It was billed as a dress rehearsal Friday night at Benson Stadium when Incarnate Word's football team went through its entire game-night routine. Then, sophomore quarterback Paden Lynch undressed his opponents to the tune of 31-0.
Coach Mike Santiago and his staff put the first team offense and the first team defense on the same side in black shirts with the “two's” and others on the opposite side in white jerseys. Lynch ended up with the first offense when senior signal-caller Thomas Specia was given the night off to rest his weary shoulder. Lynch went immediately to work.
The format called for two 15-minute quarters with a halftime break in between. “This was our dress rehearsal,” Santiago said. “We needed to know how to do even a pre-game.”
Just 2:23 into the first quarter sophomore running back Trent Rios went over from the five ending a four-play, 40-yard drive for Lynch and his buddies.
With 10:10 on the clock Lynch uncorked a 32-yarder to senior wide receiver Jacob Love who had gotten behind everyone. Lynch did it again with 11 seconds left in the first by tossing two yards to junior running back Donald Gies. Those scores combined with three successful PAT's by junior Thomas Rebold gave the black team a 21-zip margin at the break.
Senior running back Al Furlow ran five yards at the 8:38 mark of the second half and again Rebold kicked the point after making it 28-0 before Rebold hit a 37-yard field goal to cap the night's scoring.
“We wanted to see our two's against our one's,” Santiago explained. “The way we always have done it is one's vs. one's and two's vs. two's. We wanted to focus on how particular individuals did against particular individuals. There are lots of battles going on here. In three weeks we go on the road and we want to see which 60 guys are on the bus.”
Lynch finished the night with five completions in seven throws for 89 yards and the two scores. He had no interceptions and to the pleasure of offensive line coach Tony Marciano, no sacks. Love caught four passes for 80 yards and the one touchdown.
On the ground Furlow was the top guy with his 46 yards on six carries. Lynch checked in here also by carrying it three times for 38 yards.
Santiago addressed the situation surrounding Specia by saying “Thomas will start against Langston.” He added “I was encouraged by that position (quarterback) tonight. It's good to have decisions to make at several positions.”
On Sunday the Cardinals will go through a “Langston scouting day” before getting the normal Monday off as they enter into their game-week routine.
Langston comes to Benson Stadium on Saturday, August 28, for a 7 p.m. kickoff. This begins UIW's second season of Division II football after going 5-5 in its inaugural year. The Cardinals this time around are playing in the South Division of the ever-tough Lone Star Conference.
