More than two years since his last start, Trey Lance got another chance as a starting quarterback in the National Football League on Sunday for the Dallas Cowboys. 

The 2018 Marshall High School graduate was drafted with the third overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2021 NFL draft after they traded three first-round picks to Miami in order to draft him. 

Due to injuries and the ascent of Brock Purdy, Lance was only given the opportunity to start four games for San Francisco before being given a fresh start in Dallas.

In his first game at the helm of America’s team, Lance played well. He completed 20 of his 34 attempts for 244 yards, while also rushing six times for 26 yards in a 23-19 loss to the Washington Commanders. 

“Knowing Trey, he was prepared and knew what was going on with the offense,” Marshall High School coach Terry Bahlmann, who coached Lance in high school, said. “He took them for some nice scoring drives, couple of nice throws over the middle for the deep dig routes there, and so on.

“It looked like he had a good concept and when the rush happened, he was able to make some plays with his legs. He just looked like the kind of guy that had control and he seemed calm during the game. He missed one of those touchdown throws, but I’m sure he makes that 99 out of 100 times.”

The Cowboys were also without many key offensive pieces around Lance in the game, as star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was placed on injured reserve on Dec. 28, as was starting guard Zack Martin on Dec. 9.

Dallas’ first-string quarterback Dak Prescott went down for the season with a hamstring injury on Nov. 18, yielding his snaps to second-stringer Cooper Rush. Entering the day, Rush had played 52.5% of the team’s snaps on the season. He had the opportunity to earn a $500,000 bonus if he finished the season playing 55% of snaps, a likely goal had he started Sunday, but instead settled for a $250,000 bonus after being benched for Lance.

It’s been an eventful week for the Lance family, as Trey’s younger brother Bryce Lance also caught a touchdown pass for North Dakota State University in the FCS National Championship game on Monday. The Bison defeated Montana State to earn their 10th national championship game. 

The drive from Dallas to Frisco is approximately 30 minutes, so Trey made the trip north of the city to see his brother compete.

“Bryce has had a lot of ups and downs during his college career and I could not be prouder of him. Bryce and I talk almost every single day and we’ve had plenty of tough conversations. We are super close and go through all our experiences, good and bad, together,” Trey Lance said of his younger brother to Patrick Reusse of The Minnesota Star Tribune. 

Trey is scheduled to become a free agent in March after the fifth-year option of his $34-million rookie contract was declined. With plenty of teams needing help at the league’s most important position, Sunday functioned as an audition for Lance to earn a second contract in the big leagues.

“I think he just needs a chance with the right organization and right head coach,” Bahlmann said. “Obviously missed a couple throws yesterday, but I thought he had a solid game there and he looks like a professional football player and NFL quarterback. He’s still 24 and he’s got a chance. From Sam Darnold to Baker Mayfield, all those guys, they’ve gotten the opportunity with some experience to show what they can do.”