WACO, Texas (AP) -- After a month of losing to underdogs and slaying giants, Texas Tech finally won a game according to form.

John Norman's tide-turning 80-yard punt return in the third quarter highlighted a stellar performance by the Tech's defense and special teams, and the Red Raiders went on beat Baylor 35-7 on Saturday.

"We've been up and down all year, so to finish a team off like we did is huge," Tech quarterback Rob Peters said. "We've learned that you can't take any game for granted."

The Raiders (4-3, 3-1 Big 12), who in the previous four games had lost to North Texas and Oklahoma State and beaten Texas A&M and Colorado, quelled every Baylor threat with a big play from an unlikely source.

In addition to Norman's return, Kevin Curtis ran back an interception 47 yards to set up a second-quarter touchdown, Kris Kocurek made a huge stop on a fourth down play in the third quarter and Dorian Pitts blocked a punt to set up another score and ice the victory.

"Our defense was sterling and our special teams were great," Tech coach Spike Dykes said. "It's fun to coach when that happens."

Sammy Morris rushed for 98 yards to lead a sporadic Raiders offense that sputtered enough to give Baylor (1-6, 0-4) a glimmer of hope.

The Bears briefly stole the momentum when they returned the second-half kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown. Andra Fuller caught the kick and handed the ball to Randy Davis, who streaked down the right sideline the final 87 yards to cut the Tech lead to 14-7.

But Baylor failed to capitalize on a long drive into Tech territory, as freshman Chandrick Ricks was stopped on fourth-and-2 at the Raiders 24 with 7:48 left in the third quarter. Five minutes later, Norman scored on the punt return and the rout was on.

"It was a great momentum shift," Norman said. "The offense wasn't moving the ball, and we needed a spark."

Pitts blocked Kyle Atteberry's punt on the first play of the fourth quarter to set up the Raiders' fourth touchdown, which came on a 1-yard run by Morris. Tech iced the victory with a 13-play drive that took 6:04, the score coming on an 11-yard pass from Rob Peters to Darrell Jones.

Shaud Williams rushed for 40 yards and Peters passed for 117 for Tech. Darrell Bush had 91 rushing yards to lead Baylor.

"We didn't seize the opportunities," Baylor coach Kevin Steele said. "You play for breaks and you have to make them pay for it."

The Raiders led 6-0 on two field goals by Chris Birkholz and increased the advantage after Curtis intercepted an ill-advised pass by Baylor's Jermaine Alfred and returned it to the Baylor 1 early in the second quarter. Peters scored on a sneak one play later and Tech converted the 2-point try to lead by 14.

Baylor, last in the Big 12 in scoring and offense, showed even more offensive ineptitude in the first half. The Bears failed to get a first down until Jermaine Alfred completed an 11-yard pass to Mark Cogdill with just over 13 minutes left in the second quarter.