Baylor's Third-Quarter Surge Sinks Arizona State in Tempe

Decisive Third-Quarter Surge

The momentum shifted irrevocably in the third period when the visiting Baylor Bears unleashed a 21-point offensive outburst, dismantling the home Arizona State Sun Devils. This surge, highlighted by multiple touchdown plays, extended Baylor's early lead into an insurmountable advantage.

By the time the fourth quarter began, the contest was effectively decided, with Baylor holding a 45-16 lead after Caden Knighten’s 75-yard rushing touchdown capped the period.

Scoring Breakdown

Baylor established control early, opening the game with a 14-3 first-quarter lead. Ryelan Morris contributed a 63-yard rushing touchdown, and DJ Lagway connected with Tony Livingston for a 3-yard score. In the second quarter, Lagway added another touchdown pass to Louis Brown IV.

Arizona State managed to narrow the gap slightly with field goals from Carson Smith and a 30-yard touchdown pass from Cutter Boley to Omarion Miller, but Baylor’s defense held firm. The third quarter saw Lagway complete passes to Hawkins Polley and Jadon Porter, while Knighten’s long run sealed the blow.

In the final period, Lagway added a rushing touchdown, and Rhett Armstrong’s 23-yard field goal set the final score at 55-19.

Key Performances

DJ Lagway was the engine of the Baylor attack, completing 25 of 40 passes for 306 yards and four touchdowns. His accuracy and decision-making were instrumental in sustaining drives against the Sun Devils. On the ground, Ryelan Morris provided a versatile threat, rushing for 84 yards on nine carries and scoring one touchdown.

Gavin Freeman led the receiving corps with seven catches for 115 yards, offering a reliable target for Lagway.

Arizona State Effort

Cutter Boley led Arizona State with 304 passing yards on 25 of 43 attempts, throwing one touchdown and one interception. Reed Harris was the primary receiving threat, tallying 125 yards on seven receptions. Kyson Brown contributed 34 rushing yards on seven carries.

Despite these individual efforts, the Sun Devils could not overcome Baylor’s offensive efficiency. The game was played at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, Arizona, before a crowd of 54,063. Baylor improved to 4-1, while Arizona State fell to 2-2.

Sources

ESPN