Baylor escapes Iowa St. trap

AMES, Iowa — Baylor’s defense, lauded as one of the nation’s best, looked lost as Iowa State scored touchdown after touchdown.

But the Bears did what they do best — stuff teams late — and escaped from Ames on Saturday with a surprisingly close victory.

Chris Callahan kicked a 19-yard field goal as time expired, and No. 13 Baylor rallied from 14 points down in the fourth quarter to win 45-42.

Shock Linwood, who had 4 yards on only two carries last week against Oklahoma State, rushed for 237 yards for the Bears, who have yet to allow a point in the fourth quarter this season.

Baylor (5-0, 2-0 Big 12), playing without star wide receiver KD Cannon because of a groin injury, trailed 42-28 before scoring touchdowns on drives of 86 and 84 yards to tie the game.

The Bears’ defense finally stiffened in the fourth quarter, and Seth Russell — who was 12-of22 passing for 178 yards — drove Baylor 83 yards to set up Callahan.

“Credit to Iowa State. They punched us in the mouth several times. We were speaking on the sidelines (saying) ‘this is still our game. We’re still going to fight.’ And we did,” Russell said.

Joel Lanning threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns for the Cyclones (1-4, 0-2). Mike Warren added a seasonhigh 130 yards rushing for Iowa State, which scored touchdowns on its first six full possessions but was shut out after that.

WEST VIRGINIA 17 KANSAS STATE 16

Skyler Howard threw a touchdown pass, and the host Mountaineers came from 13 points down in the second half to beat the Wildcats in the teams’ Big 12 opener.

West Virginia is 4-0 for the first time since 2012. Kansas State (2-2) had a chance to win it, but Matthew McCrane’s 43-yard field goal with 2:03 left was wide left.

The Wildcats entered with the nation’s top defense but gave up 422 yards to West Virginia.