Baylor Football: 3 takeaways from gritty road win over Iowa State

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Sep 24, 2022; Ames, Iowa, USA; Baylor Bears running back Craig William (20) runs with the ball for a first down during the fourth quarter at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Takeaways for Baylor football

This style is precisely how head coach Dave Aranda and offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes want to play. The Bears suffocated the Cyclones on defense, forcing two turnovers and sacking Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers four times. Both teams have no issue with playing close games, either.

Although the Bears did not run the football well, they still ran it 42 times. Quarterback Blake Shapen had just 26 pass attempts but threw three touchdown passes. The offense did not beat itself; it had zero turnovers and just three penalties on the day.

Running back Richard Reese led the Bears in rushing with 78 yards and a touchdown, while Gavin Homes paced the wide receivers with 92 passing yards, including a 38-yard touchdown reception. Running back Craig Williams chipped in with 36 rushing yards for the Bears.

Defensively, the Bears held the Cyclones to 67 rushing yards. Baylor did give up a couple of explosive plays, a 50-yard pass to Jaylin Noel and a 38-yard pass to Xavier Hutchinson. However, Iowa State struggled to sustain drives consistently all game.

Linebacker Bryson Jackson led the Bears’ defense with four tackles and two sacks for the Bears. Defensive backs Devin Neal and Christian Morgan each had interceptions.

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