SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word football team will have their hands full on Saturday when they travel to NCAA FCS opponent Sam Houston State for a 6 p.m. kickoff at Bowers Stadium in Huntsville.  Sam Houston State is ranked #1 in the nation in the FCS division.

The Cardinals (1-0) are coming off a 19-12 win last Saturday over Texas College in the 2012 season opener at Benson Stadium.  Senior running back Trent Rios (Spring Branch/Smithson Valley HS) rushed for a pair of touchdowns while Marcus Wright (San Antonio/Reagan HS) added the third score.  Quarterback Zach Rhodes (New Braunfels/New Braunfels HS) showed few affects from a two-year layoff to pass for 205 yards on 12-of-18 attempts.

The Cardinal defense collected three sacks while linebackers Dakota Mawyer (Spring Branch/Smithson Valley HS) and Juan Asencio (Pflugerville/Hendrickson HS) accounted for 10 and nine tackles, respectively.

Rios needs only 17 yards rushing to become the first player in school history to eclipse 2,000 career yards.

The Bearkats are welcoming the Cardinals for their season opener.   They are coming off a season that saw them go 14-1 and lose in the FCS National Championship game.  This is the first ever meeting between the two teams.  Junior running back Timothy Flanders is the team's top offensive star with 2,592 rushing yards and 35 rushing touchdowns in his career.  He rushed for 1,644 yards and 22 scores a year ago.  He needs only 97 yards to become the school's all-time leader in rushing yards.

UIW Athletics and Boston's The Gourmet Pizza Restaurant and Sports Bar will be hosting a watch party for UIW football on Saturday at 6 p.m.  For more information contact UIW Athletics at uiwathletics@uiwtx.edu or call (210) 283-6448.

The game will be broadcast on KKYX 680 with Gabe Farias and Shawn Morris on the call.  KUIW will also be broadcasting online through www.cardinalathletics.com.  
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