Baylor quarterback DJ Lagway is officially sidelined for the Bears’ Week 2 game against Prairie View A&M, a tough blow after his gritty, albeit costly, performance last week. This isn’t some minor ding, folks. Lagway’s absence stems from an ankle injury suffered in Baylor’s brutal 17-16 loss to Auburn, a game where his heroics nearly pulled off a miracle.
Lagway’s Gritty Stand Comes With a Heavy Price Tag
Last week against Auburn, Lagway showed incredible heart. He was noticeably hobbling by the end of the first half, so much so that teammates had to carry him into the locker room. Talk about a warrior! But he wasn’t done. He returned in the second half with his right ankle heavily taped, pushing through the pain to nearly snatch a last-minute win. The heartbreak was real when Baylor’s critical 2-point attempt was stopped literally inches short of the goal line. Baylor coach Dave Aranda, speaking at halftime, definitely saw the fight. “He’s fighting through it,” Aranda said. “I think some of the running that we had going into the game, we’re trying to find where the game plan goes. Throwing-wise, he’s stepping into throws, and he’s battling through. The guys are seeing him battle through, and they want to achieve for him.”
Despite the injury, Lagway, a highly touted transfer from Florida, still put up eye-popping numbers, passing for 333 yards and tossing two touchdowns against Auburn. But here’s the kicker, the hard truth: his limited mobility came at a massive cost. His completion rate plummeted to a mere 50 percent, hitting just 27 of 54 attempts. You can’t ignore those numbers when you’re trying to win close games. That inefficiency, directly tied to the ankle injury, is a major reason he’s not suiting up this Saturday.
Baylor Turns to Bennett in the Face of Adversity
With their star QB out, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports that junior Nate Bennett will step under center for his first collegiate start. Bennett, hailing from Westlake Village, California, isn’t completely new to the program; he served as Sawyer Robertson’s backup last season. His experience, however, is minimal, having completed just five passes for 34 yards against Samford. He was a 3-star recruit and ranked the No. 101 quarterback in the 2004 recruiting class by 247Sports. Coach Aranda seems confident in his backup options. “I feel really good about Nate and (third stringer Ed Griffin),” Aranda stated during his Monday news conference. “We’ve got guys who have been here, have been invested and know the offense. Each has particular skill sets. We can tweak things, and the offense can go in a different direction to best utilize their talents. That room is special, so we’ll see.”
This Saturday, Bennett will lead a team that is a massive 38.5-point favorite against the FCS Panthers in Waco. It’s an unusual spot for a guy making his first start, but it offers a chance to show what he’s got. Can Baylor’s offense “tweak things” enough to steamroll Prairie View A&M without their main man? All eyes will be on Bennett to see if he can keep the Bears on track.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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