The second-year Head Coach Dave Aranda brought his team and an unblemished 4-0 Season packed in travel bags North to Stillwater on Oct 2, there to square off with Oklahoma State’s Cowboys in 57,000 seating capacity Boone Pickens Stadium. A game with two teams ranked closely together would see the favored Bears trail throughout, as shown in the final score of Baylor 14, Oklahoma State 24.
Although taking all the snaps and throwing without an interception, Bears Junior QB Gary Bohanon was not especially productive, completing fewer than 50% of his attempts for 173 yards, no TDs. He did reach paydirt once on a nine-yard scamper, but the combined Baylor running attack could muster only 107 yards from scrimmage.
An offensive highlight for the Bears was Senior flanker Drew Estrada out of nearby Argyle, putting in another fine effort with a half dozen receptions good for 88 yards. Baylor did not fumble — always a good sign — but its defense applied little pressure in the Cowboy backfield, whereas Bohanon was “sacked” three times and “hurried” on nine other dropbacks.
Baylor’s secondary picked off OSU’s QB three times, but none influenced the scoring. Junior punter Isaac Power had a busy but good day at the office — 9 kicks averaging 42 yards, including a majestic 68 yarder. Coverage was also valiant, as only one punt was returned and for a meager six yards.
The loss dropped the Bears to 2-1 in Big 12 Conference play and 4-1 overall, while Oklahoma State kept pace with its neighbors over in Norman, each school now at 2-0 in the Big 12 and 5-0 on the Season. The Cowboys also climbed seven steps up the rating ladder from 19th to 12th, while the Bears were dropped from a place in the Top 25.
The Green and Gold face an ostensibly lesser challenge immediately ahead when the Mountaineers of West Virginia pay a call to Waco on Oct 9. Still, in short order, 10th ranked Brigham Young looms on the schedule, with later collisions against both Texas and Oklahoma filling out the docket.
