Field Level Media
Oct 13, 2018
Backup quarterback Shane Buechele threw for 184 yards, including a 44-yard touchdown to Collin Johnson, but it was ninth-ranked Texas' defense that carried the Longhorns to a 23-17 win over visiting Baylor on Saturday.
The Longhorns' record-setting quarterback Sam Ehlinger was forced from the game on Texas' first possession with what was reported to be an injury to his throwing shoulder. Ehlinger was out of uniform but on the sidelines in the second half.
Buechele, who played in 21 games over the past two years and started 19 times, stepped in for Ehlinger and hit on 20 of 34 passes with one interception.
Baylor moved from its own 3-yard line to the Texas 17 on a final last-gasp drive that ended with three incomplete passes into the end zone.
Texas (6-1, 4-0 Big 12) also got a career-high 110 yards rushing on a career-most 19 carries from freshman running back Keaontay Ingram in the win. The Longhorns' defense held Baylor to 328 yards of total offense; the Bears entered the game averaging 499.5 yards per game.
Buechele's scoring strike to Johnson (who caught a career-high 11 passes for 132 yards) in the second quarter came one drive before Lil'Jordan Humphrey rushed for a 3-yard TD out of the Wildcat formation to hand Texas a 20-10 lead.
The Bears had a touchdown on a 19-yard throw from Charlie Brewer (240 yards passing) to Denzel Mims late in the first quarter, and a 46-yard field goal by Connor Martin into the wind that barely sneaked over the crossbar with five minutes to go before halftime.
Texas freshman kicker Cameron Dicker booted three field goals, from 40, 35 and 47 yards, respectively, in the first half as the Longhorns built a 23-10 lead.
Baylor (4-3, 2-2) climbed back to within 23-17 at the 4:33 mark of the third quarter on Jalen Hurd's 2-yard touchdown run three plays after a 45-yard pass from Brewer to Mims allowed the Bears to set up shop at the UT 5-yard line.
Dicker, who kicked the game-winner on Oct. 6 in the Longhorns' win over No. 7 Oklahoma, missed from 34 yards in the third quarter and from 51 yards with 5:51 to play.
Texas has won four consecutive games against the Bears, its longest streak since winning 12 straight from 1998-2009.
--Field Level Media