SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 12, 2011
Robert Griffin III threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Tevin Reese in overtime as Baylor erased a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Kansas 31-30 Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
With the win, the Bears (6-3, 3-3 Big 12) became bowl eligible in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1991-92. The Jayhawks (2-8, 0-7 Big 12), meanwhile, lost their eighth straight game and haven’t won since defeating Northern Illinois 45-42 on Sept. 10.
After Baylor scored on the first possession of overtime, Kansas responded with a touchdown of its own, a 25-yard pass from Jordan Webb to Tim Biere. But head coach Turner Gill, already in hot water with Jayhawks fans, decided to go for a two-point conversion.
Webb dropped back to throw and again looked in the direction of Biere, but his pass sailed incomplete.
The loss was a tough one for the Jayhawks, who dominated the first three quarters and had turned in arguably their best defensive effort of the season.
That is, until Griffin caught fire.
Trailing 24-3, Griffin scored on a 49-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter, then threw a 36-yard strike to Terrance Williams to pull the Bears within 24-17 with 7:58 left. Then, on its next possession, Baylor forced overtime on Reese’s 67-yard touchdown catch.
Baylor had 89, 98 and 80-yard touchdown drives in the fourth quarter after managing just 195 yards through the first three quarters. Griffin went 22-of-29 for 312 yards and three touchdowns, and also added 103 rushing yards and a score.
Three different running backs scored touchdowns for the Jayhawks, who have lost 21 of their last 22 Big 12 games.