Raiders roll to win over Saints

Just before the opening kickoff, Baylor’s football team ran onto the field, breaking through a banner that proclaimed, “We’re fast, we’re fierce, we’re ready.”

Well, on Friday against St. Anne’s-Belfield, there was no doubt that Red Raiders from Chattanooga, Tenn., were all three, as they dispatched the Saints 41-12 in the season-opener for both teams.

Baylor (1-0) shined in all facets of the game as it compiled 405 total yards on offense and made big plays on defense all night.

Despite an electrifying 80-yard touchdown run by Aaron Clark on its first offensive possession, STAB was unable to keep up the rest of the way. 

“They’re a very good football team, and we got tired,” St. Anne’s coach John Blake said. “We played a lot of defense in the first half, and they just wore us down. Playing a team like Baylor just makes us better. We got beat, but I felt like we competed with them throughout the game, and that’s what we needed to do.”

The STAB defense came up with a big goal line stand on Baylor’s second drive of the game, but the Red Raiders forced the Saints to go three-and-out on their next possession.
The visitors broke open the game with touchdown runs from Brett Murray and Sam William. Just before halftime, William led the Red Raiders on an impressive 6-play, 82-yard drive during which he carried the ball every play. The junior running back made his way in the end zone on 23-yard TD run to give Baylor a 27-6 halftime lead. William was the workhorse for the Red Raiders, racking up 148 rushing yards on 24 carries to pace the ground attack. Starting quarterback Charlie Wilson was also effective, finishing 5 of 8 for 107 yards passing.

“We were pleased, especially with the way the young guys played at the end,” said Baylor coach Phil Massey. “But we’ve got to eliminate the big plays.”

Clark, a 5-foot-7, 180-pounder, powered the Saints’ ground game, finishing with 139 rushing yards on just five carries. Unfortunately, he didn’t have much help until it was too late.

Senior quarterback Howie Long connected with Alex Asher for a 32-yard touchdown pass with 3:36 remaining in the game, and Owen Van Arsdale (5 for 9, 50 yards) also had some success in the air, but it came in the fourth quarter after the Red Raiders had built up a big lead.

The Saints were also plagued by turnovers in the second half with an interception and several fumbles.

“We gave them too many short fields—they had four times where they got the ball inside the 30 and you’re not going to win football games like that,” Blake said. “We’d stop them, then we’d give it back.”

STAB plays host to Fork Union Military Academy next Friday at 7 p.m.