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Brendan Harris and Mike Benning each scored two touchdowns, as Baylor traveled to Ensworth and pulled a stunning 28-20 upset, in the first round of the TSSAA Division II Class AAA playoffs.
The Tigers, considered one of the preseason state title favorites, saw their season end at 7-4. Ensworth had defeated the Red Raiders by a 35-21 score on Sept. 8.
Baylor out-gained the Tigers, 250-221, who had just 13 first downs.
Ensworth’s Nicky Clifton had 13 carries for 109 yards and a score, but was out-done by Harris (24-122, two catches for 20), a Vanderbilt commitment, and Benning (22-106, and a 35-yard catch).
Ensworth trailed most of the night. However the Tigers inched closer in the second half on Clifton’s 3-yard scoring run with 5:44 left in the third quarter.
But the Tigers missed the point after, then, Baylor’s Harris scored his third touchdown of the night on a 23-yard run, giving Baylor a 28-13 second-half lead with 11:49 left.
Ensworth quarterback Cole Kennon hit Taye Kinnard with a 33-yard touchdown for the final points.
Ensworth took an early 7-0 lead after Keyshawn Lawrence scored a rushing touchdown, followed by a Lucas Rodriguez extra point, with 10:13 left in the first quarter.
But things went bad quickly for the Tigers. Baylor scored the game’s next 21 points, including two touchdowns by Benning and another by Harris.
Ensworth’s Jaylon King had a first-half interception and a long return, putting Ensworth in position for a long field goal attempt in the final seconds of the first half. But the Tigers missed the kick and trailed 21-7 at the break.
