Slow Start Too Much For Baylor To Overcome In 42-30 Loss

Brentwood Academy Survives Late Rally To Claim Victory

  • Friday, September 18, 2015
  • John Hunt
Ryan Parker gets past Brentwood’s Camron Johnson for a Baylor touchdown.

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Ryan Parker gets past Brentwood’s Camron Johnson for a Baylor touchdown. .
photo by M.A. Locke

A bad first quarter was too much for the Baylor Red Raiders to overcome.

Falling behind by 22-0 in the opening stanza, unbeaten Baylor made a game of it in the second half before falling to the Brentwood Academy Eagles Friday night at Heywood Stadium.

The Eagles have a huge offensive line, including a pair of guys listed at 6-6 and 275 pounds who have already committed to SEC schools.  Ryan Johnson is headed to Knoxville next fall while Bryce Matthews is planning to play at Ole Miss.

The Eagles did a good job running behind these two giants, but it was quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall's arm that ultimately was the difference.

While Brentwood Academy piled up 218 yards on the ground, Oatsvall completed 19 of 27 passes for 259 yards, including two big throws in the fourth quarter when Baylor had gotten to within 29-27.

Facing third-and-11 from its own 19, Oatsvall hooked up with Daniel Taylor for a 25-yard gain and a first down, but it was perfect throw down the right side two plays later to Prince Momodu that covered 62 yards for an Eagle touchdown that was the back-breaker for Baylor's comeback.

 Victor Ulmo booted a 24-yard field goal with 4:04 to play to get Baylor back to within 36-30, but Oatsvall scored on a keeper from the 24 with just over a minute remaining to finally put the game away.

 "We did a really nice job of finishing and that's what I'm most proud of, but we responded in the second half and that was a huge key for us," said Brentwood Academy coach Cody White after his team had improved to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in league play.

"Jumping out to a big lead early was a big deal as we made them chase points, but we have a pretty good offensive line.  I know we can get better, but we're all pretty good in this league.  You have to be ready to play every Friday night or you'll get beat," the coach smiled afterward.

Baylor coach Phil Massey certainly wasn't happy with the way the game began, but he had every reason to be pleased with the way the second half unfolded.

"Brentwood Academy has a fine team and they were picked as the team to beat in this league.  They were almost perfect in execution in the first half.  We needed something positive to happen in the first half when we got the blocked punt.

"That gave us new life at the half and we did a good job of stopping the run in the second, but they responded every time we got close.  We can't have those early miscues and expect to win, but we didn't give up and we gave ourselves a chance to win.  This is what it's all about," he added.

Baylor had a miserable first half as they only had 55 yards total offense and three first downs in the opening 24 minutes.

On the other side, the Eagles scored on their first two possessions and had a 14-0 lead with 39 second left in the first quarter following a two-yard run by Oatsvall.

Maybe the turning point of the game came two plays later when the Eagles Camron Johnson intercepted a Wil Austin pass and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown with 21 seconds left.

Oatsvall had another TD pass covering 34 yards to Momodu with 4:39 left in the first half for a 29-0 Brentwood Academy lead and it looked like the makings of a big-time blowout.

But the tables began to turn in the final minute of the second quarter when Adrian Harris and Ulysses Strawter blocked a punt to give Baylor the ball on the Eagle 16.

Austin then tossed a TD pass to Gage Upshaw on fourth-and-one from the 7 with 43 seconds left before the break to make it 29-7 at the break.

While Baylor did absolutely nothing offensively in the first half, the Red Raiders had 171 yards rushing in the second, including 114 yards on 11 carries from Ryan Parker. 

Parker, the heart and soul of the Baylor defense, scored on runs of four and 29 yards to put his team back in contention while a 34-yard fumble return by Strawter for a touchdown also helped.

"The start of the game was a little rough, but it was fun," Parker suggested later.

"I don't like to lose, but we showed what we're made of in the second half.  We knew what we had to do in the second half and nobody panicked," he added.

The Eagles finished with 477 total yards, including 218 on the ground and 259 through the air.

Oatsvall totaled 109 yards on eight attempts in the second half to finish with 130 yards on 13 carries while Momodu finished with 92 yards on 23 carries.

Momodu was also the leading receiver with 96 yards on two catches as both went for touchdowns, including the big 62-yarder in the fourth quarter.

Johnson had six catches for 43 yards while Daniel Taylor had three for 45.

Baylor finished with 295 total yards, including 199 on the ground and 96 through the air.

Parker was the leading rusher with 122 yards on 13 attempts while Austin picked up 60 yards on 19 attempts.

Tate Prater was the leading receiver for Baylor as he snagged five passes for 60 yards.

While the Eagles have next week off, Baylor will be at home again to face the Brainerd Panthers before the big showdown with McCallie on Oct. 2.

BRENTWOOD ACADEMY  22  7  0  13  --  42

BAYLOR  0  7  14  9  --  30\

BA -- Gavin Schoenwald 10 pass from Jeremiah Oatsvall (Isaac Way kick), 8:04 left in first;

BA -- Oatsvall 2 run (Way kick), :39.3 left in first;

BA -- Camron Johnson 20 interception return (Schoenwald pass from Oatsvall), :21.0 left in first;

BA -- Prince Momodu 34 pass from Oatsvall (Way kick), 4:27 left in second;

BAY -- Gage Upshaw 7 pass from Wil Austin (Victor Ulmo kick), :43.5 left in second;

BAY -- Ryan Parker 4 run (Ulmo kick), 7:06 left in third;

BAY -- Ulysses Strawter 34 fumble return (Ulmo kick), 2:37 left in third;

BAY -- Parker 29 run (run failed), 9:55 left in fourth;

BA -- Momodu 62 pass from Oatsvall (Way kick), 8:20 left in fourth;

BAY -- Ulmo 24 field goal, 4:04 left in fourth;

BA -- Oatsvall 24 run (pass failed), 1:15 left in fourth.

(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@Comcast.net)

Brentwood’s Jeremiah Oatsvall is chased by Baylor’s Kalvin Watson and Henry White.
Brentwood’s Jeremiah Oatsvall is chased by Baylor’s Kalvin Watson and Henry White.
photo by M.A. Locke
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