GLENDALE, AZ — After dragging for much of the first quarter, Ole Miss football’s offense finally caught a much-needed spark to start the second quarter in the Fiesta Bowl.
On the first play of the quarter, running back Kewan Lacy took the handoff and raced 73 yards down the field for a touchdown, giving Ole Miss (13-2) its first points of the night.
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Shortly after, the ESPN broadcast reported Lacy was riding a recovery bike on the sideline with a wrap on his hamstring after the play. He exited the game and missed the last three drives in the second quarter of Ole Miss’ 31-27 loss to Miami (13-2) in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on Jan. 8.
“I think it’s part of the season, getting banged up and nicks and things like that,” coach Pete Golding said. “He had a hamstring (injury) that they were going back and forth with for a while.”
Lacy came back out in the second half and played the rest of the game, finishing with 11 carries, well below his season average of 20.4 per game. He finished with 103 yards.
Lacy finished the season with 1,567 rushing yards, tying Quinshon Judkins (2022) for the school record.
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For the three drives he was out, Lacy was replaced by Logan Diggs, who had four carries for 10 yards.
This was the second time this postseason that Lacy has suffered an injury during the game. Against Tulane in the first round on Dec. 20, Lacy suffered a shoulder injury just before halftime. He returned in the third quarter but exited for good due to the same injury.
He ended up being ready to play for the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, rushing for 98 yards and two touchdowns.
This time, Lacy’s injury didn’t keep him sidelined permanently. He also wasn’t the only player to leave the field of play and return. Safety Wydett Williams Jr. also suffered an injury midgame. He took an early trip to the locker room before halftime but returned in the second half. Defensive end Kam Franklin was questionable coming into the game and played wearing a guardian cap over his helmet.
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“These kids, there’s nobody in that locker room that’s not going to fight through it,” Golding said. “There’s a difference between hurting and being injured. And a lot of them are hurting, and a lot of them went out of the game. They found their way back in the game, and it’s what you have to do this time of year.”
Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at treid@usatodayco.com and follow her on X @tiareid65.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: How bad was Ole Miss RB Kewan Lacy’s hamstring injury in Fiesta Bowl?
