Western Kentucky quarterback Bailey Zappe entered Saturday’s RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl five touchdowns shy of Joe Burrow’s single-season mark for touchdown passes in a year.
As the first quarter draws to a close, Zappe is now just three shy of the record.
Zappe started the morning red-hot for the Hilltoppers, hitting on 10 of his first 13 passes for 158 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He missed on his first two throws of the game, before locking in to lead the Hilltoppers to a touchdown. The big play on that opening drive was this second-down shot downfield:
Bailey Zappe doesn’t scream star at the next level, but he does have a great intelligence and a solid enough arm to carve a nice career for himself. A team spending a fifth-round pick will have a nice backup QB for a long time. pic.twitter.com/oq8tSeTcwG
— Shaun Chornobroff (@SChornobroff) December 18, 2021
Western Kentucky capped off the drive with this shield-screen for the score:
Western Kentucky will not run the ball much today
Zach Kittley is going to make sure Bailey Zappe throws it 100 times
TD throw #1 to Jerreth Sterns! pic.twitter.com/IjoyTPSHW8
— The Transfer Portal CFB (@TPortalCFB) December 18, 2021
His second touchdown of the game showed why NFL teams will be interested in Zappe come the draft. Watch as simply flicks the wrist and delivers a strike on the glance route with perfect placement for the one-play scoring drive:
MITCHELL TINSLEY WHOA
Bailey Zappe’s dart and the determination from Tinsley gets him TD Throw #2 today 🔥 pic.twitter.com/deczzDI8k1
— The Transfer Portal CFB (@TPortalCFB) December 18, 2021
The end zone angle of this strike is a must-see:
This throw by Bailey Zappe! 🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/LYJzbxR1xR pic.twitter.com/IkULeXee1G
— ✯✯✯✯✯ (@FTB_Vids_YT) December 18, 2021
Interestingly enough, Chase Brice and Appalachian State are playing their part, as the former Duke passer has two touchdown passes of their own. Should this game turn into a shootout, as seems likely, Zappe will be in good position to break that record set by Burrow.
