Baylor Bears Stumble Against Utah Utes: A Look at the Numbers
In a challenging encounter at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, the Baylor Bears were handed a 12-23 defeat by the Utah Utes. This early-season clash saw the Bears' record adjust to 1-1, while the Utes marched on to a perfect 2-0. The game attracted an impressive crowd of 52,827 spectators, highlighting its anticipation.
Despite falling short in this contest, several Baylor players showcased their potential. Punter Palmer Williams delivered an exceptional performance with six punts totaling 376 yards and managing to place two within the opponent's 20-yard line. His remarkable effort included a punt that soared for an impressive 79 yards, significantly boosting his average net yards per attempt.
On the defensive front, linebacker Keaton Thomas was omnipresent with ten tackles and one assist, though he did not manage to record any sacks or forced fumbles. Safety Devyn Bobby also contributed with six tackles and one assist in his ledger. However, Baylor's defense struggled to turn over possession as they failed to intercept any passes or recover fumbles throughout the match.
Offensively, quarterback Dequan Finn had a modest outing completing nine out of twenty-one attempts for a total of 115 yards and managed to throw one touchdown pass without any interceptions. Dawson Pendergrass proved effective on the ground rushing for sixty-nine yards across nine carries but was unable to breach Utah's end zone.
The special teams unit had its moments too; Isaiah Hankins succeeded in converting two out of three field goal attempts with his longest successful kick coming from forty-four yards away.
Following this setback against Utah at Rice-Eccles Stadium where they faced difficulties but also displayed promising individual performances that could serve as building blocks for upcoming games.
Looking forward, the Baylor Bears are set to host Air Force Falcons at McLane Stadium in Waco on September 14th at 7:30 PM EDT. The game will be available for fans on Fox Sports 1 via satellite channel number 219.