With Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel on sidelines, Baylor outlasts Lipscomb Academy 34-31
CHATTANOOGA – Lipscomb Academy's late first quarter lead lasted about 10 minutes before Baylor reclaimed it, then held off the Mustangs for a 34-31 victory in the Division II-AAA East Region opener for both schools Friday at Heywood Stadium.
The Mustangs (1-3, 0-1) turned to junior quarterback Tav Shaffer when four-star quarterback Deuce Knight left the program on Tuesday, after only three games.
Shaffer threw for three touchdowns, twice hooking up with Dillon Lorick. Baylor quarterback Whit Muschamp, a Vanderbilt commit, threw for three TDs. Alabama commit Amari Jefferson caught a pair, including the opening score of the game on a 19-yard grab that capped a three-play 80-yard drive as Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel stood on the sidelines of both teams to watch the game.
The loss is the worst four-game start for Lipscomb Academy since 2018 when the Mustangs picked up their first win of that season in Week 5. The Mustangs will host Ensworth in a non-region game next week.
Shaffer's 37-yard touchdown to Lorick with 4:45 left in the first quarter gave Lipscomb a 10-7 lead. But Baylor (3-1, 1-0) responded when Muschamp threw a 12-yard TD pass to Max LeBlanc early in the second quarter.
Lipscomb Academy played catch-up for the remainder of the night, twice getting within one score. Tennessee commit Kaleb Beasley's 7-yard touchdown grab with over nine minutes left in the game closed Baylor's lead to 24-17 but the Red Raiders responded when Alabama commit Amari Jefferson hauled in a 33-yard touchdown less than two minutes later to extend the lead to 31-17 with 7:56 left.
Reach sports writer George Robinson at georgerobinson@theleafchronicle.com and on the X platform (formerly Twitter) @Cville_Sports.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee football: Josh Heupel watches Baylor top Lipscomb Academy
