DJ Lagway set a Florida true freshman record with 456 passing yards as the Gators walloped the Samford Bulldogs 45-7 Saturday night in Gainesville, Fla.
The SEC school’s first true freshman starting quarterback since Treon Harris against Georgia on Nov. 1, 2014, Lagway went 18-for-25 with three touchdowns en route to establishing a high in yardage for a true frosh.
Montrell Johnson Jr. rushed 15 times for 67 yards and two first-half scores. Eugene Wilson III caught six passes for 141 yards and a TD and Elijhah Badger had three receptions for 123 yards for the Gators (1-1).
Quincy Crittendon was 22 of 31 for 144 yards and Brendan Jenkins caught four passes for 51 yards for the Bulldogs (0-2) from the FCS’ Southern Conference.
Florida owned a 632-205 edge in total offense.
After a humbling 41-17 home loss to the rival Miami Hurricanes in its opener, Florida got a break when Aaron Gates recovered a Samford fumble at the Bulldogs 43 on the first series.
However, the Gators managed just six plays and less than 30 yards before the visitors forced a turnover on downs.
But Florida regrouped, and Lagway completed a 77-yard pass to Badger all the way to the Samford 3 that awakened the crowd after the sluggish start.
Johnson’s first touchdown run closed out the drive with 2:53 left in the first quarter.
Lagway’s 40-yard connection to Hayden Hansen helped set up the second, a 7-yard run by Johnson at 7:02 to put the SEC school ahead 14-0.
Florida created some separation on the first series of the second half on a four-play, 69-yard drive. Lagway lobbed a ball that Tank Hawkins hauled in for a 36-yard score just 1:07 in.
On the ensuing drive, Samford crafted its best series, traveling 75 yards in 12 plays before Damonta Witherspoon plunged in from a yard out to cut the deficit to 21-7.
Lagway found Aidan Mizell on a stop-and-go route for 41 yards with 5:52 left in the quarter. Trey Smack soon tacked on a 25-yard field goal before Wilson went 85 yards in the fourth on a short pitch from Lagway.
Aidan Warner’s TD run from nine yards capped the scoring.
–Field Level Media
