TEMPE, Ariz. — Baylor arrived at Sun Devil Stadium looking to prove its four-game winning streak was no fluke.
The Bears delivered that statement in emphatic fashion.
DJ Lagway threw for 306 yards and four touchdowns and added another score on the ground as Baylor overwhelmed Arizona State 55-19 on Saturday night, turning a competitive first half into a runaway victory after halftime.
Baylor improved to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in Big 12 play, while Arizona State fell to 2-2 and 1-1.
The Bears finished with 564 total yards, 155 more than the Sun Devils’ 409, and scored touchdowns on their first three possessions after opening the game with a three-and-out.
“We had some pretty strong energy,” Baylor coach Dave Aranda said. “We have to keep that.”
The energy showed up almost immediately.
With less than six minutes gone, Ryelan Morris ripped through the Arizona State defense for a 63-yard touchdown run off left tackle, giving Baylor the lead for good and setting the tone for an explosive night.
Lagway and the Bears kept attacking.
“We were figuring out how they were going to play us,” Lagway said. “They had a bye week so they were going to come with some new wrinkles. I feel like we adjusted great, we came out and made some plays.”
Arizona State eventually settled in offensively and managed to keep Baylor from completely running away before halftime.
Cutter Boley connected with a wide-open Omarian Miller for a 30-yard touchdown on the first play after the two-minute timeout, cutting the Baylor advantage to 21-13.
The Bears answered before halftime with a 36-yard field goal, taking a 24-13 lead into the locker room.
Whatever momentum Arizona State hoped to build disappeared quickly in the third quarter.
Baylor opened the second half with a 77-yard, nine-play scoring drive that ended when Lagway found Hawkins Polley for a 3-yard touchdown.
Then the Bears’ defense joined the party.
Ryan Davis intercepted Boley, giving Baylor another short field. Lagway immediately took advantage, finding Jadon Porter for another touchdown to extend the lead.
Arizona State’s Carson Smith connected on his third field goal of the night, but the Sun Devils could not slow Baylor’s response.
On the very next Baylor offensive play, Caden Knighten broke loose for a spectacular 75-yard touchdown run.
Suddenly, a game that had been relatively competitive in the first half had become a rout.
The touchdown pushed Baylor’s advantage to 45-16 and effectively ended any realistic Arizona State comeback hopes.
Lagway later added an 11-yard rushing touchdown, completing a night in which he accounted for five touchdowns and repeatedly found ways to keep the Sun Devils’ defense off balance.
Aranda credited his team for remaining focused even after the lead became comfortable.
“We talk a lot about how the score is a distraction,” Aranda said. “Before this game we’ve been not so great with that. We’ve looked at the score. I think we’ve learned from those times because this group was very much into the game.”
Arizona State Struggles to Find Answers
Boley finished 25 of 43 passing for 304 yards and an interception, while Reed Harris provided a bright spot for the Sun Devils with seven catches for 125 yards.
But Arizona State could not consistently sustain drives or slow Baylor’s big-play ability.
The Sun Devils also struggled defensively, particularly after halftime, when Baylor repeatedly created explosive plays on the ground and through the air.
Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham didn’t shy away from the shortcomings.
“It was an atrocious game and we can either point the finger at who was wrong, or we can all take extreme ownership and try to fix it,” Dillingham said. “I think it was more the fundamentals. We didn’t do very well, and that starts and ends with me.”
For Baylor, the victory continued a remarkable turnaround.
After dropping its season opener to Auburn by one point in Atlanta, the Bears have responded by winning four straight games. Saturday’s performance was arguably their most complete showing of the season.
The Bears were explosive offensively, opportunistic defensively and relentless once they gained control.
Arizona State, meanwhile, faces the task of regrouping after a difficult return from its bye week.
The Sun Devils had defeated Kansas in London two weeks ago, but the long layoff did little to help them against a Baylor team that was already playing with confidence.
The Takeaway
Baylor: The Bears have now won four consecutive games after their narrow season-opening loss to Auburn. With momentum building, Baylor gets a week off before returning to Big 12 play.
Arizona State: The Sun Devils were unable to sustain the momentum from their London victory over Kansas and were overwhelmed in the second half. Arizona State will have an opportunity to regroup at home before returning to conference play.
Up Next:
Baylor: Hosts TCU on Oct. 17.
Arizona State: Hosts Hawaii next Saturday.
