SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word football team steamrolled its way to 245 rushing yards and overcame 139 penalty yards to secure a 33-24 victory over Lamar University on Saturday night at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
UIW (1-5, 1-3 SLC) was dominant early, scoring on each of its first two possessions to grab a 14-0 lead. Derrick Mitchell capped off a 5-play, 67-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown run at the 12:44 mark, before Ra'Quanne Dickens put an exclamation point on a 6-play, 80-yard drive with a 7-yard rushing score just four minutes later.
 
After each team had possessed the ball twice, the home Cardinals held an absurd 174-24 advantage over LU (1-5, 1-3 SLC) in total yards.
 
Despite the strong start for UIW, a quarterback change, followed by a barrage of penalties, completely sucked all momentum from the home Cardinals. Neither team would score for the remainder of the period.
 
The visiting Cardinals got on the board with a 34-yard field goal at the 9:49 mark of the second quarter, and added a 5-yard touchdown run by Darrel Colbert Jr. with 1:47 remaining in the half.
 
UIW appeared content to run out the clock with less than a minute left, but Mitchell had other plans. The 6-1, 190-pound graduate transfer plowed through a myriad of LU defenders, before galloping 74 yards into the end zone. The SportsCenter Top-10-worthy touchdown run was the third-longest in program history and breathed new life into the home Cardinals heading into the locker room.
 
Despite being penalized nine times for 110 yards over the first 30 minutes of action, UIW took a 20-10 lead into halftime and held a 251-135 advantage in total yards.
 
The visiting Cardinals stormed out of the locker room with an 11-play, 75-yard drive, capped off with a 3-yard rushing score from Kendrick King.
 
Not to be outdone, the home Cardinals immediately punched back with a 12-play, 79-yard drive to reclaim a 10-point advantage at 27-17. Zaire Andre collected a 5-yard pass from Sean Brophy in the end zone to complete the drive.
 
UIW's double-digit lead was short-lived, as LU quarterback Andrew Allen found Isaiah Howard over the middle for a 67-yard reception on the first play of the ensuing drive. Three plays later, Allen hurdled a pair of UIW defenders for a touchdown.

After forcing consecutive punts, the visiting Cardinals drove the ball to the home 2-yard line, with ample opportunity to take their first lead of the night. The UIW defense stood tall however, as Cedrick Lee picked off Allen's pass attempt in the end zone on 4th-and-goal.
 
The home Cardinals were forced to settle for a 42-yard field goal on the subsequent drive, and left the door open when their field goal attempt sailed wide left.
 
UIW's defense answered the bell again, stopping LU on fourth down to regain possession. The home Cardinals pounded the ball on the ground and sealed the win with a 1-yard quarterback sneak from Brophy.
 
UIW finished the night with 465 yards of total offense, compared to 390 by the visiting Cardinals. The home Cardinals had just 16 first downs, compared to 24 by LU. UIW was perfect in the red zone, scoring on all four opportunities.
 
LEADERS
 
Brophy finished 13-of-23 for 162 yards, 1 passing touchdown and 1 rushing score. He was sacked twice. In limited action, Taylor Laird went 2-of-5 for 58 yards. Mitchell totaled 133 yards and 2 touchdowns on 16 carries, while Dickens contributed 85 yards and a score on 13 carries. Phillip Baptiste led the home Cardinals through the air with 6 receptions for 126 yards. Andre made his 1 reception count by finding the end zone.
 
Allen went 13-of-21 for 200 yards and an interception. In relief, Colbert Jr. finished 7-of-14 for 75 yards and threw 1 pick. He was sacked 4 times.
 
Quandre Washington paced the UIW defense with 13 tackles, including 0.5 tackles for loss, while Mar'kel Cooks registered 9 total tackles. Lee and Blake Klumpp each collected an interception. Both picks were the first of their respective careers.
 
Chaston Brooks spearheaded the visiting Cardinals defense with 10 tackles.
 
QUOTES
 
HEAD COACH LARRY KENNAN ON THE GAME PLAN
 
"The game plan was to be 1-0 this week - win and not lose this week – and we accomplished that. We talked to our guys about effort and emotion. We needed to be efficient and we did that. The guys played with heart. We had too many penalties, which hurt us, but that was about us flying around."
 
KENNAN ON CEDRICK LEE'S GAME-CHANGING INTERCEPTION
 
"We intercepted the play in the end zone. That was a great play; it was a huge turnaround. That's at least a three-point turnaround, maybe even seven. That was a great job."
 
CEDRICK LEE ON HIS INTERCEPTION
 
"When they said 'hut,' I looked for the number two receiver. Marquis Britton hit the ball and I just saw a flashing light. The Lord told me to go, and I went. To God be the glory."
 
CEDRICK LEE ON LOOKING AHEAD TO NATIONALLY-RANKED MCNEESE
 
"We can't be complacent on our win. We have to keep fighting and going hard. They put on their shoes just like we put on our shoes. It's not about who's good or who's ranked; it's about who goes hard until the whistle blows."
 
DERRICK MITCHELL ON HIS 74-YARD TOUCHDOWN RUN
 
"We started out hot with two touchdowns. They came back. I knew we needed to make a play before halftime because we knew Lamar had some guys that can make a play. I saw an opening and got a good block from Phil Baptiste and a couple more blocks. I was thinking 'I gotta finish this.' It's the best play of my college career."
 
MITCHELL ON THE FINAL TOUCHDOWN BY SEAN BROPHY TO SEAL THE WIN
 
"I knew we were going to use the clock and I'm not a selfish guy; if it means we get the W, then I'm all for it. I was happy for Sean. He played a great game tonight. We put a whole game together tonight. It was a great win for the team tonight."
 
UP NEXT
 
UIW travels to Lake Charles for a 6 p.m. date with No. 21 McNeese on Oct. 21.
 
STAY TUNED
 
UIW will host No. 23 Nicholls for homecoming at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28.
 
For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics visit uiwcardinals.com. Be sure to follow UIW Athletics on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like UIW Athletics on Facebook at UIW Athletics.