Florence’s four scoring strikes lead Baylor past LA.-Monroe

Monroe, LA, United States (4E Sports) – Though the Bears lost Heisman Trophy winning QB Robert Griffin III in the offseason, Baylor has notched wins including Friday night with Nick Florence throwing a season-high 351 yards and four TDs in topping the upset-minded Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks 47-42 at Malone Stadium.

Baylor (3-0) has now won nine straight dating back to last season.

Florence bounced back from a pair of early interceptions that enabled ULM to race to a 21-7 lead midway in the second period, but the more experienced Bears remained unfazed.

The Bears tallied 17 straight points to head into the locker room with a 24-21 advantage.

Senior Florence was an efficient 26-of-39 passing to go with 55 yards on nine carries on the ground for the Bears.

Florence has stepped up offensively early in the campaign, completing 63.4 percent of his passes (45-of-71) for 653 yards with seven TDs prior to Friday’s tilt. He is also second on the team in rushing with 104 yards.

In the fourth, Baylor trailed 35-34, and Florence engineered a 14-play, 73-yard drive that ended with wide receiver Levi Norwood taking it nine yards for a TD.

Florence later hooked up with Terrance Williams to put the game out of reach with a 22-yard strike and made it a two-score game.

Leading the Bears running attack was Glasco Martin, who finished with 58 yards on 18 rushes and a TD. Tevin Reese hauled in eight passes for 145 yards and a pair of scores, while Williams added four catches for 84 yards and two TDs in the win.

Kolton Browning competed 25-of-39 for 272 yards, with two TDs and an interception for the Sun Belt Warhawks (1-2), who gained national prominence with an upset of Arkansas in overtime before dropping an overtime decision to Auburn last week.

Baylor’s nine straight victories is the second-longest winning streak in the country behind TCU’s 10.

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