Baylor Rolls Past UCF in Joe Klanderman's Debut, Sacramento State Makes History
Three FBS games were on the Friday, Oct. 30 slate, and each followed a very different script. In Orlando, Baylor, days removed from parting ways with Dave Aranda, dominated UCF 41-9 in its interim coach's first game. In Charlotte, Tulane erased a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit and won in overtime. In California, Sacramento State beat Kent State for the first Mid-American Conference win in program history.
In Orlando, Baylor answers the turmoil with a statement
Less than a week after firing Dave Aranda, who had been in charge for more than six seasons and was let go after a loss to Kansas, Baylor arrived at Acrisure Bounce House with plenty of questions. Joe Klanderman, in his first season as defensive coordinator, coached his first game as interim head coach. UCF, meanwhile, was coming off the best night of its season: a 39-31 double-overtime win over then-No. 2 BYU in the same stadium.
The contrast was stark. According to the Associated Press, UCF did not pick up a first down until midway through the second quarter, by which point Baylor already led 14-0. The Knights never reached the end zone: all nine of their points came from Will Stone, who made three field goals, including a 57-yarder just before halftime that UCF says is a school record. Baylor led 20-6 at the break in front of 45,906 fans, a sellout according to UCF.
The game turned for good after halftime. On its first two possessions of the third quarter, Baylor scored two touchdown passes from DJ Lagway: 21 yards to Tony Livingston, then 77 yards to Gavin Freeman. At 34-6, the outcome was settled. Lagway finished 16 of 25 for 319 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. Freeman caught five passes for 114 yards, Livingston scored twice and Matthew Klopfenstein added the fourth, while Caden Knighten ran one in.
The Bears' offense stayed balanced: Ryelan Morris gained 82 yards on 11 carries, and Baylor topped 500 total yards (503). On defense, Klanderman's unit recorded seven sacks.
For UCF, Keyone Jenkins, who threw the decisive touchdown pass against BYU, had a rough night: 14 of 21 for 82 yards and an interception before leaving in the third quarter with what the AP described as an apparent lower-leg injury. Alonza Barnett III replaced him (8 of 16, 133 yards). His best play, a 67-yard completion to Josh Derry, produced only a field goal.
"We didn't relent in the fourth quarter," Klanderman said, as quoted by the AP.
What it means
For Baylor (5-3, 3-2 Big 12), the win snaps a two-game losing streak and leaves the Bears one victory from bowl eligibility. More importantly, it gives a locker room that changed coaches midseason something to build on. UCF (4-4, 2-3) falls back to .500 a week after toppling the nation's No. 2 team and visits Kansas next Saturday. With three and four losses, neither team is in at-large playoff territory: their only path to the CFP would be a conference title, a distant prospect.
Friday's other results
Tulane 38, Charlotte 31 (OT) — Trailing 31-21 with 10:52 left, Tulane rallied on a Cooper Helmke field goal and an 11-yard touchdown pass from Trace Johnson with 10 seconds remaining. In overtime, Dagan Bruno scored on a fourth-down quarterback sneak, and the defense then stopped Charlotte near the goal line. Johnson completed 28 of 36 passes for 284 yards, Johnnie Daniels ran for 99 yards and two touchdowns, and the Green Wave improved to 4-4 (2-2 American) while Charlotte fell to 1-7.
Sacramento State 31, Kent State 10 — Down 10-6 at halftime after Wayne Harris caught a 92-yard touchdown pass from Dru DeShields, the Hornets scored the game's final 25 points. Freshman Isaiah Ene ran for 107 yards and two touchdowns, Donovan Turner returned an interception 38 yards for a score and the defense forced five turnovers. According to the school, it is Sacramento State's (2-7, 1-5) first MAC win; also worth noting, Australian punter Hamish Adams, a Melbourne native, averaged 45.3 yards on six punts.
