Baylor Runs Past McCallie, 38-14

Baylor's Austin Has Birthday Celebration

Friday, October 2, 2015
B.B. Branton

Baylor receiver Gunnar Rickets is pressured by McCallie’s Kendall Watson.
photo by M.A. Locke

"The offensive line played an amazing game tonight. The best they have played all season, no doubt about it."

Baylor senior Ryan Parker who rushed for three touchdowns and had 11 tackles

For Baylor senior quarterback Wil Austin, it's a birthday present long to be remembered and described often to his kids and grand kids.

Austin, who turned 18 today, ran the Baylor offense to near perfection as he rushed for 179 yards and two scores on 31 carries leading the Red Raiders to a 38-14 win against crosstown rival McCallie Friday night at Humpy Heywood Stadium in a D-II Middle/East Region game.

"No question this is the best birthday present I could ask for," he said with a smile.

"The offensive line was tremendous tonight and everyone executed well all night on both sides of the ball," Austin stated.

Austin with a highly-efficient offensive line in front of him set the tone for the night on Baylor's first possession with a 4-play, 55-yard drive (after McCallie went three and out on the games' opening possession).

The signal caller accounted for 34 of those 55 yards rushing yards, including the final eight for a 7-0 lead as Victor Ulmo kicked the first of his five extra points.

Playing before an overflow crowd and a regional television audience on Reunion Weekend for both schools, Baylor (6-1) scored the first three times it had the ball to lead 21-0 at the 8:59 mark of the second quarter and never looked back.

Throughout the game, Baylor runners were able to get to the outside for key gains as the offensive line held their blocks and opened holes in the McCallie defense.

Senior linebacker/fullback Ryan Parker scored the Baylor second and third touchdowns (1 and 10 yard runs) before Ulmo added a 42-yard field goal as time expired for a 24-0 lead heading to halftime.

"Victor making that field goal as time ran out in the first half was key to helping us keep the momentum," said Parker.

The all-state football player and three-time state wresting champ was also a key to keeping the McCallie offense off balance most of the night and to the delight of the Baylor fans as he made 11 tackles, sacked McCallie quarterback Robert Riddle twice, had four tackles for loss and a fumble recovery.

Other Baylor leaders on a defense which held McCallie to 78 yards rushing were Ulysses Strawter with a game-high 13 tackles, Tyree Toliver with two tackles and a fumble recovery, and Brendan Harris with four tackles and an interception.

In the second half, Parker kept the scoring parade going with a 2-yard run at 4:04 of the third quarter for a 31-0 lead,before Riddle found Giovanni Hightower on a 7-yard scoring toss followed by Riddle's 2-point conversion run to trail 31-8.

The two teams exchanged scores in the fourth quarter as Austin scampered 15 yards around left end while senior JaVaughn Craig connected with Hightower to close out the scoring with 5:04 remaining in the game.

"Great game and great job," Baylor coach Phil Massey told his players after the game as Baylor has now won six of the last seven meetings and has won the last five games played on the Baylor campus.

Earlier in the week, coach Massey said the keys to victory were a fast start (Baylor scored on its first possession), ball security (zero fumbles, zero interceptions) and the kicking game (McCallie returned only one kickoff).

McCallie was led on defense by Jay Roberts with a team-high 10 tackles, Shawn McColley with eight tackles and Trel Phillips with seven tackles, including two for loss.

McColley also led the Tornado on offense with 47 yards rushing, followed by Rico Dozier with 25. Riddle was 19 of 25 for 211 yards through the air with one touchdown and one interception, while JeVaughn Craig came in in the fourth quarter and was 5-of-5 for 50 yards and a TD toss to trail 38-14.

"We got out-coached and out-played and that's all there is to it. They whipped us," said McCallie coach Ralph Potter.

Potter said earlier in the week that the McCallie offense had moved the ball all season, but mistakes had slowed them down and they had to avoid mistakes against Baylor.

The mistakes showed up early as on a second and one on McCallie's first possession Riddle was not able to handle a high snap from center and recovered the ball for a seven yard loss and the the Blue Tornado had to punt two plays later.Baylor scored four plays later.

With Baylor leading 7-0, McCallie drove inside the Baylor 10 on a pass play but a block in the back penalty followed by a sack of Riddle moved the visitors out of field goal range

Baylor took over on its 7-yard line three plays later and moved 93 yards in 14 plays for Parker's first score. Baylor benefited from a McCallie pass interference call on a 4th down and nine incomplete pass to keep the Red Raider drive moving and Baylor scored five plays later.

Parker recovered a Riddle fumble at the McCallie 18 on the next series and increased the lead to 21-0 on a 10 yard run.

Stats
First Downs: McCallie 14-8

Rushing Yards: Baylor, 273-78

Passing Yards: McCallie, 26-36

Total Net Yards: McCallie, 339-309

Turnovers: McCallie lost two fumbles and one interception ... Baylor had no turnovers

Third Down Conversions: McC (5-10) Baylor (7-12)

Fourth Down Conversions: McC (2-5) Baylor )(1-2)

Penalties: McC (4-55) Baylor (1-10)

Rushing Attempts : Baylor 50-31

Passing Attempts: McCallie, 30-6

Individual leaders: