Newcomers Lead Baylor FB to Season-Opening Rout, 45-3

[Ingram, Brent]

BAYLOR ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS – Aug. 31, 2024

Newcomers Lead Baylor FB to Season-Opening Rout, 45-3
Bears travel to No. 12/13 Utah on Saturday

For more information contact: Brent Ingram; 210-845-8651, brent_ingram at baylor.edu<mailto:brent_ingram at baylor.edu>  or Max Calderone; 254-265-1639, max_calderone at baylor.edu<mailto:max_calderone at baylor.edu> or Josie Hutton; 254-709-7720,  josie_hutton at baylor.edu<mailto:josie_hutton at baylor.edu>

By Jerry Hill, BaylorBears.com

WACO, Texas -- Making his Baylor debut, Dequan Finn threw for two touchdowns and ran for another to lead the Bears to a season-opening 45-3 win over the Tarleton Texans Saturday night before a crowd of 42,272 on the 10th anniversary of the first game at McLane Stadium.

It was the first-ever meeting between the two in-state teams, with Tarleton (1-1) transitioning from Division II to Division I FCS over the last five years. The Texans entered the game ranked No. 21 in the FCS top-25.

Baylor exploded for 21 first-quarter points, opening the scoring on a 39-yard option run by Finn, as the Toledo transfer found a seam over the right end and outraced the Texans’ defenders into the end zone for a quick 7-0 lead.

Finn went to the air for the second touchdown of the night, hooking up with Texas State transfer Ashtyn Hawkins for a 32-yard scoring strike and pushing the lead to 14-0. Hawkins, who finished with 37 yards on two grabs, caught his 12th career TD pass.

Another newcomer, linebacker Keaton Thomas picked off a Jaden Pete pass over the middle and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown, the first interception return for a TD by the Baylor defense since a 19-yard return at Texas Tech two years ago.

Through the first quarter, Baylor had a 121-0 edge in total offense, with Finn passing for 66 yards and the running game picking up 55 yards in the period.

Sophomore running back Dawson Pendergrass, a workhorse on the night with 17 carries for 62 yards, capped off a nine-play, 66-yard drive with a three-yard plunge for his sixth-career touchdown run. Besides eight runs by Pendergrass, the only other play of the drive was a 39-yard pass from Finn to former Arkansas transfer Ketron Jackson.

The Bears had a chance to put it away late in the first half, but Finn was intercepted by cornerback Kasyus Kurns in the end zone on a pass intended for tight end Michael Trigg.

Tarleton also missed a scoring opportunity in the final minute of the half when Michael James missed badly on a 24-yard field goal attempt, leaving the score at 28-0 going into intermission.

In a drive led by backup quarterback Daniel Greek, the Texans got on the board when punter Adrian Guzman replaced James and connected from 34 yards out to make it a 28-3 game.

Going back to Trigg, a transfer from Ole Miss, Finn finished off a seven-play, 63-yard drive with a 17-yard scoring strike to his tight end midway through the third quarter.

Rounding out the scoring, the Bears tacked on a 39-yard field goal by Isaiah Hankins and Sawyer Robertson’s 30-yard touchdown pass to Jackson in the fourth quarter.

The Bears will go on the road next week for a non-conference matchup against No. 12/13 Utah (1-0) in Salt Lake City. The Utes opened with a 49-0 win over Southern Utah.

- BaylorBears.com -


--
Brent Ingram | Associate AD for Communications
Men’s Tennis Sport Program Administrator
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
C: 210-845-8651

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