SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word football team hosts Lone Star Conference rival Tarleton State for Homecoming on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Benson Stadium.

The Cardinals (2-6, 1-4) are hoping to get back on the winning track after dropping close games in each of the past two weeks.  The offense should be back to near full strength this week with the return of running back Trent Rios (Spring Branch/Smithson Valley HS) and quarterback Zach Rhodes (New Braunfels/New Braunfels HS) who each missed last week with an injury.  Rios is the team's leading rusher averaging 53.2 yards per game and 108.8 all-purpose yards per game.  Rhodes is completing 53.6 percent of his passes and is averaging 148.3 yards through the air.

UIW's defense has excelled against the pass this year.  They are giving up only 187.4 yards per game, the 36^th best total in the nation.  Senior linebacker Dakota Mawyer (Spring Branch/Smithson Valley HS) leads the team with 53 tackles.  Junior linebacker Juan Asencio (Pflugerville/Hendrickson HS) has 46 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and an interception.

In special teams, the Cardinals boast the conference's top punter in Emmanuel Nunez (Dallas/Seguin HS) who is averaging 43.6 yards per kick.  Asencio leads the team with 28.7 yards per kick return while Marcus Wright (San Antonio/Reagan HS) is averaging 25.2 yards per return.

The Texans (3-4, 3-3) are averaging 185 yards rushing per game with Vaughn Smith and Zach Henshaw each average 60 yards per game.  Starting quarterback Aaron Doyle is out with an injury this week and Jake Fenske will be making his first start of the season. Wide receiver Clifton Rhodes leads the team with 46 catches for 540 yards.

On defense, Marquis Wadley leads the Texans with 57 tackles, including 4.0 tackles for loss.  Rufus Johnson leads a strong pass rush that is averaging 2.7 sacks per game with 6.0 on the year.
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