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LIU quarterback Ethan Greenwood is tackled for a loss by...

LIU quarterback Ethan Greenwood is tackled for a loss by Baylor linebacker Byron Vaughns during the first half of an NCAA football game Saturday in Waco, Texas. Credit: AP/Rod Aydelotte

WACO, Texas — Richard Reese ran for two touchdowns, freshman Dawson Pendergrass added 111 yards and a score on his 21 carries and Baylor ended a six-game losing streak with a 30-7 win over FCS-member Long Island University on Saturday.

Baylor (1-2) also ended a four-game losing streak at home, in a game that included a two-hour delay because of lightning in the area that first started when the teams were leaving the field at halftime, though the sun was shining by the fourth quarter.

After LIU (0-3) stopped Baylor on downs right before halftime, quarterback Chris Howell scored on a 10-yard run to make it 16-7. The Sharks then recovered a fumble but gave the ball right back on an interception.

“I was excited about things at the half, and then we had [the delay],” LIU coach Ron Cooper said. “They had the same break we had, but they have a few more guys that can go in and play, and they did a great job of preparation and getting their team ready to play.”

The Sharks saw little of the ball in the first half when the result was still in doubt. Until their four-play, 59-yard touchdown drive late in the half, they had only one first down and 12 total yards on 12 plays. LIU's initial first down came on its opening drive, which lasted five plays and covered 19 yards, but it opted to punt on fourth-and-1 from the Baylor 48.

“I’m proud of the team,” Baylor coach Dave Aranda said. “You work hard and to get a win is something that was well-needed. I’m proud of their effort, pride and direction.”

The Bears had four scoring drives of at least 10 plays. The last was Sawyer Robertson's 3-yard TD pass to Drake Dabney with 5:41 left in the game, the tight end's third TD catch this season.

Robertson completed 10-for-22 for 113 yards. It was the Mississippi State transfer's second game filling in for injured starting quarterback Blake Shapen, who is expected to miss at least one more game because of an MCL injury.

The Bears finished with 251 yards rushing despite playing without leading rusher Dominic Richardson, who has a high ankle sprain. Aranda said he would likely miss at least another game. Reese ran for 82 yards on 12 carries.

“I’m proud of the running backs,” Aranda said. “I thought they ran hard, ran physical. I thought the times we were throwing it, they were on the guys they needed to block.”

Baylor did not dominate the way the Bears likely envisioned when they scheduled this game. They went 6-for-14 on third down and 5-for-6 on fourth to keep drives alive and continue wearing on the LIU defense. The Bears’ defense limited the Sharks to 1-for-9 on third down and 1-for-3 on fourth.


 

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