Box Score ABILENE, TEXAS – Freshman running back Broderick Reeves (Mexia/Mexia HS) came off the bench to score six, yes six rushing touchdowns, in the University of the Incarnate Word's 47-43 come from behind victory at McMurry University on Saturday afternoon at Wilford Moore Stadium.

The Cardinals (5-4) regular starting running Junior Sessions (Mesquite/Mesquite HS) left the game early in the second quarter with an injury and Reeves came on to dazzle the crowd with a school-record performance.  On his first carry of the game he went for a 37-yard touchdown run and he scored a 17-yard touchdown run on his last carry of the game giving the Cardinals a four-point lead with 36 seconds remaining.  In between, Reeves racked up a school-record 244 yards on 23 carries while setting the school mark for most touchdowns in a game, six.  He also had three receptions for 31 yards.

Despite the amazing performance by Reeves, the Cardinals had their work cut out in the win over the Warhawks (1-8).  UIW jumped out to an early lead, but McMurry led for the majority of the game.  Heading into the fourth quarter, the Warhawks led 34-26, but the Cardinals outscored them 21-9 in the final frame.

The game featured three ties and seven lead changes.  The teams combined for over 1,100 yards of total offense and 50 first downs.  In the end the Cardinals were able to pull out the victory snapping an 11-game losing streak on the road.  Their last road victory came on October 8, 2011 at Texas A&M-Commerce.

It did not take the Cardinals long to get on the scoreboard.  After kicking off and forcing a punt, the offense drove 71 yards in six plays.  Trent Brittain (Eastland/Eastland HS) was a perfect 3-for-3 on the drive and then Reeves took a pitch and went 37 yards for the touchdown with 11:07 remaining in the first quarter.  The extra point was missed.

After the teams traded punts, the Warhawks got the ball back at their own 1-yard line after a great punt by Emmanuel Nunez (Dallas/Seguin HS).  McMurry picked up a first down and then Gabe Rodriguez completed an 88-yard touchdown pass to Greg Livingston with 4:06 left in the first half.  A missed extra point left the score at 6-6.

The Cardinals responded with a quick scoring drive.  McMurry kicked a short kickoff giving UIW the ball at their own 47-yard line.  A Matt Bass (Alvin/Alvin HS) run on first down took the ball all the way down to the McM 20-yard line.  Three plays later, Reeves took a direct snap and trotted into the end zone for a 13-yard score.  Jake Wilcox (San Antonio/Reagan HS) booted the extra point to make it 13-6 with 2:32 remaining in the first quarter.

The turnover bug struck the Cardinals late in the second quarter.  After stopping the Warhawks on fourth down and getting the ball back at their own 23-yard line, UIW fumbled on the first play and it was recovered by McMurry.  Three plays later, Rodriguez hit Livingston on a 1-yard scoring pass to tie the game with 3:05 remaining in the half.

The Cardinals got the ball back after the score and proceeded to fumble a handoff and the Warhawks recovered again.  Chris Simpson carried the ball 37 yards on first down to take it all the way down to the 5-yard line.  Simpson would score on third-and-goal from the 1-yard line with 34 seconds left in the half to make it 20-13 McMurry.

Coming out of the halftime break, the Cardinals put together a strong drive going 78 yards in 10 plays to tie the game at 20-20.  UIW kept the ball on the ground for most of the drive picking up three first downs through the rush, but it was a big pass play the put the points on the board.  The Cardinals ran a flea-flicker and Brittain connected with Casey Jennings (Fremont, CA/Washington HS) on a beautiful 32-yard touchdown pass with 10:58 left in the third quarter.

The Cardinals had a chance to take the lead on their next drive, but a 40-yard attempt by Wilcox was blocked.  McMurry took over possession and quickly drove 60 yards to retake the lead.  Chris Simpson scored on a 9-yard end run with 5:08 left in the third quarter to make it 27-20 McMurry.

McMurry booted the ensuing kickoff out of bounds giving the ball to UIW at the 35-yard line.  Two plays later, Reeves was in the end zone for the third time of the game with a 55-yard run with 4:28 to play in the third quarter.  The extra point was blocked leaving the Warhawks with a 27-26 lead.

The momentum was short-lived for the Cardinals.  The Warhawks quickly responded with another touchdown.  This time Rodriguez connected with Clinton McCoy on a 57-yard touchdown pass less than a minute after the UIW score to make it 34-26.

The Warhawks would tack on a field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter.  The Cardinals cut into the lead with a needed scoring drive.  Brittain converted a fourth-and-1 with a QB sneak to keep the drive alive and then Reeves capped off the drive with a 27-yard winding touchdown run, his fourth of the day.  The two-point conversion was no good, but the Cardinals now trailed 37-32 with 9:04 left in the game.

The UIW defense forced their first turnover of the game at the optimum time.  Nick Morrow (Edna/Edna HS) hit the receiver just as the ball arrived and it popped into the air and was intercepted by Juan Asencio (Pflugerville/Hendrickson HS) at the McMurry 32-yard line with 8:32 remaining in the game.  Unfortunately, the Cardinals offense was stopped at the 4-yard line on fourth down preventing a go-ahead score.

The UIW defense came up with another big play moments after the offense was stopped inside the 5-yard line.  A mishandled quarterback-running back hand-off was recovered by Michael Tate (Houston/Alief Elsik HS) at the McM 14-yard line.  On the first play, Reeves went 14 yards for his school record fifth touchdown of the game.  The two-point conversion pass from Brittain to Cyril Clarke (Houston/Taylor HS) made it 40-37 with 4:42 remaining in regulation.

The Warhawks recovered from their previous two possessions and drove 72 yards in eight plays.  The drive was culminated by a 23-yard touchdown pass from Rodriguez to Ryan Nelson with 2:42 to play.  Robby Horton blocked the extra point to keep it a three-point game with McMurry leading, 43-40.

On their final drive, the Cardinals got a nice kick return by Chase Ragusa (Cypress/Cypress Woods HS) to give them excellent field position near midfield.  First down runs by Brittain and Jordan Hicks (Arlington/Seguin HS) moved the ball quickly into the Red Zone with the Cardinals trying to milk the clock.  Then, Reeves took his 23^rd handoff of the game and sprinted past the defenders for a 17-yard score with 36 seconds to play.

The Warhawks had one last chance and drove to the UIW 41-yard line.  However, on the final play of the game Jared Ambres (Manvel/Manvel HS) intercepted the Hail Mary attempt to end the game.

The Cardinals gained a school-record 396 yards on 55 carries.  In addition to Reeves, Bass added 54 yards on six carries and Brittain finished with 45 yards on 11 carries.  Brittain was 15-of-26 passing for 162 yards and a touchdown.  Jennings led the receivers with three catches for 45 yards and a touchdown.  The team finished with a school-record 558 yards of total offense and picked up 28 first downs.

The UIW defense was led by Brandon Tanksley (Katy/Morton Ranch HS) who had eight tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble.  Greg Lemon (Austin/Sweeny HS) recorded the team's only sack of the night.  Nunez had a great game punting with a 46.6-yard average and three of his five punts were inside the 20-yard line.

The Warhawks outgained the Cardinals with 593 yards of offense.  They had 199 on the ground and 394 through the air.  Simpson led the rushing attack with 18 carries for 136 yards and two scores while Paxton Grayer added 65 yards on 15 attempts.  Rodriguez was 27-of-50 for 394 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.  Livingston was his favorite target with 11 grabs for 232 yards and two touchdowns.

McMurry's defense was led by Jonathan Blair's 10 tackles, including 1.5 for loss.  Joshua Fisher added six tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and he forced a fumble.  Both teams forced three turnovers in the game.

The Cardinals are back in action next Saturday at home against Abilene Christian at 2 p.m.
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