Recap: Bears Drop Conference Opener to Arizona State on Walk-Off Field Goal
WACO – Baylor football (2-2, 0-1) lost on a walk-off field goal, 27-24, in its conference opener against Arizona State (3-1, 1-0) on Saturday evening at McLane Stadium.
Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson (RSr.) threw for 251 yards and three touchdowns and an interception on 25-of-39 passing. Running back Bryson Washington (RSo.) found success on the ground, rushing for 111 yards on 17 carries. Tight end Michael Trigg (RSr.) hauled in five passes for 71 yards and two scores.
Arizona State out-gained Baylor offensively, 400-to-358, but the real issues came in the turnover battle, in which the Sun Devils won three to zero. ASU quarterback Sam Leavitt (RSo.) threw for 221 yards and a touchdown on 22-of-32 passing.
Baylor’s woes of starting fast in home games continued on Saturday as the Bears’ promising opening drive was cut short near midfield on a fumble from wide receiver Josh Cameron (RSr.).
The Sun Devils took advantage of the early miscue and got points on the board, but the Bears held tough on the goalline and limited Arizona State to a field goal. The stop was highlighted by a pass break-up from safety Jacob Redding (RSo.).
Baylor’s offense marched down the field, but stalled once it got into Arizona State territory. Kicker Connor Hawkins (RFr.) came to the rescue with a 53-yarder, his career-long.
The Bears got another stop on defense and were about to take the lead, but elected to go for it on fourth and short; Robertson was unable to connect with Kole Wilson (Sr.) on a slant, leaving Baylor’s offense without any points.
Arizona State then drove down the field for an 83-yard, seven-minute possession that was aided by 30 yards in penalties. The Bears came close to forcing fourth down near the goal line, but linebacker Kyland Reed over-pursued tight end Chamon Metayer (RSr.), setting up an easy one-yard rushing touchdown from Leavitt to give the Sun Devils a 10-3 lead.
Baylor’s offense responded with its own big drive, and it was capped off with an eight-yard passing touchdown from Robertson to Wilson — the first of his Baylor career. Wilson finished with two catches for 16 yards.
Both teams got opportunities to score again before the end of the first half, but neither came away successful, and the game was knotted at 10 apiece.
Baylor opened the second half on defense and forced a stop, but another Cameron fumble gave the Sun Devils the ball back deep in the Bears’ territory. Baylor held tough at the goal line, and Arizona State settled for a field goal.
The BU offense continued to stall, but the defense immediately forced a turnover on downs, with nose tackle Samu Taumanupepe (RSo.) stuffing the run. Following three straight good gains from Washington on the ground, Robertson threw an interception on a target to Cameron.
Baylor’s defense held ASU to another field goal, and the Bears finally got things going on offense. Washington busted through the middle of the defense for a 41-yard gain on fourth and short. Trigg found pay dirt on a one-yard screen touchdown, giving the Bears a 17-16 lead.
Facing a third and 16 deep in their own territory, Leavitt found a wide-open Derek Eusebio (RSo.) down the middle of the field for a 61-yard gain and eventually connected with All-American wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (Jr.) for a 19-yard score. The Sun Devils went for two and regained the lead, 24-17.
Baylor’s offense locked in and drove down the field to tie the game at 24 apiece when Robertson found Trigg for a 33-yard touchdown.
Baylor’s defense, however, couldn’t get one final stop, and a brutal late-hit call on safety DJ Coleman (Jr.) aided Arizona State and put them in perfect position for Jesus Gomez (Sr.) to hit a walk-off 43-yard field goal.
The Bears (2-2, 0-1) will travel to Stillwater to face off against the Oklahoma State Cowboys (1-2) next Saturday, Sept. 27, at 6:30 p.m. at Boone Pickens Stadium. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN2.
