DJ Lagway throws 3 TDs, leads No. 15 Florida to a 55-0 victory over Long Island in opener

By Canadian Press on August 30, 2025.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — DJ Lagway threw three touchdown passes, Jadan Baugh ran for 104 yards and a score, and No. 15 Florida opened the season with a 55-0 drubbing of Long Island on Saturday night.

The Gators ended their first eight drives with either a field-goal attempt or an extra point. More than anything, though, facing an overmatched team from the Football Championship Subdivision provided coach Billy Napier with a chance to get Lagway live repetitions for the first time since a December bowl game.

Lagway missed months of work following core-muscle surgery, a sore throwing shoulder and, most recently, a strained left calf. He was cleared to fully practice last week and looked a little rusty against the Sharks.

He was sacked on Florida’s first play and threw two errant passes early. But he settled down and showed plenty of promise in the rout.

The sophomore completed 15 of 18 passes for 120 yards, with TD passes to Eugene Wilson III, Hayden Hansen and J. Michael Sturdivant.

Lagway’s night ended at halftime, with the Gators leading 38-0. The score would have been more lopsided, but Trey Smack missed two field goals and Florida failed to convert four third downs.

Long Island never came close to scoring. The Sharks managed two first downs and finished with more penalty yards (100) than total yards (86).

Poll implications

The Gators should hold steady in next week’s AP Top 25 poll even though No. 1 Texas and No. 8 Alabama lost on the road.

The takeaway

LIU: The Sharks will get $525,000 for making the trip, a hefty payday that will help fund the entire athletic program.

Florida: Freshman Vernell Brown III flashed. He caught three passes for 79 yards, including a backpedaling, high-pointing, one-handed catch. Brown became the third true freshman in school history to start an opener, joining Percy Harvin (2006) and Antonio Callaway (2015). He finished with 149 all-purpose yards.

Up next

LIU plays at Eastern Michigan next Saturday, opening with consecutive Football Bowl Subdivision teams for the first time since 2021.

Florida hosts South Florida next Saturday. The Bulls beat No. 25 Boise State in their opener.

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Mark Long, The Associated Press

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