Baylor's hot start in Ames flames out as the Bears fall to Iowa State, 38-31

AMES, Iowa — Baylor’s season-long struggles to put four quarters together bit them on the backside once again as the Bears fell to Iowa State at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday evening, 38-31. Baylor fell to 1-4 on the season while Iowa state improved to 5-2 and kept their Big 12 Championship hopes alive. 

The difference between Baylor’s previous three games and the one on Saturday night against Iowa State was that the Bears weren’t the ones chasing from behind. It was the Cyclones chasing in the second half.

And they caught, surpassed and then held on with everything they had as Charlie Brewer and Baylor’s offense were an interception in the end zone away from sending the game to overtime in the final minutes of the game. 

Baylor saw a 24-10 second-half lead evaporate rapidly in the third quarter as Brock Purdy rebounded from a dreadful first 30 minutes of play where he threw three interceptions. The junior responded with three touchdowns in the second half, pushing ISU to a 38-24 lead with 10:46 remaining in the game when he found running back Breece Hall for a six-yard score. 

But per typical, Baylor’s Jekyll and Hyde personality turned once again and Brewer immediately shifted gears and led the offense on a six play, 80-yard scoring drive. Brewer completed 3-of-5 passes for 85 yards including a fourth-down conversion to Trestan Ebner that went for 56 yards and a touchdown. 

Baylor’s defense gave the ball back to Brewer quickly by forcing an Iowa State punt and the Bears took over possession with 4:01 remaining at their own 15-yard line. Brewer proceeded with his hot streak by completing 6-of-8 passes and the Bears entered the red zone on a spectacular catch by junior receiver RJ Sneed.

That’s where the rally ended, however. Following a short completion to Ebner, Brewer’s second-down attempt into the end zone was undercut by Iowa State linebacker Mike Rose who took a knee to ensure the touchback, all but ending any threat of the Bears forcing overtime. 

Brewer finished the game by completing 22-of-33 passes for 295 yards and three touchdowns while rushing 10 times for 29 yards. Brewer threw two interceptions. 

After significant offensive struggles in the first half of their previous three games, Aranda’s squad won the opening toss of the game and deferred to the second half. The decision was a good one as Baylor cornerback Kalon Barnes picked off Purdy on the opening possession of the game and the offense capitalized immediately.

After Brewer connected with receiver Jared Atkinson on a 62-yard gain to start the drive, Baylor scored the first points of the game when Brewer found Sneed in the back of the end zone a nine-yard score on third down. 

Baylor went on to intercept Purdy two additional times in the first half that set up or resulted directly in points. Cornerback Raleigh Texada caught a deflected pass as Baylor’s 14-yard line and returned it 56 yards to the Iowa State 36. 

After four carries by running back Sqwirl Williams, Brewer found true freshman tight end Drake Dabney on back-to-back plays, the last of which was a touchdown to extend Baylor’s lead to 14-0. The reception and score were the first of Dabney’s  career.

Williams left the game in the second quarter of the contest with what looked to be a significant knee injury. The freshman carried eight times for 28 yards. 

Two possessions later it was junior Jalen Pitre stepping in front of a Purdy pass, and returning it 30 yards for a touchdown. The pick six answered an Iowa State score and extended the lead back out to  two touchdowns, 21-7.

An Iowa State field goal cut Baylor’s lead to 21-10 late in the second quarter and Aranda elected to run the clock to end the first half despite having 1:58 on the clock and three time outs available.