Baylor players who stuck by Dave Aranda earned a sweet Sugar Bowl payoff - The Dallas Morning News

gemblongsa.blogspot.com

For all the Baylor seniors who believed in Dave Aranda’s vision and came back for one final year, the payoff came Saturday.

No. 7 Baylor completed a remarkable one-season turnaround, beating No. 8 Mississippi 21-7 in the Allstate Sugar Bowl behind a dominant defensive performance and 172 yards rushing by Abram Smith.

Baylor scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to pull away.

Freshman Monaray Baldwin ran 48 yards for the go-ahead touchdown on a sweep that even fooled the ESPN camera crew. A track standout in high school with a 10.66 best in the 100 meters, Baldwin had just five carries entering the game.

Then starting quarterback Gerry Bohanon, returning from a hamstring injury, threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Tyquan Thornton after JT Woods’ second interception of the game.

Linebacker Terrel Bernard was one of the players who had to make a decision in the offseason. He finished with 17 tackles, including 11 solos, and added two of Baylor’s Sugar Bowl-record 10 sacks en route to most valuable player honors.

“It feels amazing,” Bernard said. “We had a lot of talks in the offseason about what we could be and what this team could do. And we talked a lot about leaving a legacy. We’re walking out of here as one of the best Baylor teams ever.”

No one is going to say it was particularly pretty.

No one is going to argue, either.

“This was a great team win,” Aranda said. “We’ve had some team wins throughout the year, and [I’m] so appreciative of the team. I’m a better person for it. So, I’m proud, man. I’m a little saddened because I know that this part is over, but I’m humbled and appreciative.

With the victory, Baylor (12-2) set a school record for single-season wins with five of those over ranked teams. It was also Baylor’s first victory in a New Year’s Day bowl since a Jan. 1, 1957, win over Tennessee, also in the Sugar Bowl.

Coupled with the dramatic Big 12 title game win over Oklahoma State, Baylor has made major progress under Aranda.

“Our team, our players and our coaches, just getting out of their own way,” Aranda said on the field after the game. “Being selfless, of trusting each other, being a team, sharing one belief … you saw a great team tonight. I’m going to miss a lot of guys who have been a part of this special group.”

The usually stoic Aranda even cracked a brief grin during the trophy celebration afterward when his team’s defensive effort was mentioned.

Mississippi quarterback Matt Corral, expected to be a first-round NFL draft pick this spring, suffered a right lower leg/ankle injury when sacked by Cole Maxwell late in the first quarter.

He was helped off the field to the sideline medical tent, then carted back to the locker room area for X-rays. He later returned to the sideline on crutches and without shoulder pads in the second quarter, receiving an ovation from Mississippi fans.

Unlike other high-profile players projected to be high draft picks, Corral never publicly contemplated opting out of the game. Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin said X-rays were negative.

“Maybe I didn’t do a great enough job with the team because I was really hurting for him in that situation because I know how much he’s put into it, how much it means to him,” Kiffin said. “And for that to be taken away like that really sucks.”

Freshman backup Luke Altmyer finished 15 of 29 for 174 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, both leading to Baylor scores. Al Walcott had a 96-yard return for a touchdown in the second quarter on a tipped pass.

Kiffin credited Baylor and Aranda for the offensive struggles.

“They outcoached us on that side of the ball,” Kiffin said. “Dave’s done that to a bunch of people, including me a couple of times.”

For much of the game, Smith provided the Baylor offense, setting a single-season school record with 1,601 yards.

“All the credit goes to the men upfront,” Smith said. “Without them, I can’t really do anything.

After the postgame press conference, Aranda reminded Smith and Bernard to take their nameplates as souvenirs.

Bernard had already mentally assessed the win on the field immediately afterward.

“Just after the game, I was just looking out at everybody standing in front of me, and just thinking about everybody’s story and everybody’s journey to get to this point. I couldn’t be more proud of those guys, man,” Bernard said.

“I’m just happy for everybody to finally be in that moment.”

Find more Baylor coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

Find more college sports coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

Adblock test (Why?)

"sweet" - Google News
January 02, 2022 at 02:51PM
https://ift.tt/348jGMR

Baylor players who stuck by Dave Aranda earned a sweet Sugar Bowl payoff - The Dallas Morning News
"sweet" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2PcPlld
https://ift.tt/2KSpWvj

Bagikan Berita Ini