled for much of the contest, but linebacker Matt Jones (6Sr.) came up with multiple huge plays on fourth down in the second half. He was the second-leading tackler but also tallied a sack, a pass breakup up and multiple quarterback hurries.

Safety Corey Gordon Jr. (RSo.) sealed the victory with an interception of West Virginia quarterback Garrett Green (Sr.) late in the fourth quarter.

“Winning the first game in Morgantown in itself is a blessing and a birthday present for Coach Aranda,” linebacker Keaton Thomas (RSo.) said. “When we started to catch a little win streak, the goal was to go to 8-4. It’s been that same mindset no matter where we play, who we play or what the temperature is — we’re coming to dominate.”

To open the game, West Virginia’s offense marched down the field with ease. Greene found paydirt from three yards out to give the Mountaineers an early 7-0 lead.

The Bears got on the board midway through the first quarter on a methodical drive that Washington capped off with a 22-yard receiving touchdown, where he mossed the West Virginia linebacker for a spectacular catch.

Baylor’s defense had an unlucky moment: an interception in the end zone that went right off the hands of safety Devyn Bobby (Jr.) and tipped into the waiting arms of wide receiver Traylon Ray (So.) for a nine-yard score. 

The Bears benefited, however, from a drop on fourth down when Greene lasered a perfect slant to wide receiver Justin Robinson (Sr.) that he couldn’t come up with.

Wide receivers Josh Cameron (RJr.) and Monaray Baldwin (Sr.) caught touchdowns of over 40 yards in the first half. Cameron finished the contest with a team-high 101 receiving yards and five receptions.

Both teams combined for four scores in a chaotic final two and a half minutes of the second quarter.

Washington added two rushing touchdowns to his total, and West Virginia was gifted a score after a questionable decision by head coach Dave Aranda regarding an attempted onside kick.

As time expired in the first half, Greene appeared to be met at the goalline by a host of Baylor defenders, but the officials ruled a touchdown on the field; there was not sufficient evidence to overturn the call, allowing West Virginia to make it a one-score game going into halftime.

Greene totaled 237 passing yards and 129 rushing yards on the evening. Baylor allowed 221 rushing yards in the first half.

The 63 combined points in the first half were the most in a Big 12 contest this year. Baylor tied a season-high with 35 points in a half, the same number the Bears totaled in the second half against Texas Tech on Oct. 19.

In the third quarter, Baylor’s first two drives were killed by holding penalties on wide receiver Ketron Jackson (Sr.) and center Coleton Price (RSo.). Meanwhile, the Bears' defense held tough and earned two huge stops, including a turnover on downs near their goalline.

With the Mountaineers deep in Baylor’s territory on fourth and medium, Jones faked a blitz, dropped back into coverage and forced a pass breakup. The Bears then drove down the field, and Washington found the end zone from nine yards out to give Baylor a two-score lead.

Running back Dawson Pendergrass (So.) added a late touchdown; he finished with 68 yards on the ground on 11 carries. It was his third score in his last three games.