Box Score ABILENE, TEXAS – Big plays hurt the University of the Incarnate Word football team on Saturday at Abilene Christian University in the Southland Conference opener at Shotwell Stadium in a 21-0 loss.
A pair of long touchdown passes in the first quarter gave the Wildcats a lead they would not relinquish. The Cardinals (0-4) threatened on two occasions to score, but were once again held without a point.
The Wildcats (2-2) opened the scoring midway through the first quarter after the teams traded punts. They took over possession at their own 25-yard line to start the drive. After an incomplete pass and 10-yard run, ACU struck pay-dirt on a flare pass from Parker McKenzie to Jace Hudson. Hudson made one player miss a tackle and then out-ran the defense for a 65-yard score with 5:36 left in the first quarter.
Kody Edwards (Mesquite/Mesquite Poteet HS) tried to tie the game on the ensuing kickoff. He burst through the first group of defenders and was brought down by the last man near midfield. UIW moved the ball into down to the ACU 32-yard line where the drive stalled. Ramon Coto's (Houston/Westfield HS) 49-yard field goal try was blocked by Nick Richardson.
Three plays after the change of possession, McKenzie hit Cedric Gilbert in stride for a 75-yard touchdown pass with 1:18 left in the first quarter.
The Cardinals defense stood strong early in the second quarter after ACU got the ball in great field position thanks to an interception by Sam Denmark. UIW did not allow a first down and Nik Grau's 43-yard field goal was wide right.
Late in the second quarter, the Cardinals were able dodge a bullet. A short punt gave the Wildcats possession at the UIW 39-yard line and they were able to drive into the Red Zone. The UIW defense kept the Wildcats out of the end zone and once again Grau missed a field goal wide to the right from 25 yards out. The Cardinals ran one play before heading into halftime down, 14-0.
The Cardinals opened the second half with a little bit of trickier. Coto hit a surprise onside kick that he recovered himself. UIW was able to drive the ball down inside the ACU 10-yard line. On fourth down, they sent out the field goal unit and then went into a pass formation.
Jordan Scelfo's (Tucson, AZ/Salpointe HS) pass was intercepted at the 2-yard line by Denmark, his second of the game.
After the teams traded punts again, the Wildcats were able to extend the lead to 21 points. They drove 54 yards on 14 plays while converting two third downs and a fourth down. Randy Gober ended the drive with a 1-yard scoring plunge with just 10 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Neither team was able to score in the fourth quarter. The Cardinals defense bent, but did not break against the Wildcats. Similarly, the ACU defense kept the Cardinals off the scoreboard and improved to 5-1 all-time against UIW.
UIW red-shirt freshman quarterback
Breylann McCollum (Cibolo/Steele HS) struggled in his first career start under center. He was 8-of-24 for 73 yards and an interception.
Jordan Hicks (Arlington/Juan Seguin HS) was his favorite target with a career high six receptions for 45 yards. The running game was not much better with a total of 60 yards on 29 carries.
Joseph Sadler (Devine/Devine HS) led the team with 27 yards on three carries.
On defense, the Cardinals rotated in numerous players and after the first quarter they played quite well.
Padyn Giebler (Ivan/Stephenville HS) led the squad with eight tackles on the day. After missing last week with an injury,
Josh Zellars (Baytown/Baytown Lee HS) bounced back with six stops, including a tackle for loss.
Nick Ginn (Corpus Christi/Calallen HS) and
Jawara Beasley (League City/Clear Falls HS) each recorded a sack.
Coto finished the game with eight punts with an average of 38.8 yards per kick. Edwards had three kick returns for 91 yards.
The Wildcats recorded 11 more first downs than the Cardinals and racked up 329 yards through the air. McKenzie had a strong game going 21-of-33 for 329 yards and two touchdowns. Hudson finished with six catches for 120 yards and a score while Gilbert added five receptions for 92 yards and a score. On the ground, they ran for 84 yards on 40 carries. Adrian Duncan led all players with 54 yards on 20 carries.
The Wildcat defense forced a pair of turnovers, both on interceptions by Denmark. Lynn Grady led the team with nine tackles and a tackle for loss. Damon Williams and LaMarcus Allen each recorded a sack on the day.
The Wildcats held a nine minute advantage on time of possession and also out-performed the Cardinals on third downs. UIW converted just 2-of-14 third down tries while ACU was 8-of-17.
The Cardinals are back in action next Saturday at home against Southland Conference rival No. 4 Southeastern Louisiana at 6 p.m.
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