Baylor Routs Oklahoma, Petty’s Stock Rises
The Baylor Bears routed the Oklahoma Sooners in Big 12 action Thursday night. The Bears finally got the statement win they were looking for in their 41-12 win.
At the same time, the Bears’ quarterback Bryce Petty kept his Heisman Trophy hopes alive, while Lache Seastrunk the team’s top running back saw his Heisman hopes fade.
No. 6 Baylor’s combo of Seastrunk and Petty has been their offensive firepower all season. Both entered the game as serious contenders for the Heisman, but only one left Thursday’s game with a chance to win it.
Baylor’s rout of Oklahoma was thanks to the arms and legs of Perry. He received little or no help from Seastrunk.
The Bear’s running back entered the Oklahoma game as one of top runners in the nation.
Prior to the game, he had 869 yards rushing, 11 touchdowns and an average of 9.1 yards per carry. He ran for 100 yards or more in six of the team’s first seven games.
Seastrunk was looking forward to facing a big opponent with the national spotlight on him and his teammates to shore up his name on a shortlist of Heisman hopefuls.
However, things did not work out the way he had hoped, as he was injured early in the game and limped off the field.
He did return for one good rush, but when he did return the Bears already had complete control of the game and his coaches did not want to risk injury. He ended the game with just 19 yards on six carries.
His replacement Shock Linwood did not look like a second-string running back gaining 182 yards on 23 carries, making Seastrunk surely think of what might have been.
Petty on the other hand finally was seen by a national audience and after a slow start, showed why he is in the top 5 of Heisman hopefuls.
Petty threw for just 204 yards but had three touchdown passes and two rushing touchdowns. He ran for 45 yards and proved to skeptics that he is as talented as his numbers show.
Even more important was the five scores he produced helped his Baylor team stay in the conversation about the national championship.
Entering Thursday’s game, Petty had more than 2,400 yards passing and had 20 total touchdowns between passing and rushing, with just a single interception.
Thursday was the first night Petty did not record 300 yards passing on the season, but the win and his five touchdowns are what fans and Heisman voters will remember.
Petty has more big games ahead of him to solidify his chances of a Heisman and national championship. The Bears still must face Texas, Oklahoma State and TCU to decide who wins the Big 12.
If he keeps up the pace, his chances of the Heisman will be that much better.
