FORT WORTH, Texas (Interstat) — In a wild, back-and-forth Big 12 Conference shootout, Texas Christian outlasted Baylor 42-36 on Saturday at Amon G. Carter Stadium, riding a dominant second quarter and a game-sealing defensive stand to even both teams’ records.

The Horned Frogs improved to 4-2 overall, as did the visiting Bears in a game that defied pregame projections that heavily favored Texas Christian.

Baylor struck first with a methodical 14-play, 76-yard drive capped by Bryson Washington’s 1-yard touchdown run late in the opening quarter. The Bears’ defense initially stifled the Horned Frogs, but the game flipped dramatically in the second period.

Texas Christian quarterback Josh Hoover, a Rockwall, Texas, native, caught fire, orchestrating three consecutive scoring drives. He connected with tight end DJ Rogers on an 8-yard touchdown pass, running back Kevorian Barnes added a 5-yard scoring run, and Hoover found Jordan Dwyer on a 6-yard strike with 11 seconds left in the half. The 21-point outburst gave the Horned Frogs a commanding 21-10 lead at the break, a surge fueled in part by a Baylor fumble recovered by Texas Christian’s Paul Oyewale.

The Horned Frogs extended their lead to 28-10 early in the third quarter on Hoover’s third touchdown pass, a 3-yarder to Fort Worth native Ka’Morreun Pimpton. Baylor responded as Sawyer Robertson, the Bears’ quarterback from Lubbock, Texas, found Jadon Porter for an 18-yard touchdown pass. A two-point conversion cut the deficit to 28-18.

After a Baylor field goal made it 28-21, Texas Christian appeared to deliver a knockout blow. Trent Battle broke free for a 65-yard touchdown run, and Barnes added another 14-yard scoring run early in the fourth quarter to push the Horned Frogs’ advantage to 42-21.

Refusing to quit, Baylor mounted a furious comeback. Robertson, who finished 25 for 52 for 318 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions, engineered a drive that ended with a 35-yard touchdown pass to Kole Wilson. The Bears then capitalized on a defensive score when Keaton Thomas returned a fumble 24 yards for a touchdown, suddenly pulling Baylor within six points at 42-36 with just over three minutes remaining.

The Bears got the ball back one final time with 1:47 left. Robertson drove Baylor from its own 5-yard line to the Texas Christian 35, but his last-ditch effort to win the game was intercepted by safety Namdi Obiazor with 11 seconds left to seal the Horned Frogs’ victory.

Obiazor’s game-clinching play capped a standout day for the Texas Christian defense. He recorded a game-high 11 tackles to go with his interception. Linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr was everywhere, making 16 tackles, while defensive back Vernon Glover had six tackles and an interception.

Hoover was efficient for Texas Christian, completing 22 of 31 passes for 231 yards and three touchdowns. Barnes was the workhorse on the ground, carrying the ball 30 times for 121 yards and two scores.

For Baylor, Robertson spread the ball to Ashtyn Hawkins, who had seven catches for 95 yards, and Josh Cameron, who added eight receptions for 86 yards. The Bears’ comeback attempt fell short despite outscoring the Horned Frogs 18-14 in the final quarter.

The victory gives Texas Christian momentum heading into a road game at West Virginia next Saturday. Baylor will look to rebound on the road at Cincinnati.