It took a bit longer than expected, but Florida true freshman quarterback [autotag]DJ Lagway[/autotag] finally threw his first touchdown in the Orange and Blue.
Lagway found a wide-open [autotag]Tank Hawkins[/autotag] for a 36-yard touchdown on the first drive of the second half to put the Gators up 21-0.
It was far from the first highlight play of the night for Lagway, but it is the ball he’ll remember most from his first career start — a play-action pass that allowed Hawkins to burn Samford’s secondary for what may be a historic six points in Gainesville.
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Florida’s first drive didn’t go as planned. The Gators turned the ball over on downs after Montrell Johnson Jr. ran for a 16-yard first down to start the series, but things went better the next time around. Lagway connected with Elijhah Badger for a 77-yard gain to get some confidence back, and Johnson scored from the one out of the wildcat formation.
With all the true freshman nerves shaken off, Lagway got to work in the second quarter. After a pair of runs by fellow first-year Jadan Baugh, Lagway found Chimere Dike for a 44-yard gain. Baugh fumbled a few yards from the end zone, killing the drive, and further delaying Lagway’s first touchdown.
Then, Lagway took a big hit after turning a sack into a 1-yard gain with his dazzling feet. Gator Nation held its collective breath for the next few minutes, but Lagway returned before the half.
The early returns are overwhelmingly positive for Lagway. He’s making the deep passes that Florida hasn’t been able to make in years, and he looks as good as Anthony Richardson did the season he was drafted fourth overall.
Expectations must be tempered as Lagway is playing an FCS team, but he looks like the real deal so far.
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