By Jeffrey Cohen | Sports Editor
Head coach Dave Aranda said earlier in the week that Baylor needed more explosives, especially in the run game that averaged 3.7 yards per carry through the first four weeks.
The Bears took that to heart.
Freshman running back Ryelan Morris went off to the races on the second play of Baylor’s second drive, breaking off a 63-yard touchdown—the longest by a Bear since 2019.
That play set the tone for Baylor (4-1, 2-0 Big 12), as it exploded for 564 yards in its 55-19 route of Arizona State (2-2, 1-1). The Bears’ 36-point victory marks its second-largest conference win in the Aranda era and the biggest since 2021.
The Bears made a statement in a hostile environment despite entering as the underdogs.
“[There’s] so much criticism with this team and so much negative stuff,” Aranda said. “After a while it’s like, man, you just can’t take no more … What helps kind of bring it out is to go into an enemy territory where they’re all against you.”
Sophomore running back Caden Knighten one-upped Morris in the third quarter. He broke three tackles on his way to a 75-yard rushing touchdown and extended the Bears’ lead to 45-16. Knighten’s rumble led to a mass exodus of Arizona State fans rushing to exit Mountain America Stadium.
Saturday night’s victory marked the first time since 2010 that Baylor had two touchdown runs of 60 or more yards. The last duo to complete that feat was Robert Griffin III and Jay Finley.
“They played confident; they played with an edge,” Aranda said. “Arizona State was a pretty static front … Every team we’re playing was moving, twisting, stunting … To play a team that was more static allowed us to get some confidence.”
Junior quarterback DJ Lagway had his best game as a Bear against the Sun Devils. He went 25 for 40 with 306 yards and five total touchdowns.
“Without Gavin [Freeman] making plays and the O-line making blocks … the game wouldn’t look like the way it looked,” Lagway said. ” I’m just glad the way everybody came out there and executed.”
The explosive ground attack opened the door for Lagway early as he started to find his rhythm following the Morris touchdown.
Lagway completed seven passes for 78 yards in the next two drives. He found senior tight end Tony Livingston and fifth-year wide receiver Louis Brown IV in the end zone, with both snatching the ball over their defenders‘ heads. The three straight scores gave Baylor a 21-3 lead early in the second quarter.
Lagway appreciated being able to throw his former Florida teammate‘s first touchdown for Baylor.
“Me and Tony have been through a lot,” Lagway said. “When I know he’s in the game, I know he’s going to be capable to make a play. I just got to put the ball in this vicinity, and he’s going to come down with it.”
The defense also found its spark early. Senior safety Tyler Turner forced a fumble on the Bears’ second defensive possession as well as a sack and tackle for loss in the first quarter.
“We go hard no matter what,” Turner said. “No matter how many plays that we’re out, how many plays that we’re off, it’s just going to play hard.”
Baylor slowed down in the second quarter after its third touchdown. The Sun Devils outscored the Bears 10-3 during the final 14 minutes of the first half. Kicker Carson Smith cut the Arizona State deficit to 21-6.
Junior quarterback Cutter Boley started to get hot late in the second. He connected with senior receiver Reed Harris down the sideline for a 41-yard completion. Boley followed that up with a 30-yard touchdown to senior receiver Omarion Miller to make it a 21-13 game.
The Bears found their fireworks again coming out of halftime. Senior tight end Hawkins Polley caught the first touchdown of his collegiate career to open the third quarter. Lagway capped off the next drive by threading a pass through three Arizona State defenders to connect with junior receiver Jadon Porter.
Baylor’s consistent offensive pressure set up Polley and the other tight ends to make their mark.
“They just had more opportunities,” Aranda said. “There was a little bit more possession in this game … The tight ends were able to sit in some windows.”
Senior linebacker Ryan Davis intercepted Boley while he tried to evade the Bears’ pass rush. The pick came after the Polley touchdown and was Boley’s second.
Davis relished the opportunity to make big plays against the team he grew up supporting.
“It was surreal,” Davis said. “I grew up with a Pat Tillman jersey hanging in my living room and grew up a huge ASU fan, so to be playing in that stadium, it was nuts.”
Lagway tacked on an 11-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter to accompany his four through the air.
Junior quarterback Nate Bennett entered the game after senior cornerback Stilton McKelvey recovered a muffed kickoff. The Bears settled for a field goal to complete Baylor’s first win over Arizona State.
Following the upcoming bye week, Baylor will return home to face off against TCU in the 122nd edition of The Revivalry on Oct. 17 at McLane Stadium.
