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Bears late rally insufficient, fall to Texas Tech 20-13

Nov. 28, 2009

Jerry Larson | Associated Press/Waco Tribune-Herald Texas Tech's Baron Batch, left, eludes the tackle of Baylor's Antonio Johnson during the first half.

Duane A. Laverty | Associated Press/Waco Tribune-Herald Jay Finley (32) is brought down by Texas Tech defender Julius Howard (13) in the second quarter.

By Justin Baer
Sports editor

Coming out of the gates playing inspired for its self-proclaimed bowl game, Baylor crumbled in the second half and succumbed to a nearly perfect second-half performance from Texas Tech University quarterback Taylor Potts in a 20-13 defeat in the Bears' season finale at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

The Bears retained a 10-3 lead going into the half, but surrendered solid field position in consecutive drives due to a lengthy kickoff return and an interception in the third quarter. Tech capitalized on both opportunities with touchdowns and salvaged the lead and momentum in the third quarter.

"We're extremely disappointed that we didn't win the football game," Briles said. "We certainly felt like that coming in, that we played extremely hard, play with a lot of passion, intelligence, and energy. It's a shame that (the team) hasn't been rewarded for the sacrifices that they made for our football team and our university--that's what upset me more than anything."

Fifth-year senior quarterback Blake Szymanski made his first start since Oct. 17 against Iowa State University, and while piecing together solid drives, Baylor was only able to scrap 13 points from five red-zone appearances.

"That's what we had a tough time with tonight--finishing drives off and getting into the end zone," Szymanski said. "We fought hard."

Szymanski finished the contest 22-for-35 with 234 yards passing and finished his career as a Bear seventh (4,162 yards) on the all-time passing yards list. His counter Taylor Potts pieced together a 20-27 second-half performance, including hitting his first 16-of-17 passes.

While Szymanski's turnover tendencies have received harsh criticism throughout his career from fans, Briles had faith the Wichita Falls native would give a valiant farewell effort.

"The hardest decision I had to make was, am I doing it because I want it be good for Blake, because I do?" Briles said. "Or am I doing it because it's the best thing for our football team? Because I knew what the easy decision was--that was to go with Nick (Florence). I had to do what I thought what was the right decision."

Szymanski heaved a 57-yard pass to David Gettis on the Bears' first possession to put Baylor in prime field position. But Baylor was stifled in Texas Tech's red-zone, and Briles was mandated to send Dary Stone in for a 25-yard field goal.

Baylor took a 10-0 lead in the second quarter on Blake Szymanski's 1-yard quarterback sneak for the Bears' lone touchdown of the game despite the abundant chances.

"We played great defensively the whole game, that's why we had opportunities," Briles said. "Texas Tech is a good football team defensively, that's the main thing everybody overlooks. They've done a good job for a long time. When you get chances to score, you've got to score points."

Following Dary Stone's career-long 40-yard field goal in the third quarter, Tech running back Eric Stephens returned the kickoff 64 yards to Baylor's 36.

Three plays later, Lyle Leong battled Joe Pawelek for a 6-yard touchdown reception to set the score at 13-10 Baylor with 9:48 remaining in the third quarter.

On the ensuing drive, Szymanski laced an interception in the waiting hands of Brent Nickerson. From the Bears' 32-yard line, Texas Tech stomped on a deflated Baylor defense, and Leong hauled in a go-ahead 12-yard touchdown reception--his second in as many drives.

"The things that are blaring for me, when they had short fields, they put up points," senior linebacker Joe Pawelek said. "That makes it rough on us."

After Red Raider kicker Matthew Williams made a career-long 43-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to give Texas Tech a 20-13 lead, the Bears marched down the field with ample opportunity to tie the game. The Bears invaded the Red Raiders' red-zone with less than four minutes remaining. Jay Finley scurried to the 10-yard line on a 5-yard run. But later on fourth-and-goal from the Tech 5-yard line, a pressured Szymanski threw behind Ernest Smith to shatter Baylor's comeback attempt.

"We had beat them on that play throughout the course of the game," Szymanski said. "(Smith) had quite a few people on him. It's one of those things, when you try to escape the pocket, but I stayed with him because you have to get rid of the ball and not take a sack."

The final game ends the storied careers of many Baylor players, including Pawelek, who tied Maurice Lane's record with 45-consecutive games started.

"I think we're sitting there at looking at each other, saying 'man this flies by'," the San Antonio native said. "Being a fifth-year senior, you think you would be itching to get out of here. But the way this program is going, I wish I could stick around another four years."

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