Sept. 10, 2005
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WACO, Texas (AP) - Shawn Bell threw for 166 yards and two touchdowns and Jamaal Harper returned a fumble 29 yards for a score in Baylor's 48-14 victory over Samford on Saturday night.
The win gave the Bears their first 2-0 start since 2001.
A week after breaking a 24-game road losing streak by beating SMU, Baylor had its highest-scoring first half in three years, building a 24-7 halftime lead in the home opener against the Division I-AA Bulldogs (1-1).
Harper's second career fumble return for a TD and both of Bell's TD passes - 14 yards to Paul Mosley and 32 yards to Dominique Zeigler - came before halftime. Shaun Rochon returned a punt 85 yards for a score in the final minute of the game, giving the Bears their most points since beating Samford 50-12 three years ago.
Jefferson Adcock completed 17 of 34 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns for Samford, which won its season opener 60-7 over NAIA Edward Waters. The Bulldogs are 0-10 against Division I-A teams.
The Baylor defense had its share of ugly moments. The Bears allowed four third-down conversions on Samford's first touchdown drive, then committed two personal fouls on the other. Another personal foul facemask penalty wiped out a sack on third-and-12.
But Harper scored, and James Todd's diving interception in the third quarter set up another Baylor touchdown.
Colin Allred sacked Parker Gargis, the other sophomore quarterback used by Samford, early in the second quarter. Harper scooped up the ball and ran along the right sideline, managing to stay in bounds after Gargis grabbed at his feet near the 10, to make it 17-7.
Harper's other fumble return for a touchdown was a 7-yarder when the Bears upset Colorado in 2003 in their first Big 12 game with coach Guy Morris.
Baylor appeared to have another fumble recovery in the second quarter, but the runner was ruled down after the play was reviewed. Adcock was sacked on the next play and the Bulldogs punted, setting up the Bears' nine-play, 73-yard TD drive just before halftime.
Bell hit Zeigler streaking wide open down the middle for the 32-yarder.
Todd dived in front of receiver Stewart Johnson at the Samford 25 midway through the third quarter. Six plays later, Brandon Whitaker plunged in from a yard out, the last play for Bell, who was 16-of-26 passing.
Terrance Parks finished the game at quarterback for Baylor and threw a 49-yard TD pass to Mikail Baker in the fourth quarter. The play was a touchdown even though defensive back Jermaine Livingston had the ball when the two got off the ground in the end zone.
The Bears haven't won their first three games in a season since 1996, when they won just once after a 3-0 start and coach Chuck Reedy was fired. Baylor plays its next three games on the road, with its last non-Big 12 game Saturday at Army.
The start of the game was delayed 41 minutes by rain and lightning.
