Baylor vs. Northwestern State: Game Preview With TV Schedule

By Connor Muldowney @Connormuldowney on September 3, 2014

Shutting out the SMU Mustangs in the first game of the season was a great start for the Baylor Bears in their quest to make the first ever College Football Playoff in January. While the Mustangs weren’t exactly a pushover, the Bears made it looks otherwise, defeating SMU 45-0 in impressive fashion.

It took a late-game comeback by Missouri State to take down the Northwestern State Demons on their home field. Northwestern State held a 24-7 halftime lead before losing it because of a 27-3 thumping in the second half by Missouri State. That’s the kind of comeback that could cripple the Demons throughout the remainder of the year.

Baylor has a Heisman candidate at quarterback in Bryce Petty, but the senior signal-caller struggled to stay healthy in the opener, suffering a cracked bone in his back. Petty missed some easy throws and everyone knew there was something wrong because that’s something he never does. He did, however, finish the first half with 161 yards and two touchdowns on 13-23 passing. Seth Russell came in to finish the job in the second half, passing for 124 yards and a score. Top wide out Antwan Goodley was also injured in the contest, but Davion Hall stepped up, catching seven passes for 86 yards while Jay Lee had eight catches for 83 yards and a score. Shock Linwood led the solid rushing attack with 89 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.

Northwestern State out-gained its opponent in the season opener at home, but fell short by just a touchdown late in the game. The passing attack was above average behind the strong arm, and accuracy, of Zach Adkins. The senior QB completed 31 of 42 passes for 318 yards and two touchdowns to combat just one interception. Adkins had a solid connection with wide out Ed Eagan who led the way with nine catches for 107 yards and a touchdown while Tuff McClain also had a solid game, catching five passes for 73 yards. De’Mard Llorens led the run game with 11 rushes for 94 yards and a score with a long run of 53 yards.

Defensively, the Demons allowed 418 total yards and 34 points in the season opener to a fellow FCS opponent — struggling more against the run, allowing 223 yards on the ground. Northwestern State will need to keep an eye on Linwood in the run game as the pass game, if Petty plays, will move the ball regardless. Baylor, on the other hand, shut out its week one opponent and held the Mustangs to just 67 total yards. The Bears excelled in both pass defense and run defense, allowing 91 yards through the air and forcing SMU into the negative with -24 rushing yards.

Northwestern State will travel to Baylor to take on the Bears at 7:30 p.m. EST on Saturday, Sept. 6. The game will be broadcasted on local listings.

PREDICTION: Northwestern State 0, Baylor 52

Connor Muldowney is a columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. You can also reach him at [email protected].