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No. 3 Texas uses balanced attack, stifling defense to dominate Baylor 38-6 in final Big 12 opener

Steve Habelby: Steve Habel09/24/23stevehabel
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Jett Bush (Will Gallagher/Inside Texas)

WACO, Texas – Texas’ final run through the Big 12 Conference got out to a rousing and successful start when Quinn Ewers passed for 293 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score as the No. 3 Longhorns dominated throughout in a 38-6 win over Baylor on Saturday before a capacity crowd of 49,165 fans at McLane Stadium.

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The game was the 113th meeting in the all-time series and the final scheduled between the two longtime Southwest Conference and Big 12 rivals as Texas moves to the Southeastern Conference beginning next season.

Ewers hit on 18 of his 23 throws as the Longhorns (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) have started the season with four victories for the first time since 2012. 

Jonathon Brooks rushed for 106 yards and two TDs on 18 carries and Ja’Tavion Sanders caught five passes for 110 yards for the Longhorns. 

The Texas defense was a story as well, allowing just three points on three Baylor possessions in the red zone over the second and third quarters, turning over the Bears on downs twice and Jaylan Ford intercepting a pass in the end zone on the third.

Sawyer Roberston, playing his third game in relief of injured starter Blake Shapen, threw for 203 yards and Ford’s aforementioned interception. Monaray Baldwin, one of 11 Bears to catch a pass, had a team-high three receptions for 81 yards.

The Longhorns struck first when Brooks got loose around right end for a 40-yard TD run at the 5:15 mark of the first quarter. It was the 10th touchdown of Brooks’ career, the eighth via the rush.

Baylor answered via a 22-yard field goal by Isaiah Hankins at the end of a 70-yard, nine-play march that was highlighted by a 39-yard pass from Robertson to Ketron Jackson Jr. and aided by a pass interference penalty on Texas’ Michael Taaffe.

Ewers used his legs to expand the Longhorns’ lead. He got loose around left end on a scramble and tight-roped the sideline for a 29-yard TD and a 14-3 advantage with 9:07 to play in the second quarter.

Texas uncorked a trick play to begin its ensuing possession when Worthy caught a backward pass from Ewers and heaved the ball downfield to Ja’Tavion Sanders at the Baylor 7-yard line. On the next snap freshman CJ Baxter found clear sailing around left end for a 7-yard score TD that pushed the Longhorns’ advantage to 21-3 with 7:03 remaining in the first half.

Brooks banged into the end zone off the hip of left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. for a 2-yard TD with 2:26 remaining in the second quarter. The drive featured a 16-yard pass from Ewers to Gunnar Helm and an 18-yard completion to Brooks. 

A muffed punt by Worthy late in the quarter at the Texas 21-yard line resulted in a 36-yard FG by Hankins with 44 seconds remaining, pulling the Bears to within 28-6 at the break.

The Longhorns outgained Baylor 256-121 in the first half and scored 28 points on 32 snaps. More than half (62 yards) of the Bears’ total output in the half was on two pass plays.

Texas tacked on a 37-yard field goal from Bert Auburn on its first possession of the third quarter. Ewers then found Worthy for a 21-yard TD pass with 5:36 to play in the third quarter that capped off a 95-yard, 7-play drive and pushed the advantage to 38-6.

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The Longhorns return home to host Kansas next Saturday at 2:30 CDT in Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

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