Baylor Football Throttles Tarleton State in 2024 Season Opener

WACO, Texas ( FOX 44 ) — Dave Aranda’s Baylor Bears wasted no time in dominating Tarleton State in the 2024 season opener, winning easily 45-3.

The Bears got a banner night from new starting quarterback Dequan Finn, the 5th-year senior transfer from Toledo. Finn threw for two touchdowns and ran for another to key the rout at McLane Stadium. Finn was 14-22 for 192-yards, but he did toss two interceptions.

Finn got the Bears on the board early in the 1st quarter with an impressive 39-yard jaunt to the end zone. Later in the 1st quarter, he found success through the air with a 32-yard TD to Ashtyn Hawkins to make it 14-nothing. Finn also connected on a 17-yard TD to tight end Michael Trigg in the 3rd-quarter, which extended the lead to 35-3.

The Baylor defense also had its shining moments — perhaps the biggest was late in the 1st quarter — when Keaton Thomas intercepted a Texans pass and returned it for a 35-yard pick-six, to make the score 21-nothing.

Baylor now hits the road next Saturday for a tilt at Utah, which will be a non-conference game — since it was scheduled before the Utes joined the Big 12.

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