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Baylor holds off Wake Forest 24-21

Sep 15, 2009 - 9:36 PM WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.(AP) -- Robert Griffin completed his first eight passes, finishing with 136 yards passing and a touchdown, to help Baylor beat Wake Forest 24-21 on Saturday.

Kendall Wright ran for a touchdown, wide receiver Ernest Smith passed for a score and David Gettis caught one for the Bears, who opened last season with a 41-13 home loss to the Demon Deacons.

Griffin, the 2008 Big 12 Freshman of the Year, also ran for 41 yards on 13 carries for Baylor. Joe Pawelek finished with seven tackles, a sack and an interception.

The Bears snapped a nine-game road losing streak, which dated back to a 34-21 victory against Buffalo last season.

After Wake Forest's Riley Skinner threw his second interception, the Bears took a 17-7 lead early in the third quarter when Wright scored on a 37-yard run. Baylor pulled ahead by 17 points later in the quarter when Smith caught a lateral from Griffin and then tossed a 33-yard touchdown to Lanear Sampson.

Skinner connected with Andrew Parker for a 5-yard touchdown with 3:57 remaining to bring the Deacons within 24-21. That was as close as they would get, with Griffin and Baylor running all but the final 1:23 off the clock.

Skinner, who is currently the all-time ACC leader in completion percentage, completed 20 of 31 for 143 yards and two touchdowns, but he threw three interceptions.