EL PASO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word football team put a scare into UTEP on Saturday night at the Sun Bowl losing 27-17 in front of 22,322 fans.
The Cardinals (2-2) were not intimidated by playing their first ever game against an FBS opponent. In fact, they won the statistical battle with more yards from scrimmage than the Miners (2-2), but could not overcome a three turnover deficit. UIW led late into the third quarter, but the UTEP offense finally got rolling over the final 20 minutes of the game and they had just enough to get the win.
"I just told them I'm very proud of them," said UIW head coach
Larry Kennan. "We played hard and had great focus throughout the week. There aren't any moral victories in this game. Every week we are gaining and growing and we have to keep doing that. We will be a good offensive team and a real good team before the season is over."
The Cardinals received a breakout performance from sophomore wide receiver
Jamari Gilbert (Baytown/Baytown Lee HS) and the defense continued to play inspired ball behind the play of senior outside linebacker
Myke Tavarres (Lake Oswego, OR/Lake Ridge HS). Gilbert scored a pair of touchdowns and had the first 100-yard receiving performance of his career while Tavarres led the team with nine tackles, including 2.5 for loss giving him 8.5 through just four games of the season.
The Cardinals took the opening kickoff and drove 60 yards in nine plays before the drive stalled out at the UTEP 15-yard line.
Cole Wick's (Hallettsville/Sacred Heart Catholic HS) 20-yard reception got things started for the offense.
Cody Seidel (Keller/Fossil Ridge HS) drilled a 32-yard field goal to make it 3-0 with11:24 to play in the first quarter.
The UIW defense quickly forced a punt by the Miners, but a strong punt by Jay Mattox pinned the Cardinals deep. On the first play from scrimmage,
Trent Brittain (Eastland/Eastland HS) had his pass intercepted by Kalon Beverly and returned 24 yards for a touchdown with 9:00 showing on the clock.
The rest of the first quarter featured a number of punts until Treyvon Hughes picked off a Brittain pass giving the Miners the ball at the UIW 40-yard line. UTEP could not pick up a first down, but they added three points when Mattox drilled a career long 50-yard field goal with 14:14 left in the first half.
Brittain continued to be snake-bit in the first half. He made a great play with his legs going for 62 yards, but as he dove for the end zone he lost control of the ball and it rolled through the end zone for a touchback.
Things finally turned Brittain's way late in the half. On the final drive, he made two plays that led to a touchdown. The first came on third-and-9 from his own 42-yard line when he spun away from two defenders and then rifled a pass down the sideline that
Clint Killough (San Antonio/MacArthur HS) caught for 27 yards with two players on him with under 30 seconds to play. With 10 seconds remaining in the half, Brittain lofted a pass down the same right sideline that Gilbert hauled in and was able to tip-toe down the sideline and dive for a tying touchdown with four seconds left in the half.
The Cardinals came out in the second half and pulled off a surprise on-side kick that they recovered. They moved the ball into UTEP territory, but were stopped at the 32-yard line. Ramon Coto's (Houston/Westfield HS) 49-yard field goal attempt was partially blocked.
On their next possession, the Cardinals took the lead on a misdirection pass play from Brittain to Gilbert. Gilbert caught a short pass on the left side of the field and ran unmolested for a 90-yard touchdown pass tying the school record for longest pass play.
The Miners responded with an impressive drive to tie the game at 17-17. They drove 75 yards in 12 plays and got a number of key plays from quarterback Ryan Metz. He had a 16-yard run that got them out of tough field position and then completed a number of short passes ending with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Autrey Golden with 2:35 left in the third quarter.
The Miners were able to reclaim the lead on their first drive in the fourth quarter. After Coto pinned them at their own 3-yard line, they were able to get moving thanks to a 57-yard completion from Metz to Hayden Plinke. The drive finally stalled at the UIW 14 and Mattox booted through a 32-yard field goal to make it 20-17 with 10:01 to play.
Following the field goal, the Cardinals started with the ball at their own 25-yard line. They moved the ball up to midfield, but were stopped on third down and forced to punt. The Miners put the game away with a quick scoring drive picking up 36 yards on one play and then iced the game with a 46-yard scoring strike from Metz to Jaquan White with 4:57 remaining.
The UIW offense picked up a season high 414 yards with 285 coming through the air. After the early interceptions, Brittain had a strong game going 18-of-38 for a career high 285 yards and two scores and he added 73 yards rushing. He set a school record with 358 yards or total offense in the game. Gilbert finished with four grabs for 154 yards and the two scores. Killough added two grabs for 36 yards.
Junior Sessions (Mesquite/Mesquite HS) added 43 rushing yards on 15 carries and 26 yards receiving on two catches.
Tavarres and
Josh Zellars (Baytown/Baytown Lee HS) each had nine tackles apiece to lead the defense. The Cardinals did not record a sack, but did have seven tackles for loss. Safeties Adrian Norwood (Waco/Waco HS) and
Robert Johnson (Richmond, CA/Berkeley HS) each nearly had an interception. The defense held the Miners to 356 yards and only 16 first downs.
"The defense played extremely well against a good offensive team," said Kennan. That quarterback (Metz) is really good. We wore down a little at the end, but UTEP is a really good football team. They played in a major bowl game last year and we knew that. We needed to score one more time and it would have been a game."
The Miners were led by their quarterback. Metz was 20-of-28 for 275 yards and two touchdowns and he also led the team with 46 rushing yards on eight carries. White was his favorite target with seven catches for 73 yards while Plinke led the team with 80 yards on four catches and Tyler Batson added 69 yards on four grabs.
The UTEP defense made the big plays when they needed them. In addition to Beverly's interception return for a touchdown they also had four sacks and hurries. Nick Usher had two sacks and two quarterback hurries while Alvin Jones led the team with nine tackles, including a sack.
Each punter had a strong average for the game. Coto averaged 47.0 yards per punt on four attempts for UIW while Alan Luna averaged 45.4 yards on five kicks.
The Cardinals are back in action next Saturday at 2 p.m. when they host Southland Conference rival Northwestern State at Benson Stadium.
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