By Jeffrey Cohen | Sports Editor
It had been 315 days since the last time Baylor fans saw their team win a football game. Only the remnants of that victory lingered in their minds after almost a year and four straight losses.
McLane Stadium searched for a new energy in 2026. It found it, as a win against Prairie View A&M looked imminent.
Baylor (1-1) did not disappoint its eager fanbase with its dominant 44-3 victory over Prairie View A&M (1-2) on Saturday night.
The Panthers got the ball moving on their first drive. Quarterback Tevin Carter broke off for a 16-yard scramble following a pair of Baylor penalties. Carter then dumped the ball off to running back Kyyon Harris for 30 yards, setting Prairie View up inside the Bears’ 10-yard line. The defense held on to force a field goal.
“After the first drive, we knew that wasn’t the standard,” fifth-year safety Colby McCalister said. “We have no self-doubts on the team. So, after that first drive, it was just a reset, and we went to work.”
Fifth-year defensive lineman Devonte Tezino got carted off the field during the series, and head coach Dave Aranda confirmed he will miss the rest of the season after the game.
“He’s been in the facility working his tail off every single day, dominating in practice,” senior linebacker Ryan Davis said. “We got to the sideline, and we were all just saying prayers for him because that’s really tough. He’s going out dominating and then gets injured, and a gruesome injury like that is really tough.”
Baylor shot back on its first offensive possession. Junior quarterback Nate Bennett showed off his arm strength early in his first start with a pair of deep balls that did not connect. Sophomore kicker Rhett Armstrong nailed a 47-yard field goal to tie the game at three.
The Bears’ offense turned it up as the first quarter progressed. Sophomore running back Caden Knighten capped off Baylor’s second drive with a five-yard touchdown run.
Bennett finally connected on a deep ball to fifth-year receiver Jayden McGowan in the back of the end zone on a 33-yard pass to extend the lead to 17-3 at the end of the quarter.
“Going through camp, I worked with Nate a lot,” McGowan said. “Even though he’s been going with the second group … he’s been working just as hard. He’s been preparing like a starter, and it’s so nice to see him finally getting the passing touchdown.”
Baylor did not take its foot off the gas in the second quarter. The Bears found the end zone in their first two drives of the quarter. Bennett connected with junior receiver Dre’Lon Miller on the flat, and Miller muscled his way to the corner of the end zone to make it a 24-3 game. Bennett followed that up with a 17-yard scramble for Baylor’s fourth straight score.
Armstrong made one of two field goals to close out the first half with Baylor holding a 34-3 lead.
“He’s working for perfection and working to get better,” Aranda said. “For him to have some success with some of those kicks was good to see.”
Layla Bazan | Photographer
The third quarter proved to be uneventful for both teams. The Panthers punted on both of their possessions while Baylor punted on its first drive and Bennett threw his second pick of the night.
McGowan juked a defender and worked his way into the end zone for his second touchdown and the Bears’ only score of the quarter.
“Jayden McGowan is someone that’s coming back from surgery himself,” Aranda said. “When he first got here, his knee was a little gimpy, but he’s healthy now. And he’s fast, fast, so we got to give him the ball a little more.”
Sophomore quarterback Edward Griffin entered the game in the fourth quarter with a commanding lead. He went 2-for-6 with 19 yards and an interception in his first collegiate action.
Armstrong made a chip shot 23-yarder to finish the night with three field goals and seal the 44-3 victory for Baylor.
Bennett shined in his first start as a college quarterback despite throwing a pair of interceptions. He went 25-for-35 with 301 yards and three total touchdowns in three quarters of play.
“I trust and respect Nate a lot,” Knighten said. “He had full confidence, so seeing that from him just gave us a spark.”
Bennett and Griffin spread the love in the win. The duo completed passes to 11 receivers with fifth-year receiver Gavin Freeman leading the squad with 10 catches for 104 yards. The game marked his second straight 100-yard performance after recording 154 against Auburn.
The defense also played a major role in Baylor’s dominance. The unit sacked Carter four times while forcing his first fumble of the season.
“We were able to get them down, and the rest of the guys were going out there eating,” Davis said. “[Zavion Hardy] got a sack. Garrick Ponder got a sack. Everybody was just turning up.”
The Bears continue their home stand as they take on Louisiana Tech at 3 p.m. Saturday at McLane Stadium.
