A 45-0 shutout to open up new McClane Stadium is pretty much the best way Baylor could have asked for as they start the 2014 season ranked #10 in the nation, beating SMU behind a strong performance from Bryce Petty and a defense that did an excellent job of keeping the Mustangs from achieving any kind of success.
The Bears held SMU to -24 rushing yards, which included easily getting to the trio of quarterbacks used in the game by the American Conference team – Neal Burcham, Kolney Cassel and Matt Davis. Baylor also had three players to throw a pass because Petty was shaken up and taken out of the game after rushing for a touchdown in the second quarter. He finished the game with two touchdown passes, completing 13-of-23 and throwing for 161 yards.
It’s nothing that serious. Everything’s good. He had a couple of throws — he had guys in space and missed them. We knew something was wrong, that’s not Bryce at all. What allowed the game to be won tonight, the way we dominated defensively.
Those might not be incredible numbers for a Heisman hopeful, but he seemed to do enough to earn a rest for the night. Baylor were leading by 24 points by the time the first quarter was over, and even when the offense slowed down a bit without him, their defense wouldn’t give SMU an opening to put themselves back in the game. The longest offensive play for SMU went for 15 yards, and Burcham completed 15-of-26 passes for a gain of just 59 yards.
Baylor had no problem getting yards on the ground as well, finishing with 261 on 50 carries. Shock Linwood rushed for 89 yards on 16 carries and also a touchdown. Johnny Jefferson and Seth Russel also did well, averaging more than five yards a carry. Davion Hall with 7 catches for 86 yards and Jay Lee with 8 receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown stood out among the receivers in the 11th straight win for Baylor against SMU.
Things remain easy for Baylor for one more week as they play Northwestern State in week 2 before heading on a three-game road trip that includes Buffalo, Iowa State and Texas. Both the Bulls and the Cyclones shouldn’t prove to be too much of a difficulty if this Baylor team is really as good as it was last season, but Texas are much more of an unknown at the moment, beating North Texas to open their Charlie Strong era.