Baylor's quarterbacks threw for three TDs and over 300 yards, and a running-back quartet combined to rush for 166 yards, to highlight a 38-27 win for the offense over the defense in the 2023 Green & Gold Game, presented by TFNB, on Saturday afternoon at McLane Stadium.
The Bears split for an offense vs. defense format in their annual spring game, using the scrimmage as a way to wrap up a 15-practice spring season that started on March 21.
Baylor used a modified scoring system that rewarded the offense with normal scoring rules and also gave them two points for all explosive plays of 20 yards or more. The defense could score points with touchdowns (six points), takeaways (three points), fourth-down stops (three points), sacks (two points), three-and-out stop (one point) and forced field goals inside the 25-yard line (one point).
"This is the first time for me ever going offense versus defense," Coach Dave Aranda said. "I've always been a part of just teams. And I think the advantage of doing this is just the competitiveness of it. The two points for big plays on offense, there was some bantering going on throughout the week of how, 'Dave, they're getting points for these things, we're just getting points for touchdowns.' Right away, I think as a defensive coach, when that plea is being bargained, you know you're going to deal with double moves and just all these other things. But I think it just makes it more competitive, makes it more fun. And then, the offensive guys are getting on me because some of the sacks were maybe questionable. We're trying to keep it competitive."
The Bears totaled 319 yards and three TDs in the air and finished with 236 yards rushing, not accounting for sacks of quarterbacks, who were limited in contact allowable. The game was played with normal timing rules in the first and second quarter and featured a running 30-minute clock in the second half.
"Spring was good for us," Aranda said. "From the very beginning of winter when the guys came back, the guys coming in really from the first meeting, if you give us half your heart, we can show you half our power. If you give us all your heart, we can change your life. I you look at that, Baylor University, Baylor athletics, our football team, with the whole approach that football is way important but there's so many things that are equally so. Just attacking them all in all phases on and off the field with the classroom, I'm way proud of this group. This is a way young group, their GPA is way up, looking at competing there and finishing really strong. Look at the practices, they go by so fast. Last year there would be things that would be just so long. Now it goes by like that. It's a really good feeling. I thought today there were a lot of things and good stuff that we've seen and I hope your guys were able to see. There are some building blocks that are further up than others and some we've got some work to do. But with our approach we can do it."
Sawyer Robertson completed 9-of-16 passes for 170 yards and two scores, finding Jonathan Davidson on a 14-yard strike in the first half and letting Monaray Baldwin scoot for a 57-yard score on a screen play in the second half.
Player Notes:
Blake Shapen was 11-for-20 for 100 yards and a TD, which featured a 29-yard scoring throw to tight end Drake Dabney.
RJ Martinez was 4-for-7 for 49 yards, which was highlighted by a 28-yard completion to freshman wide receiver Micah Gifford.
Tight end Jake Roberts had a team-leading five catches for 60 yards. Baldwin, Dabney and Davidson each had TD catches, with Baldwin nabbing three balls for 70 yards. Dabney added three catches for 49 yards. In addition to Baldwin, Dabney, Davidson and Gifford, Cameron Bonner Josh Cameron, Jonah Burton, Ketron Jackson, Qualan Jones, Hal Presley and Kelsey Johnson each had catches.
On the ground, the Bears featured 11 ball carriers, including six running backs. Freshman Bryson Washington toted it 11 times for 67 yards, junior Dominic Richardson had eight carries for 46 yards and Richard Reese had 10 carries for 42 yards. Bonner had three rushes for 48 yards.
The defense totaled six sacks in the game, and the specialists saw Isaiah Hankins perfect in PATs and Jack Stone drill a 28-yard field goal in the second half.
The Bears will open their 2023 season at McLane Stadium on Sept. 2, hosting Texas State.
