Oct 11, 2014; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears wide receiver Antwan Goodley (5) reacts after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the TCU Horned Frogs at McLane Stadium. Photo Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
WACO, Texas — It seems everyone connected to the Baylor Bears and owning a social media account is still celebrating Baylor’s dramatic come-from-behind 61-58 victory over TCU on Saturday.
It also seems there are as many ways to quantify the victory in terms of records for points and yards and everything else as there are social media accounts. Never mind how Baylor got itself in a 21-point hole with 11 minutes remaining – quarterback Bryce Petty and the Bears offense came to life in time to turn the tide.
Baylor coach Art Briles, of course, has his own way of looking at the win: It wasn’t how he drew it up, but he’ll take it.
“We like to try to score our first four drives,” Briles said. “We didn’t do it, but we scored our last four and that to me was the impressive part.”
While Baylor fans are still having a good time looking back, the Bears coaches and players have a couple of good reasons to look forward.
For one thing, Briles aggressively dismissed talk of a heated exchange on the field between TCU coach Gary Patterson and a Baylor player. Patterson, who took issue with Briles’ handling of his players last season, said he apologized to Briles for last year’s incident before Saturday’s game. But Patterson also claimed to have been threatened by a Baylor player following Saturday’s contest.
Briles said on the Big 12 conference call that the situation had been looked into and “closed” by his staff. In his weekly press conference with local media, Briles refused to answer another question on the subject.
And then there’s this week’s game at West Virginia. The Mountaineers (4-2, 2-1 Big 12) are coming off a 37-34 victory at Texas Tech that mirrored Baylor’s win over TCU in that West Virginia mounted a fourth-quarter comeback and won the game on a last-second field goal. For Baylor (6-0, 3-0) to stay in the Big 12 and college football playoff hunt, the Bears will have to do something they have never done before – win at West Virginia.
Still, Briles thinks his team is up to the task.
“I think we’re a very good road team,” Briles said. “I’m not saying it because I’m trying to protect our program. I’m saying it because the facts bear it out. We’re a tough mental team. It won’t be easy this Saturday, but you got what you got so you better do what you can do and that’s what we do.”
SERIES HISTORY: Baylor is tied in its all-time series against West Virginia, 1-1. Each team won the initial meeting on its home field.
DRAFT PROSPECTS (includes 2015 NFLDraftScout.com rating as applicable):
— DE Shawn Oakman (No. 6 defensive end, 31st overall) – Oakman recorded a tackle for loss, a fumble recovery and a quarterback hit against TCU. He also notched 5 solo and 7 total tackles.
— OT Spencer Drango (No. 6 offensive tackle, 42nd overall) – Drango helped Baylor pile up 782 total offensive yards. Drango and the Baylor front wore out TCU by the fourth quarter, paving the way for the Bears’ dramatic 61-58 comeback victory.
— QB Bryce Petty (No. 7 quarterback, 91st overall) – Petty broke out of the funk that hampered him for most of the Texas and TCU games in time to lead the Bears from 21 points down in the fourth quarter. In less than 11 minutes of game time, Petty went from award anonymity to the national player of the week. He finished with 510 passing yards and 6 touchdowns
— WR Antwan Goodley (No. 15 wide receiver, 105th overall) – Goodley caught 8 passes for 158 yards and 2 touchdowns. His second score, on a 28-yard pass from Petty, shifted Baylor’s comeback effort against TCU into overdrive.
— WR Levi Norwood (No. 17 wide receiver, 120th overall) – Norwood’s productivity has been all but shut off after a wrist injury and the emergence of Baylor freshman receiver KD Cannon. Norwood caught 2 passes for 8 yards against TCU and had no return yards.
ROSTER REPORT:
— Starting DE Jamal Palmer tore his ACL in his left knee and is out for the season. Baylor will rotate Javonte Magee and K.J. Smith and possibly Brian Nance at the position.
— Starting LB Aiavion Edwards missed the TCU game after suffering an ankle injury against Texas. Briles said there’s a chance Edwards could return this week against West Virginia. Redshirt freshman linebacker Taylor Young made 9 tackles playing in place of Edwards.
— Backup RB Johnny Jefferson was in street clothes against TCU with an undisclosed injury. Briles said Jefferson could be back against West Virginia.
