ARLINGTON, TEXAS – It was a game of firsts for the University of the Incarnate Word football program on Friday afternoon.  First game at Cowboys Stadium, first 2,000-yard rusher, first kick return for a touchdown, but unfortunately the team was dealt a 34-24 defeat by Lone Star Conference rival Eastern New Mexico in the Lone Star Football Festival. (Box Score)

The game was a back and forth affair with five lead changes and three ties.  The Cardinals (1-2, 0-1) got on the board on the first play of the game when Marcus Wright (San Antonio/Reagan HS) returned the opening kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown, the first in school history.  The Greyhounds controlled the rest of the first half and took a 21-14 lead into halftime.

UIW battled back scoring 10 unanswered points to start the second half to reclaim the lead.  The Greyhounds went back ahead with 5:56 remaining in the game.  The Cardinals drove the length of the field, but a Zach Rhodes (New Braunfels/New Braunfels HS) sideline pass was picked off by Jayson Serda and returned 81 yards for a clinching touchdown with 17 ticks left on the clock.

“We fought hard, but we need to man up after a loss like this,” said UIW head coach Larry Kennan.   “We did a horrible job of managing the clock in the last two minutes and I take responsibility for that.”

The Cardinals outgained the Greyhounds 449-to-373, but committed three more turnovers and were only 2-of-4 scoring when reaching the red zone.

After Wright's opening touchdown, the Greyhounds responded with a 6-play, 79-yard scoring drive capped by Wesley Wood's 54-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Johnson with 12:03 to play in the first quarter.

After giving up the touchdown, UIW quickly moved down the field into the redzone, but were stopped by the Greyhound defense and forced to attempt a field goal.  The 29-yard try was blocked and ENMU took over possession and the score remained tied at 7-7.

The Cardinals reclaimed the lead with 2:36 remaining in the first quarter.  Rhodes accounted for most of the offensive with a 42-yard run and a 17-yard scoring pass to Gabriel Taylor (San Antonio/Brackenridge HS).

The Greyhounds came right back with a 9-play, 79-yard scoring drive that featured the running abilities of Wood.  His 56-yard run gave moved the ball to the 11-yard line and then he punched in the score four plays later with 13:34 left in the half.

The Greyhounds quickly got the ball back on a Willie Grant interception that gave them the ball just across midfield.  Wood quickly drove the team 45 yards to pay dirt and score on a 3-yard run with 10:10 remaining in the second quarter.

The Cardinals got good position on their next drive after a 30-yard kick return by Trent Rios (Spring Branch/Smithson Valley HS).  UIW moved the ball 47 yards in 11 plays, but stalled out inside the 10-yard line.  They had three chances to get a first down inside, but were stopped each time and turned it over on downs.

The teams traded punts to end the half and the Hounds went into the break with a 21-14 lead.

The Cardinals completely dominated the third quarter.  After forcing a punt , they methodically drove 95 yards in 12 plays taking up 7:13 to tie the game at 21-21.  The scoring play came on a flea flicker where Rhodes found Dominic Hamilton (Spring Branch/Smithson Valley HS) open in the end zone from 35 yards out.

The Cardinal defense forced another punt and the offense was moving the ball when the gun sounded for the end of the third quarter. The Cards once again drove down the field to inside the 10-yard line before being stymied.  They settled for a Jake Wilcox (San Antonio/Reagan HS) 25-yard field goal with 10:06 remaining in the game to give them a 24-21 lead.

The Greyhound offense got thing rolling again on the ensuing possession.  De'Coreyon Thomas had a big run of 30 yards to switch field possession and then Wood hit him on a pass for 24 yards to give them a first-and-goal situation.  Thomas scored on the next play from five yards out to give Eastern the lead back with 5:56 left in the game.

The Cardinals appeared to be heading on a game-winning drive after converting a fourth down and moving into Greyhound territory.  With 30 seconds left, the Cards faced a third-and-8 at the 21-yard line.  Rhodes tossed a pass out to the wide side, but Serda stepped in front of it and returned it for a touchdown to seal the game.

Rhodes and Rios both rushed for over 100 yards in the game, only the second time in school history that has happened.  Rios finished with 20 carries for 121 yards on the ground, two catches for 17 yards and two kick returns for 49 yards.  He became the first player in school history to surpass 2,000 career rushing yards as well.

“It's an honor to reach that milestone and I give a lot of credit to the offensive line,” said Rios.  “It was a hard fought game on both sides of the ball and we just didn't come up with it.  The turnovers really hurt us.”

Rhodes was enjoying a good game through the air as well going 17-of-28 for 179 and two touchdowns before throwing interceptions on each of his last two throws. Hamilton was his favorite target with five catches for 69 yards and a score.  Brandon Yates (San Antonio/Clark HS) added four catches for 44 yards.

On defense, Chaz Pavliska (Floresville/Floresville HS) led the way with nine tackles and a tackle for loss.  Dakota Mawyer (Spring Branch/Smithson Valley HS) added seven tackles.  Both players eclipsed 200 career tackles in the game.

Thomas led the Greyhounds with 16 carries for 115 yards and a touchdown while Wood picked up 90 yards on 11 carries and scored twice.  Wood was 7-of-12 for 129 yards and a touchdown through the air.  Adrian Horton had four catches for 51 yards.

Linvel Mosby led all players with 10 tackles for the Hounds.  Grant finished with six tackles and had two interceptions.

The Cardinals are back in action next Saturday at home against West Texas A&M at 7 p.m.
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