Number 25 running back Lache Seastrunk runs with the ball at the homecoming game at Floyd Casey Stadium on Nobember 3, 2012
Dana Dewhirst | Baylor Lariat Photographer
By By Daniel Hill
Sports Writer
The Baylor football team put together a complete effort and dominated Kansas in a 41-14 victory on Saturday. The win marked Baylor’s first Big 12 victory this season.
“Getting a ‘W’ finally was a big deal,” senior quarterback Nick Florence said. “I just think we needed to get the ball rolling. We need some more confidence, and this is a big confidence-booster. We know we are a good team and finally we showed it on the field. We played a complete game with no turnovers, the defense got turnovers, they didn’t give up any points in the second half. We won special teams. If we can win all three sides of the ball, we can win any game we play.”
The Baylor defense posted its best effort so far this season. The Bears defense held the opposing Jayhawks to season lows in numerous statistical categories. Baylor held Kansas to only 14 points, conceded only 17 first downs, allowed 342 total yards and only 96 passing yards.
“Yeah, you know it was kind of about getting back to having fun,” junior defensive end Chris McAllister said. “Guys were realizing that we were pressing and a lot of things weren’t going our way. We were trying so hard to make the plays that I think guys just went back to doing what we do and having fun and playing this game, and it worked out.”
The Baylor defense also forced two turnovers with junior cornerback Joe Williams and junior nickelback Ahmad Dixon making timely interceptions. Winning the turnover battle has been a point of emphasis for Baylor this season and it delivered.
“It’s huge,” Florence said. “It (turnovers) creates momentum, it creates energy. It gives us confidence as an offense. It gives the defense confidence. They were flying around, having fun. That’s the way football is meant to be. Anytime we help our defense out by not giving turnovers and they help us out by getting turnovers, it’s a fun game. We can take advantage of that and play with that confidence and play with that fearlessness. We’ve got to continue that and keep emphasizing that as a team and keep executing like that.”
Another positive takeaway from the victory was the strong rushing attack on display from the Baylor running backs, junior Glasco Martin and sophomore Lache Seatrunk. The two combined for a total of 260 rushing yards. Martin had 11 carries for 157 yards and Seastrunk tallied 17 carries for 103 yards. Seastrunk also contributed in the passing game with five receptions for 91 yards, including a 68-yard touchdown catch where he burned his defender and raced to the end zone after Florence perfectly lobbed the ball to Seastrunk in stride.
Baylor got its first conference win, but a date with No. 12 Oklahoma looms 0in Norman this Saturday.
“Well, it was a really needed win,” Martin said. “I think we are going to feed off of that a lot. I feel the confidence in the locker room has grown and hopefully we can carry that over to Norman.”
