Robert Griffin's Three TD's Puts Baylor over Northwestern State

After Riley Skinner and the Wake Forest Demon Deacons tore Baylor's defense apart in a 41-13 loss for the Bears, Art Briles and his team looked to get on the winning track, and did so by beating Northwestern State (La.) 51-6 to give Briles his first Baylor win.

Just days ago, Briles announced that true freshman Robert Griffin III would be the leader of the offense, after Griffin's remarkable performance last week. As he was announced Saturday night, the crowd of 36,258 got on their feet and roared for the QB out of Copperas Cove, Texas.

It didn't take long for them to cheer again, as just five minutes in, he connected with Ernest Smith on a 49-yard pass, and you could hear his name chanted all throughout Floyd Casey Stadium.

Although the ensuing PAT failed, the alumni, the Baylor faithful, and especially the students and Baylor Line were going crazy.

After a 40-yard TD run from Jay Finley and a 20-yard field goal from Ben Parks, Griffin decided to display the other side of his dual-threat style, running in a 3-yard TD, and giving the Bears a 23-0 lead after the first quarter.

Jay Finley's 35-yard TD run would be Baylor's only score of the second quarter, and the Demons managed to get on the board with two field goals, cutting the deficit to 30-6 at halftime.

By the third quarter, fans were beginning to leave. Robert Griffin began piling up yards, and he threw two more touchdowns to make it 44-6. Once the fourth quarter came, Griffin was taken out. Griffin went 15-for-19, throwing for 297 yards and 3 TD's while also running for 42 yards and a TD.

Blake Szymanski, last year's starter, came in to a mixed reaction from the remaining spectators. After going 3-for-5 in the drive, he was pulled before the next drive in favor of last week's starter, Miami transfer Kirby Freeman.

While only going 2-for-2, he managed to throw his first touchdown pass as a Baylor Bear, connecting with Justin Fenty on a 4-yard throw to drive one final nail in the coffin.

Now that Baylor has gotten its first win of the season, can they hold up against Washington State?

WSU managed to kick a game-winning field goal in the final seconds in their last meeting with the Bears, but after a crushing 66-3 defeat at the hands of Cal, one has to wonder, can the Bears avenge the loss, or will lightning strike twice for Washington State?

Image: Courtesy of Baylor Athletics website.