Baylor's DJ Lagway Throws 4 TDs to Rout UCF 41-9 in Orlando

Lagway Leads Baylor Past UCF

Baylor quarterback DJ Lagway threw four touchdown passes to lead the Bears to a 41-9 victory over the UCF Knights on Friday at Acrisure Bounce House in Orlando. The visiting Bears controlled the game from the opening kickoff, establishing a lead that the home Knights were unable to overcome despite a brief surge in the second quarter.

With an attendance of 45,906, the contest showcased a significant disparity in offensive production between the two teams.

Early Lead and Second Quarter Exchange

Baylor struck first in the first period when Tony Livingston caught a four-yard pass from Lagway for a touchdown, giving the Bears a 7-0 lead. The advantage grew in the second quarter when Caden Knighten ran for a two-yard touchdown.

UCF responded with a 39-yard field goal by Will Stone, but Baylor answered with two field goals by Rhett Armstrong from 45 and 29 yards out. Stone added a 57-yard field goal to close the half, leaving Baylor up 20-6. The quarter-by-quarter scoring saw Baylor post 7, 13, 14, and 7 points, while UCF managed 0, 6, 3, and 0 points respectively.

Third Quarter Surge

The Bears extended their lead significantly in the third quarter. Livingston caught a 21-yard pass from Lagway for a touchdown, followed by a 77-yard strike to Gavin Freeman. Freeman, who finished the game with 114 receiving yards on five catches, provided a crucial deep threat.

Will Stone kicked a 35-yard field goal for UCF, but the damage was already done. Baylor’s third-quarter effort of 14 points proved decisive in widening the gap before the final frame.

Final Stretch and Records

In the fourth quarter, Matthew Klopfenstein caught a five-yard pass from Lagway to seal the 41-9 victory. Lagway completed 16 of 25 passes for 319 yards and four touchdowns, while Ryelan Morris rushed for 82 yards on 11 carries. For UCF, Alonza Barnett III passed for 133 yards on 8 of 16 attempts, and Rocco Marriott rushed for 50 yards.

Josh Derry led the Knights with 70 receiving yards on three catches. The result improved Baylor’s record to 5-3, while UCF fell to 4-4.

Sources

ESPN