FORT WORTH, TX — The Baylor Bears (6-7) battled the Air Force Falcons (10-3) at the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth Thursday, Dec. 22. The Falcons dominated the Bears the entire game, and Air Force downed Baylor in the freezing cold, 30-15.
Both teams took the field with kickoff temperatures at 13 degrees and a wind chill of -4. Air Force’s offense was well suited for the temperatures as they mostly kept the ball on the ground using the triple-option. Baylor’s spread attack did not fair as well in the freezing temperatures.
The Falcons got on the board first on their first offensive possession. They ran a 15-play, 55-yard drive that took nearly nine minutes off the clock. RB Brad Roberts scored from two yards out, and after Baylor blocked the PAT, the Falcons led 6-0.
Air Force added a field goal before Baylor finally got on the board with five seconds left in the 1st half. The Bears began the possession at the Falcons’ 47-yard line after their defense stopped Air Force on 4th down. The Bears went 47 yards in six plays, capped off by an 8-yard pass from QB Blake Shapen to WR Hal Presley. The Bears headed to the locker room at halftime down 9-7.
The Falcons increased their lead early in the 3rd quarter to 16-7. QB Haaziq Daniels completed a rare pass on the Falcons’ opening drive in the 2nd half from College Football’s last-ranked passing attack Air Force Falcons. Daniels hit WR Amari Terry for a 68-yard strike to Baylor’s 2-yard line. Daniels punched the football in on the next play.
Air Force added two more touchdowns throughout the 2nd half, a 15-yard passing touchdown from Daniels to WR Caleb Rillos and a 1-yard rush by RB Brad Roberts, to put the game out of reach at 30-7.
The Bears' inability to convert 4th downs signaled their doom as three straight possessions in the 2nd half resulted in turning the ball over on downs. The Bears added a touchdown with 3:34 to play in the 4th quarter, but Baylor’s offense never managed to get their offensive machine running. Baylor posted a dissatisfying 15 points in their bowl appearance and fell to the Falcons 30-15.
After the game, Head Coach of the Bears, Dave Aranda, said, “From a team perspective, it is a disappointing end to a disappointing season. There is a lot to be learned for our returners and younger people. A lot to look at and try to emulate as well. The fight that we just mentioned, the showing up under tough circumstances and never backing down, and putting yourselves out there. Those are things we can build on.”
The Baylor Bears finish their 2022 campaign with a 6-7 record. It is a step in the wrong direction for Baylor, but Coach Aranda thinks that this season and this bowl game are something that his team can learn from and improve.
“This year could really be looked at as a lesson. I just see us getting better. For the guys that are returning to see the work, they are going to see the work, and the adversity, and how to handle it and be better for it,” he said.
Armed Forces Bowl
(Credit: Baylorbears.com)
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