SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word football team will play their final home game of the season on Saturday at 6 p.m. against Southland Conference rival Sam Houston State at Benson Stadium.

The game is part of Military Appreciation Weekend at UIW and military members and their families will receive free admission and parking to the game.  Prior to the game, the Cardinals (2-7, 2-4) will be honoring 16 seniors who are playing their final home game.

UIW is fresh off a 38-20 win last week at Nicholls and will try to get two wins in a row for the first time this year.  Junior quarterback Jordan Scelfo (Tucson, AZ/Salpointe HS) has provided a spark for the offense in the past two games.  In his first two career starts, Scelfo passed for over 250 yards in each game becoming the first player in school history to accomplish that feat.  Last week, he was 16-of-30 for 260 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

The Cardinals have a balanced offense.  Junior Sessions (Mesquite/Mesquite HS) is the leading rusher with 410 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.  Casey Jennings (Fremont, CA/Washington HS) is the top receiver on the team with 35 grabs for 431 yards.  Tight end Cole Wick (Hallettsville/Sacred Heart Catholic HS) had four catches for 116 yards and a touchdown last week and is averaging 18.4 yards per catch this season.

The UIW defense is led by linebacker Padyn Giebler (Ivan/Stephenville HS) who has 56 tackles.  The Cardinals have accumulated eight sacks in the past two games after getting 10 in the first seven.  Defensive tackle Corey Lee (Humble/La Porte HS) is the top pass rusher on the team with 13.5 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks.  Linebacker Nick Ginn (Corpus Christi/Calallen HS) had 1.5 sacks last week and 2.5 on the season.

Ramon Coto (Houston/Westfield HS) is averaging 41.2 yards on punts this year with eight fair catches and nine inside the 20.  He is 7-of-11 on field goal attempts and 14-of-15 on extra-point tries.

Sam Houston State enters this week's game in a three-way tie for first place in the Southland Conference.  After this week, they close the season at Houston Baptist
and at home against Central Arkansas.

They possess a high-powered offense that is led by running back Keshawn Hill and quarterback Jared Johnson.  Hill is sixth in the nation with 14 touchdowns and is averaging 75.3 rushing yards per game.  He has over 2,000 yards rushing in his career and 3,365 all-purpose yards.  Johnson is averaging 268.9 yards of total offense per game with 72.9 coming on the ground.  He has 1,723 passing yards and eight touchdowns through the air.  He has five rushing touchdowns, including three of at least 50 yards. In addition, Jalen Overstreet and Donavan Williams have each been dangerous rushers with nearly 700 yards between them.

Michael Wade and Sione Latu are the only returning starters on the defensive side of the ball.  Wade leads the team with 71 tackles and two interceptions while Latu has 23 tackles and two sacks.  Myke Chatman and Tristan Eche each have 55 tackles.

Lachlan Edwards has been an outstanding punter for the team averaging 43.5 yards per boot putting him sixth in the nation.  He has 21 fair catches and 22 punts end inside the 20 yard line.

The game will be webcast live online at www.uiwcardinals.com and will be broadcast on CBS SportsRadio 860 AM and online at www.uiwlive.com with Gabe Farias and Shawn Morris on the call.

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