Savage did not play in 2022. One year later, he returned and became the first champion of the BakaBois two-league era.

Savage’s recorded BakaBois career began with a 6–7 ninth-place finish in 2019. He broke through in 2020, going 10–3 as the No. 2 seed and finishing third. A 3–11 last-place campaign followed in 2021, and Savage then sat out the 2022 season.

THE RETURN

Savage returned in 2023 as Nyquill Jornan and drafted eighth in League 2. His early selections included Bijan Robinson at No. 8, A.J. Brown at No. 13, Mark Andrews at No. 28 and Lamar Jackson at No. 33.

The season immediately tested him. Nyquill Jornan lost its first three games. After a Week 4 victory, Cesar scored 178.52 against Savage in Week 5 and dropped him to 1–4.

That became the turning point. Savage won four consecutive games from Weeks 6 through 9. Two more losses threatened the comeback, but Nyquill Jornan answered with 160.68 points in Week 12 and another victory in Week 13. Savage finished the regular season 7–6 as League 2’s No. 5 seed.

The record understated the strength of the team. Savage scored 1,667.44 regular-season points, second among all ten League 2 teams and third across the complete twenty-team 2023 field. Only Wes and Cesar scored more.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP RUN

Once the postseason began, Savage never lost again.

Nyquill Jornan beat Payden 131.34–113.00 in the opening round. Savage then eliminated No. 1 seed John 150.04–122.66 before defeating Dannie 122.78–102.24 in the League 2 final.

That secured the 2023 League 2 championship and sent Savage into the inaugural Baka Bowl against Wes, the League 1 champion.

THE FIRST BAKA BOWL KING

Savage’s final lineup produced 143.54 points. Lamar Jackson led the way with 36.34, De’Von Achane added 23.70, Rashee Rice scored 17.70 and Cairo Santos contributed 14.00. Christian McCaffrey, Bijan Robinson, Trey McBride, A.J. Brown and the Rams defense completed the championship score.

Wes finished with 128.42.

Savage had completed one of the defining comebacks in league history: 0–3 to begin the season, 1–4 after five weeks, the No. 5 seed entering the bracket and undefeated when the championship was on the line.

He sat out 2022. He returned in 2023. Then Savage won League 2 and became the inaugural Baka Bowl champion.