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Bears Avenge '08 Loss, Take Season Opener, 24-21

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Football 9/5/2009 12:00:00 AM

Sept. 5, 2009

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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) - Robert Griffin completed his first eight passes, finishing with 136 yards passing and a touchdown, to help Baylor beat Wake Forest 24-21 on Saturday.

Kendall Wright ran for a touchdown, wide receiver Ernest Smith passed for a score and David Gettis caught one for the Bears, who opened last season with a 41-13 home loss to the Demon Deacons.

Griffin, the 2008 Big 12 Freshman of the Year, also ran for 41 yards on 13 carries for Baylor. Joe Pawelek finished with seven tackles, a sack and an interception.

The Bears snapped a nine-game road losing streak, which dated back to a 34-21 victory against Buffalo in 2007.

After Wake Forest's Riley Skinner threw his second interception, the Bears took a 17-7 lead early in the third quarter when Wright scored on a 37-yard run. Baylor pulled ahead by 17 points later in the quarter when Smith caught a lateral from Griffin and then tossed a 33-yard touchdown to Lanear Sampson.

Skinner connected with Andrew Parker for a 5-yard touchdown with 3:57 remaining to bring the Deacons within 24-21. That was as close as they would get, with Griffin and Baylor running all but the final 1:23 off the clock.

Skinner, who is currently the all-time ACC leader in completion percentage, completed 20 of 31 for 143 yards and two touchdowns, but he threw three interceptions.

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Players Mentioned

Lanear Sampson

#3 Lanear Sampson

WR
5' 11"
Sophomore
Kendall Wright

#1 Kendall Wright

IR
5' 10"
Junior
David Gettis

#4 David Gettis

WR
6' 4"
Junior
2L
Robert Griffin

#10 Robert Griffin

QB
6' 3"
Freshman
Joe Pawelek

#41 Joe Pawelek

LB
6' 3"
Junior
2L
Ernest Smith

#13 Ernest Smith

WR
6' 3"
Junior
2L

Players Mentioned

Lanear Sampson

#3 Lanear Sampson

5' 11"
Sophomore
WR
Kendall Wright

#1 Kendall Wright

5' 10"
Junior
IR
David Gettis

#4 David Gettis

6' 4"
Junior
2L
WR
Robert Griffin

#10 Robert Griffin

6' 3"
Freshman
QB
Joe Pawelek

#41 Joe Pawelek

6' 3"
Junior
2L
LB
Ernest Smith

#13 Ernest Smith

6' 3"
Junior
2L
WR