Life without Taysom Hill, at least for the rest of this season, officially got underway for the BYU Cougars on Thursday night in Orlando. It didn’t start well for Hill’s replacement, a former walk-on making his first career start, and ended no better for all involved in overtime.
Senior Christian Stewart was granted a scholarship over the summer. On Thursday he took his lumps before showing some promise in the second half despite eventually falling short against UCF 31-24.
Stewart had trouble moving the chains throughout much of the first half, going 10 of 15 passing for 58 yards. He was intercepted in the end zone by Jacoby Glenn early in the second quarter and appeared on pace to duplicate his dismal performance while in relief a week ago when he went 10 of 29 with three interceptions and no touchdowns.
But he came to life in the second half, putting the Cougars (4-2) in front 24-10 with nine minutes left in the third quarter and showing the potential he possesses for the long haul as BYU’s quarterback for the remainder of the season.
But the good times were short-lived.