Gators stomp Stamford behind UF freshman QB DJ Lagway’s record-setting night

GAINESVILLE — Billy Napier could breathe a little easier following a rough week that culminated with a much-needed and morale-boosting 45-7 win against Samford on Saturday night in the Swamp.

Napier’s prospects still appear bleak at UF, which led just 14-0 at halftime against a 38.5-point underdog on the Gators’ home field. But Florida’s future is bright with true freshman quarterback DJ Lagway

The nation’s top quarterback recruit in 2024 replaced injured veteran Graham Mertz (concussion) during last week’s 41-17 season-opening no-show against resurgent Miami. This week Lagway took charge from the jump and set a UF true freshman record with 456 passing yards, the ninth-most ever at a school with three Heisman-winning signal-callers.

“It was different,” Lagway said. “I was really nervous. I’ve never been put in a situation like this before, but it was a blessing. I learned a lot.”

A statue might not be in his future. But Lagway made the case for a much larger role, if not a starting one, when the Gators host Texas A&M (1-1) on Saturday to open SEC play.

“We have a good young quarterback,” Napier said. “And we have a great veteran quarterback, as well.”

With a reported crowd of 89,295 looking on, UF (1-1) took care of business against Samford (0-2) behind the 19-year-old from Willis, Texas, to snap a six-game skid dating to an Oct. 28 loss to top-ranked Georgia and

Much more formidable opponents await following a one-week reprieve. But in Lagway, Gators may have found someone to help them navigate the nation’s toughest schedule.

A week after Florida did not complete a pass of even 20 yards, Lagway completed six throws longer than 35 yards.

“He brings a different element to our team,” Napier said.

Lagway’s personal favorite was a 36-yarder for his first career touchdown to true freshman speedster Tank Hawkins to give UF a 21-0 edge less than two minutes into the second half.

After Samford cut the lead to 21-7, the Gators answered with a 41-yard strike from Lagway to sophomore Aidan Mizell of Orlando. Lagway moved to his right and jumped near the line of scrimmage as he threw a strike to a streaking Mizell blanketed by a Bulldogs defender.

Lagway set the tone with his second completion of the night, a 77-yard strike to Elijhah Badger. The Arizona State transfer caught the ball along the sideline after it traveled 50 yards in the air, and then juked his way to the Samford 3 to set up a touchdown by Montrell Johnson Jr. for a 7-0 lead.

UF’s freshman QB finished 18 of 25 and three touchdowns as UF racked up 632 yards against the Bulldogs, who received $525,000 for their efforts. Badger’s 123 yards came on just three catches while Tre Wilson’s 141 yards on six grabs were a career high, highlighted by an 85-yard score following a Lagway shovel pass.

Lagway started 7 of 7 for 202 yards until an incompletion with 26 seconds to go in the first half. Two minutes earlier, Lagway absorbed a helmet-to-helmet hit from Samford linebacker Malik Gather. Lagway reached for his facemask as he tumbled to the ground. He soon gathered himself, returned and following halftime continued to put on a show.

A week after allowing 529 yards to Miami, UF’s defense held Samford to 202 yards.

The performance was far from complete. The Gators turned it over on downs and fumbled at the goal line during two of their first three drives. Meanwhile, the defense committed two personal fouls on the Bulldogs’ scoring drive.

Napier will take it.

The Miami loss supercharged hot-seat chatter and feelings the end is near just 27 games into his tenure in Gainesville. Napier’s off-the-cuff remark dismissing criticism from some guy “living in a basement in rural Central Florida” went over like a lead balloon.

But against Samford, a freshman quarterback rose to the occasion to give Gator Nation a reason to smile.

“It was awesome in there; we gave them a little bit more to cheer about,” Napier said. “That’s a good step in the right direction. We all understand the level of competition — better teams and better opponents are coming.”

Edgar Thompson can be reached at moc.lenitnesodnalro@nospmohtge