WACO, Texas – Baylor football (5-7, 3-6) closed its season with a 31-24 loss to the Houston Cougars (9-3, 6-3) on Saturday afternoon at McLane Stadium.
The Bears had one final chance in the final minute to tie the game, but the officials swallowed their whistles on two potential pass-interference calls in the end zone, and quarterback Sawyer Robertson was unable to get a good pass off on fourth down to seal UH’s victory.
Robertson finished with 309 yards, a touchdown and an interception on 23-of-46 passing. The Bears lost the turnover battle, 2-to-1, and were out-gained on the ground, 216-to-112.
Baylor’s offense struggled for much of the first half, with two turnovers, including an interception in the end zone. The Bears had to settle for three field goals, but kicker Connor Hawkins was a perfect three-for-three, highlighted by a season-high 54-yarder.
Houston, meanwhile, scored on three of its five possessions in the first half. Quarterback Connor Weigman threw for 201 yards in the game, with 127 of those coming in the first half.
The Cougars took a 17-9 lead going into the halftime locker room.
Weigman and Houston marched down the field midway through the third quarter to go up two scores, 24-9. Weigman finished with 121 rushing yards on 22 carries.
Baylor’s offense responded with a scoring drive of its own that cut Houston’s lead following a successful two-point conversion on a Robertson scramble. In place of an injured Bryson Washington, who got hurt on the first drive, and Caden Knighten, who was carted off with a neck or back injury, running back Joseph Dodds rushed for a one-yard score on the drive; he finished with 61 yards on 12 carries.
The Bears got the momentum back on their sideline after a fourth-down stop on defense and a touchdown on fourth down, where Robertson found wide receiver Josh Cameron for a 31-yard touchdown.
Houston, however, didn’t bow down and led a 74-yard, seven-minute scoring drive, capped off by a Dean Connors rushing touchdown to go ahead, 31-24 with 1:57 remaining.
