Sept. 10, 2007
IRVING, Texas -- Baylor's Blake Szymanski was named Big 12 Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday. Szymanski shared the weekly honor with Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford. Oklahoma's Reggie Smith was named Defensive Player of the Week, while Brandon Foster of Texas and Marcus Herford of Kansas shared special teams' honors.
Szymanski established several school records in Baylor's 42-17 victory over Rice, including single-game marks for passing yards (412) and touchdown passes (six). A redshirt sophomore, Szymanski also set a Baylor record for yards passing in a half with 280 in the first; he also became the first player in school history to throw three touchdown passes in the first quarter.
A product of Rider High School in Wichita Falls, Texas, Szymanski eclipsed his career touchdown total entering the game by two against Rice. He became the first quarterback in school history to record a 400-yard passing game. Szymanski joined Terry Southall (1960 vs. Syracuse) and Larry Isbell (1950 vs. Texas A&M) to record at least four touchdowns in a game without an interception.
It was Szymanski's third consecutive 200-yard passing game, tying for the third-longest streak in Baylor history. Szymanski was 29-of-46 against Rice, tying for the sixth-best single-game completions mark in school history. He also had 10 yards rushing and finished with 422 yards of total offense against Rice, one yard shy of Tom Muecke's school record set against TCU in 1984.
Baylor returns to action Saturday, hosting Texas State. Kickoff between the Bears and the Bobcats is scheduled for 6 p.m. CDT at Floyd Casey Stadium.
