SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The 2013 football season will be long remembered by University of the Incarnate Word fans as the first year the program posted a winning season and as the first year at the NCAA FCS level. With the FCS championship game taking place on Saturday it is time to take a look back at the Cardinals season.
The season began with a tough loss at Central Arkansas, but quickly got on the right track with back-to-back shutout victories over Texas College and Langston. They were the first two shutouts in the program's history. A loss to perennial power Sam Houston State was followed up by a 33-26 win over Eastern New Mexico. A pair of road losses to Southeastern Louisiana and Abilene Christian put a winning season in doubt, but UIW quickly rebounded.
The Cardinals put together a three-game winning streak. An easy win over Houston Baptist was followed by dramatic wins at McMurry and at home against Abilene Christian to guarantee a winning season. UIW just missed a 7-win season, but lost to Angelo State, 7-0 in the season finale.
The Cardinals set numerous records during the season. The offense set the following season records: rushing yards (2,004), rushing touchdowns (25), yards per carry (4.5), rushing yards per game (182.2), pass attempts (338), passing yards (1,955), total offense (3,959), total offense per game (359.9), yards per play (5.1) and all-purpose yards (5,086). The defense set season records for pass breakups (36) and unassisted tackles (434).
The single game records set by the team included most rushing yards (396 at McMurry), most rushing touchdowns (6 vs Texas College and at McMurry), highest completion percentage (78.3 vs Texas College), highest passing efficiency rating (215.5 vs Texas College), most total offense (558 at McMurry), most points (69 vs Texas College), most tackles for loss (15.0 vs Langston) and most fumble recoveries (3 vs Eastern New Mexico).
Individually, red-shirt freshman quarterback
Trent Brittain, freshman running back
Broderick Reeves and junior wide receiver
Casey Jennings set numerous single season records. Brittain either tied or broke a total of seven single season school records including most passes (325), most completions (178), most passing yards (1,893), most passing touchdowns (11), most passing yards per game (172.1), most total offense (2,285) and most total offense per game (207.7). Reeves put his name in the record books for highest yards per carry (6.7), most rushing touchdowns (11) and most total touchdowns (11). Jennings had the most prolific receiving season in school history setting records for receptions (54), receiving yards (738), receptions per game (4.91) and receiving yards per game (67.1).
Kickers
Emmanuel Nunez and
Jake Wilcox both had record-setting seasons. Nunez finished his career with school records for most punts (121), most punting yards (4,902) and highest punt average (40.5). He also set the season record for most punting yards (2,421) and game record for most punts inside the 20-yard line (4). Wilcox set season records for most extra points (27) and extra-point attempts (34). He set single game records for extra points (9), extra-point attempts (9) and kicking points (15) against Texas College.
On defense, seniors
Devin Haywood and
Robby Horton each finished their career with significant school records. Haywood owns the record for most career interceptions (9) while Horton has the most sacks (12.5) in school history.
Reeves set school records for rushing yards, yards per carry and touchdowns in the win over McMurry. He picked up 244 rushing yards on 10.6 yards per carry and scored six rushing touchdowns. He also set the record for most yards per play (10.6) and total points (36) in a game.
Brittain set three school records in the win over Texas College when he completed 83.3 percent of his pass attempts for three touchdowns and a 236.8 passer rating.
All in all, it was a strong season for the Cardinals and a record-breaking season. In addition to the records mentioned, they set a number of other school records and the future looks bright.
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