GAINESVILLE — Florida quarterback DJ Lagway looked rusty, but a swarming defense and overmatched season-opening opponent allowed the sophomore star to find his footing as the Gators’ ran away from Long Island University.
During a 55-0 win Saturday night in the Swamp, Florida dispatched of its only pushover on an otherwise treacherous 2025 schedule despite a lukewarm start by Lagway and several key players out with injuries, including veteran defensive tackle Caleb Banks and true freshman receiver Dallas Wilson.
“He can play better a little bit forced a few things, but that was his first scrimmage if you think about it,” coach Billy Napier said of Lagway, who recently return from a calf injury. “He’ll get in his rhythm. He’ll he’ll continue to get better. You saw him get better as he kind of got comfortable and settled in.”
Until Lagway found his bearings on a 3-touchdown night, the Gators defense picked up the slack while picking up where it left off in 2024.
UF safety Bryce Thornton returned a fumble for a 37-yard score on the game’s third play, the Gators’ first touchdown return off a fumble since 2020 but their 13th takeaway since the start of a season-ending a four-game winning streak in 2024.
Florida head coach Billy Napier yells before the start of the Long Island University at University of Florida college football game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
With a reported sellout crowd 89,451 looking on, LIU had six three-and-outs on the ensuing seven drives. A second-down fumble recovered by Thornton ended the Sharks’ other first-half possession as the first Northeast Conference foe ever to face an SEC opponent managed just one first down and trailed 38-0 at intermission en route to UF’s first shutout under Napier and since a 42-0 win against Vanderbilt in 2021.
“It’s been a long time since we shut out an opponent in the Swamp,” Napier said. “We tackled well and flew around all night.”
As Florida’s defense suffocated the Sharks, Lagway began to come alive during the second quarter. He completed 10 of his next 12 throws during the next three series, ending in touchdown passes to Tre Wilson, Hayden Hansen and J. Michael Sturdivant.
“It definitely got easer for me as the game went on,” he said. “I got to play better than that.”
Early on, the 20-year-old had looked like quarterback without a meaningful snap in nine months. Lagway took a 5-yard loss on the game’s opening play. With UF leading 14-0 on the LIU 38-yard line, he missed true freshmen receiver Vernell Brown wide open on 3rd-and-10.
Kicker Trey Smack followed with a 56-yard field goal, tied for the second-longest in school history, to make it 17-0 and make up for a missed 49-yard attempt earlier on a night. But the three-year starter with 83.33% career accuracy finished just 2 of 5; he missed 57 yards after hitting the left upright in the fourth quarter.
“Trey will bounce back,” Napier said. “He’s an elite competitor. We have confidence in Trey; that’s why we put him out there and continued to put him out there.”
Florida defensive back Bryce Thornton celebrates after a fumble recovery during the Long Island University at University of Florida college football game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Lagway left at halftime, not to return, 15 of 18 for 120 yards, an average of just 6.67 yards per attempt a season after he was second national with an average of 10.
True freshman Tramell Jones Jr. of Jacksonville replaced him to clear up the question of who will back up Lagway.
Jones, 18, completed his first career touchdown passes, a 4-yarder to tight end Tony Livingston with 2:03 remaining in the third quarter, to make it 48-0. He found former walk-on receiver Taylor Spierto for an 11-yard score with 25 seconds to go for the game’s final points — the most scored by UF in Napier’s four seasons.
LIU finished with more penalty yards (100) than total yards on offense (86). UF did not commit a penalty.
“That’s probably what it should look like,” Napier said of his defense’s dominance. “I’m gonna hammer home about 15 plays that weren’t good enough.”
The Gators moved to 4-0 against FCS schools under Napier, winning by a combined score of 201-21.
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/08/30/florida-gators-football/
