In a battle of two high flying offenses, the 17th ranked Baylor Bears defeated the 10th ranked North Carolina Tar Heels by a score of 49-38 to win the 2015 Russell Athletic Bowl. With the win, the Bears finish the season at 11-3. The loss also sends the Tar Heels to an 11-3 finish.

Baylor Bullies Their Way To Big First Half Lead

After a turnover on downs to start the game, the Tar Heels got the ball and Marquise Williams hit Brandon Fritts for a nine yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Heels. On the next possession, Baylor capped a 13 play drive with a Lynx Hawthorne touchdown run from six yards out to tie the game at 7. After a Carolina punt, Baylor got the ball back and Devin Chaffin ran it in from two yards out to put Baylor up 14-7 on a drive that took just 1:53 off the clock. The first quarter would end with the Bears still in the lead by that score.

Heels Close Gap Before Half Time

With 12:28 left in the second quarter, UNC kicker Nick Weiler nailed a 32-yard field goal to make it a 14-10 ball game. On their next possession, Baylor went 75 yards on eight plays with Johnny Jefferson scoring from 11 yards out to put Baylor up 21-10. After a Marquise Williams interception, Jefferson struck again as he ran it in for his second touchdown of the day from 27 yards out. Baylor held their largest lead at 28-10. North Carolina would cut into the deficit just before the half. With 35 seconds left, Marquise Williams scored on a four yard quarterback keeper to pull the Heels within 11 as Baylor led 28-17. As time expired in the half, Baylor kicker Chris Callahan would miss a chance to extend the Bears lead as a field goal attempt went wide left.

Offensive Fireworks Highlight Third Quarter

On the first possession of the second half, North Carolina would inch closer to Baylor. Marquise Williams finished off a nine play, 75 yard drive with a one yard touchdown run to make it a 28-24 game. After a Baylor interception and a UNC punt, Baylor got the ball back and found paydirt again as Terence Williams ran it in from three yards out to make it 35-24. Carolina looked to continue the offensive explosion, but turned the ball over as running back T.J. Logan was lunging for the goal line, but was stripped of the ball. Baylor recovered the fumble and took just one play to stun the Heels with an 80 yard touchdown run from Jefferson. On that 80 yard touchdown, UNC defender M.J. Stewart tried to punch the ball out, but could not jar it loose. That let Jefferson free as he exploded  for hus third rushing touchdown. UNC finished the quarter with an immediate response as Williams tossed linked up with Bug Howard for a 27-yard touchdown to make it a 42-31 game.

Bears Use Lengthy Drive To Open Fourth Quarter

Baylor would put the final nail in the coffin as they embarked on a 13 play, 75 yard drive that spanned 5:23. With 10:21 left in the 4th quarter, Terrence Williams capped off that drive with a one yard touchdown run that extended the Baylor lead to 49-31. The game would bog down somewhat for the remainder of the quarter until UNC scored with 2:20 left on a TD strike from Marquise Williams to Kendrick Singleton to make it 49-38. That would be the final score as Baylor ran out the final 2:20 of the game on six plays.

Final Stats

Baylor’s ground attack dominated in this game as the unit had 645 yards on the ground on 84 rushes. The Bears scored all seven of their touchdowns on the ground. Their star was Johnny Jefferson who had 299 yards on the ground, which left him with an even 1,000 on the season. None of the four players that played quarterback for Baylor in this one had any throwing touchdowns, with Baylor only attempting 18 passes. This is the Bears’ first bowl win since the 2012 Holiday Bowl where they beat the UCLA Bruins.