News

Actions

BYU’s Christian Stewart steps in as QB after Taysom Hill’s injury

Posted at 11:21 PM, Oct 06, 2014
and last updated 2014-10-07 01:21:20-04

PROVO, Utah -- The BYU football team is facing a tough challenge this week.  The Cougars are no longer undefeated after losing to Utah State, and their Heisman Trophy hopeful is out of the season.

Star quarterback Taysom Hill suffered a fractured leg against the Aggies.  He underwent surgery on Saturday.

“It was two hours of surgery, one plate, eight screws -- every major ligament shredded, so significant,” said head coach Bronco Mendenhall.  “They knew it was bad but when they got in there is was worse.”

That means senior Christian Stewart is the team’s starting quarterback.

“I want to get back out on the field,” Stewart said.  “I was laying in my bed until 3 a.m. Friday night just wanting to be back on the field.”

Stewart completed 10 of 29 passes for 172 yards and three interceptions against Utah State.

“He tries really hard, which is exactly what we knew he would,” Mendenhall said.  “He knows the offense well.  He looked confident and like many quarterbacks in that situation, trying to do a little bit too much.  But I actually took it as a positive because he was aggressive.”

Stewart will get his first start this Thursday night at Central Florida.