NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS – Despite a 4-3 start to the season, the University of the Incarnate Word football team is still looking for their first road victory of the season. They will have their chance when they travel to Southland Conference rival Stephen F. Austin on Saturday for a 3 p.m. kickoff.
The Cardinals (4-3, 3-2) have aspirations of a high finish in the Southland Conference and to do that they will need a win away from home. Other than a blip at Sam Houston State a few weeks ago, the team has been playing very well over the last five weeks.
The UIW offense is led by record-setting quarterback
Trent Brittain (Eastland/Eastland HS). He guided the team to a school-record 593 yards of total offense last week and accounted for 392 by himself. He is 113-of-223 for 1,475 yards, seven touchdowns and eight interceptions through the air and he has added 257 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Running back
Junior Sessions (Mesquite/Mesquite HS) is coming off a 174-yard performance last week and leads the team with 350 yards on 5.0 yards per carry.
The UIW passing game is one that does not target just one receiver. Last week,
Kody Edwards (Mesquite/Poteet HS) and
Clint Killough (San Antonio/MacArthur HS) each had over 100 yards receiving. Edwards leads the team with 328 receiving yards on 22 receptions for the year.
Jordan Hicks (Arlington/Juan Seguin HS) has a team high 23 catches for 251 yards while
Cole Wick (Hallettsville/Sacred Heart Catholic HS),
Jamari Gilbert (Baytown/Lee HS) and Killough each have over 200 yards receiving.
The defense is led by show-stopping outside linebacker
Myke Tavarres (Lake Oswego, OR/Lake Ridge HS). The senior leads the team with 77 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He ranks #1 in the nation in tackles for loss and he leads the Southland in sacks. He has racked up 8.5 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks in his last two games alone. Overall, the defensive unit is allowing 393 yards per game.
The Lumberjacks (2-5, 2-3) are fresh off their bye week and they have won their last two games. They are led by quarterback Zach Conque who has completed 60.2 percent of his passes for 946 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions. Hunter Taylor has come on in several games and led the team to a comeback win over Southeastern Louisiana. He has completed 51.2 percent of his passes for 413 yards, five touchdowns and one interception.
The running game is led by freshman Loren Easly who has 519 yards and three touchdowns. Conque has contributed 400 yards rushing and seven scores. Joshawa West is also a dangerous back who has 357 yards on 7.8 yards per carry. Robert Sylvester has been the top receiver with 26 grabs for 283 yards. Justice Liggins and De'Quan Ruffin each have three receiving touchdowns. They have scored exactly 28 points in 4-of-7 games.
The SFA defense is allowing 36.0 points and 453 yards of offense per game. Justin Owens leads the team with 56 tackles while John Franklin has 5.5 tackles for loss and four sacks.
Last year, the Lumberjacks defeated the Cardinals, 38-3 in Nacogdoches behind a huge performance from Gus Johnson. He rushed for 252 yards and four touchdowns as SFA scored 24 unanswered points in the final 20 minutes of the game.
This week's game will be broadcast on CBS SportsRadio 860 AM and online at
www.tsrnsports.com with Gabe Farias and Shawn Morris on the call. The game will be aired on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app.
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