Baylor was forced to use a whole host of backups at the offensive skill positions Saturday night, but who could really tell the difference? The Bears bounced back from their first double-digit deficit of the season and responded for a 63-34 win over Texas Tech at the Dallas Cowboys' stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Quarterback Bryce Petty accounted for five total touchdowns -- three passing, two rushing -- for the second consecutive week, as Baylor continues its push for its first-ever Big 12 championship.
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Petty was 17-of-31 passing for 335 yards, connecting with Antwan Goodley (four receptions for 101 yards) for a 31-yard touchdown with four seconds left in the first quarter to take a lead Baylor would never relinquish.
Levi Norwood, who would have been reduced to a backup role if not for a dislocated wrist that will keep Tevin Reese out for the rest of the regular season, caught seven passes for a game-high 156 yards and Petty's other two touchdowns.
In fact, Baylor maintained its reputation as America's highest scoring offense with a whole host of unknown players thrust into significant action because of injuries. Shock Linwood carried the ball 29 times for 187 yards and one touchdown, and Devin Chafin added 100 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries, stepping in ably for the injured Lache Seastrunk and Glasco Martin.
Baylor rushed for 340 yards, finishing with 675 yards of total offense.
It is that kind of remarkable and consistent production that had NFL teams expressing interest in Baylor head coach Art Briles, whose offense has gotten only more dynamic in two seasons after losing Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III.
NFL.com reporter Albert Breer wrote Friday that Briles was a hot name among teams at both the NFL and college levels in need of a new coach next season, but a $5 million buyout in his new 10-year extension will effectively put an end to that chatter. Instead, that attention could turn to Baylor offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Philip Montgomery, much as first-year Red Raiders head coach Kliff Kingsbury was the name to know at this time last season for his work with Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel.
Kingsbury put freshman walk-on Baker Mayfield back in the starting lineup to some success. Mayfield threw for 314 yards, four touchdowns -- one to wide receiver Eric Ward and two to tight end Jace Amaro -- and one interception, but Texas Tech simply could not keep up with the interchangeable pieces of the BU offense machine.
Follow Dan Greenspan on Twitter @DanGreenspan.
