The play came after an unsportsmanlike conduct call on Beau Blackshear that gave the Longhorns first down.
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Baylor quarterback Lynx Hawthorne threw a first-quarter interception and made the subsequent tackle, but he threw the Texas defensive back down to the turf after the referees blew the play dead. Chris Johnson went down late in the first quarter with “concussion-like symptoms” following a hit by Texas safety P.J. Locke which also forced one of the Bears’ four turnovers. Andrew Billings, Jamal Palmer, and Shawn Oakman set the tone in what might be the last game all three play at Baylor, and they were simply marvelous. Lots of gesturing, sure, but no actual punches. That is an indication that the third-year starting receiver is playing his final home game. Houston is guaranteed a spot in a New Year’s Six bowl game – either the Fiesta or Peach – when bowl destinations are announced Sunday. Texas controlled the game from the beginning and led 20-0 at halftime.
Texas ended up defeating the 12th-ranked Bears 23-17. “We need to go get it done for our seniors.’ For our young players I said ‘just go out and play with confidence'”. The first half marks the first time since 2011 that the Bears have failed to score before the intermission.
Baylor ventured into Texas territory eight times.
At the outset, I want to say that even with the loss, the second half of today’s game might have been the best-coached half of Baylor Football we’ve seen in a long, long time.
The team played hard, it was more disciplined and more tough than Baylor in the first half, and did enough to win in the second half.
Texas defenders Naashon Hughes (40), Poona Ford (95), Bryce Cottrell (91) and Derick Roberson (49) block a field goal attempt by Baylor place kicker Spencer Evans (39) and holder Cole Edmiston (83) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, in Waco, Texas. It did not help matters that the play occurred right by the Texas sideline. Several 5-7 teams will be receiving special bowl invitations this year, but Texas is not expected to receive one because its graduation rates aren’t as high as other 5-7 candidates. “There was some chirping back and forth, and so you could know it was going to build up”. The blow caused Johnson to fumble the football and the Longhorns recovered. “But stuff happens. We just have to roll with it”.
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