Baylor 47, Kansas State 42: Griffin & Co. Shock the Nation in Homecoming Victory

The Baylor Bears have often been seen by other Big 12 fans as nothing more than an automatic win for whatever conference team faces them. Having been in a bowl drought since their loss to Washington State in the 1994 Alamo Bowl, many expected the streak to continue.

But Baylor has surprised even the biggest doubter. Going into tonight's homecoming game, the Bears were 5-2, their best start in years, and Briles' boys would not be denied.

After a lengthy lightning delay, Robert Griffin threw a 28-yard pass to Josh Gordon to take first blood. However, an 11-yard run from Wildcat Daniel Thomas evened the score, and the two surprise teams traded off touchdowns until just before halftime, as Aaron Jones supplied a 22-yard field goal to give the Bears a 31-21 lead.

Another Jones field goal gave them a 34-21 lead, but a 100-yard kickoff return by William Powell silenced the 40,000-plus crowd at Floyd Casey Stadium. Running back Jay Finley responded with a 2-yard touchdown run, but the two-point attempt failed, making it 40-21. Griffin would throw one more touchdown pass to Kendall Wright, a 30-yard that assured the Baylor Faithful that their suffering would end in minutes.

The rest of the quarter, however, belonged to the Wildcat offense. Seconds after Finley's touchdown, Kansas State quarterback Daniel Thomas aired a 67-yard pass to Aubrey Quarles to close the deficit to 12 points. After a bit of back and forth from the foes, which saw Baylor punter Derek Epperson's first field time since the loss to Texas Tech, the Wildcats managed to squeak in one last bit of offense with a single-yarder from Carson Coffman with only seven seconds remaining. As the final seconds ticked down, every student, alum, faculty, staff member and fan was celebrating.

For the first time since 1995, Baylor had become bowl eligible.

No longer would Baylor fans have to sit home in December, praying for relief the next year. There would be no more pessimistic attitudes by fans, thinking about next year. The party has begun in Waco, and there will be no stopping until the new year. Actually, if I know them as well as I think I do, the party will NEVER stop.

In tonight's victory, Griffin threw 26-for-38, with 404 yards and 4 touchdowns. Jay Finley had an amazing afternoon/evening with 26 carries for 250 yards and two scores. Josh "Flash" Gordon, the Bears' leading receiver, had seven receptions for 141 yards and two touchdowns.

But these stats will not be the news come tomorrow, nor will they be what graces the pages of The Baylor Lariat on Tuesday morning. The wait is over. The celebration is on, and now no one can question Baylor's outstanding performances this year.

SIC EM BEARS!!!!!