Erase four plays from the game and Incarnate Word gets its first win of the year.
But, that isn't going to happen and Saturday in Durant, Okla., the Cardinals fell 38-19 to Southeastern Oklahoma in the first-ever Lone Star Conference game for UIW. The loss dropped Incarnate Word to 0-2 (0-1) while SEO went to 1-1 (1-0).
Those four plays in question resulted in a whopping 250 yards gained for the Savage Storm. Moreover, the four produced four touchdowns. Counting the extra point kicks that is 28 points. Take those points away and UIW wins 19-10. But that isn't how it works.
In the first half the Cardinals had a distinct advantage in time of possession. UIW over the first two quarters were on offense 21:19 of the total 30 minutes of play. Almost 11 of those minutes came in the first quarter when UIW had to settle for a pair of Thomas Rebold field goals, one of 40 yards the other of 30. That made it 6-3 after one period of play. The inside-the-20 production wasn't there.
That's when the problems began. And they all were from long distance.
On a second down and three from their own 19, the Savage Storm got a lightning strike of 81 yards on a throw from quarterback Logan Turner to wideout Brandon DeFrance. The PAT gave SEO a 10-6 lead.
Five minutes, 48 seconds later that same combination of Turner and DeFrance went 74 yards for another score. And another five minutes put Southeastern Oklahoma in the end zone again. In just 11:02 the Cardinals fell behind by 24-6 and that's the way the half ended.
At the onset of the second half, the Storm took a knee in the end zone of the kickoff and then proceeded to change tactics by taking nearly 10 minutes off the clock. The lengthy drive was snuffed when on fourth and eight at the UIW 24 junior tackle Diego McClain and junior end Hakim Blackwell smothered Turner at the 34 to turn the ball over.
The Cardinals managed just one first down before on fourth and seven UIW short snapped the ball to freshman Glenn Hill who ran untouched up the middle to the SEO 19. On first down Paden Lynch threw to Jacob Love at the three. Trent Rios got one before Lynch sprinted out right and threw to Donald Gies for the score. Rebold converted and Incarnate Word had their first points since quarter one.
The quarter expired meaning Incarnate Word had now won two of the three periods.
However, play one of the fourth, 61 yards later, Turner had thrown to Mike Hill and the strong third quarter by Incarnate Word was all for naught. It was 31-13. At the 8:30 mark of the fourth Baylen Laury bolted up the middle for 34 yards and another touchdown and the Savage Storm was piling on to the tune of 38-14.
Lynch directed one more serious drive for the Cardinals including a toss across the middle to Love who thrilled the UIW fans with a 47-yard speed run to the Storm's 21-yard line. SEO ended that threat with a second down interception at the 18.
Late, sophomore quarterback Eric Massoni came off the bench for UIW and drove Cardinals down the field. The effort included a 23-yard strike from Massoni to freshman Colton Palmer followed on second down with a two-yard throw to Gies for the score. The two-point try missed and the score was 38-19 with 56 seconds on the clock.
Ensuing UIW kicked it onside but Southeastern captured the high bounce and took possession at the Cardinals' 27-yard line. Taking a knee twice SEO ran out the game.
For the night Lynch, off the bench in relief of starter Thomas Specia, was 9-17-1 for 113 yards and the one touchdown. Massoni finished 4-5-0 for 31 yards and a score.
On the ground for UIW, Rios carried 19 times for 66 yards. Lynch ran 10 times for 42. Including that dazzling catch for 47 Love reached the 100-yard mark on his five receptions.
Defensively Devan Avery led the Cardinals with seven solo tackles. McClain was up to his old tricks with one and a half sacks and one and a half tackles for losses. Chaz Pavliska got the only interception by UIW.
But at the end it was about Turner for the Storm who finished 13-31-1 for 288 yards and three scores. DeFrance caught three balls for the amazing 168 yards and two touches.
Incarnate Word gets back into action on Saturday, October 18, when the Cardinals host Central Oklahoma in another Lone Star contest. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Benson Stadium on campus.
