Baylor is already 0-1 after their season opener against Auburn, thanks to a game-winning two-point conversion attempt that fell agonizingly short with nine seconds left in the fourth quarter. Auburn snagged a 17-16 win, but it took a wild final play to seal the deal, leaving Baylor fans absolutely gutted right out of the gate.
The Game-Winning Gamble That Missed
With the clock ticking down to just nine seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Baylor quarterback DJ Lagway connected with Gavin Freeman for a 5-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal. That brought the Bears within one point, making it 17-16. Coach Dave Aranda faced a huge choice: kick the extra point to tie and force overtime, or go for the two-point conversion and the outright win. He chose the latter, sending his offense back onto the field. They even traded timeouts with Auburn, showing how much was riding on this call. Unfortunately for Baylor, the gamble didn’t pay off. Wide receiver Matthew Klopfenstein caught Lagway’s pass, but Auburn safety Eric Winters barreled down and tackled him just shy of the goal line. Ball game, Auburn wins. It was literally a game of centimeters, not inches, as the saying goes. Auburn pulled off the victory even after giving up 436 yards and turning the ball over three times.
Aranda’s Reason: Why Skip Overtime?
So, why did Aranda skip the “safe play” of an extra point and overtime? He broke it down after the game, and his reasoning was pretty direct. Baylor apparently had several players hobbled with injuries, including quarterback DJ Lagway himself. Aranda said he just didn’t think extending the game into an overtime period would actually increase his team’s chances of winning, given those ailments. He was playing to win right then and there. With Auburn on their heels after allowing a monster 14-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, Aranda put his faith in his offense to get those two yards instead of risking the “coin toss” that is college football overtime. Offensive coordinator Jake Spavital’s play call actually got Klopfenstein wide open, creating a couple of steps on Auburn edge rusher Jared Smith.
The Throw, The Tackle, The Hot Seat
Here’s where it all went south: Lagway’s throw, though, was thrown slightly behind his tight end, hitting his right shoulder and slowing him down a bit. That split-second delay was absolutely critical. It gave Winters the chance to track down Klopfenstein and bring him down before he could break the plane. If that ball had been thrown in front of him, or even on his left shoulder, Klopfenstein likely crosses that goal line safely for the win. Instead, Baylor is 0-1, and Aranda’s pressure-filled seventh season has started exactly the opposite of how you want it. That seat for the head coach? It’s already getting hotter after one game.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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