Lewis likely to miss Alabama A&M game
The medical condition of Southern junior quarterback J.C. Lewis continues to remain a mystery.
On Monday, Southern head coach Pete Richardson said Lewis had gotten ?knocked out? by teams bringing blitzes that overcame the SU blocking scheme.
Richardson?s statement Monday gave credence to what has been reported on the team?s radio network, which had contacted a parent of Lewis, that Lewis has a concussion and likely will also miss Saturday?s game at Alabama A&M as well.
That statement also seemingly contradicts the program?s pronouncement that Lewis had come down with symptoms related to heat exhaustion. That announcement was made by Southern spokesman Kevin Manns just prior to kickoff of Saturday?s 38-20 win over Alabama State.
A week ago, Richardson said he was mulling a change in SU?s quarterback play but never mentioned there was a possible medical condition that would sideline Lewis.
Richardson said several times during the week the decision between Lewis and sophomore C.J. Byrd would be based on practice performance and would not be made until game time ? in the wake of Lewis throwing a career-worst five interceptions in a loss to Division II power North Carolina Central.
However, when Lewis walked into the stadium wearing jeans and not in football gear like the rest of his teammates Saturday, it was clear there was something wrong with him.
Richardson said after the game that ?we don?t really know yet. He wasn?t feeling well, so we didn?t let him go.?
If the intent was to confuse the opponent, Alabama State coach Charlie Coe said not knowing if Lewis, who is 6-7 as a starter but is the Southwestern Athletic Conference?s top passer, would be in action had no effect on his defense?s play.
?We knew (Byrd) was a good player and he was going to play,? Coe said.
Four Alabama State blunders, including three turnovers, led to 28 Southern points.
Meanwhile, Byrd and redshirt freshman Bryant Lee were solid but not dazzling. The game was Byrd?s first start, while Lee played for the first time in his career.
Byrd had 28 yards and one touchdown rushing and was 6-for-8 for 50 yards passing, while Lee had 66 yards and one touchdown rushing and was 2-for-4 for 36 yards and a touchdown passing.
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