SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word football team set numerous program records against No. 2 Sam Houston on Saturday night at Benson Stadium, but the Bearkats remained undefeated, escaping with a 63-48 victory in one of the most entertaining offensive performances in the country this season.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
The Cardinals (1-4, 1-3 SLC) amassed 489 total yards and set school records for first downs (31), total plays (88) and time of possession (41:06), while going toe-to-toe with the nations' top offensive team. Sam Houston (5-0, 4-0 SLC) was held 130 yards below its season average, but still managed to score nine touchdowns, despite controlling the ball for less than 19 minutes.
 
The Bearkats drew first blood, scoring on a 12-yard pass from Jeremiah Briscoe to Davion Davis only a minute into the ballgame.
 
Less than three minutes later Sam Houston took a 14-0 lead after a 54-yard touchdown scamper by Corey Avery.
 
UIW punched back with a 15-play, 86-yard drive that milked 6:51 off the clock and ended with a 13-yard connection from Trent Brittain to Kody Edwards.
 
Only 33 seconds later, Briscoe hit Davis with his second touchdown of the night, an 80-yard bomb that gave the Bearkats a 21-7 advantage.
 
Edwards responded with his second touchdown grab of the game, hauling in a 44-yard strike from Brittain at the 11:45 mark of the second quarter.
 
Eight minutes later, a quarterback sneak by Brittain tied the ballgame at 21 apiece with under four minutes remaining in the half.
 
Just when it looked like the Cardinals might take a tie into the locker room, Sam Houston erupted for two touchdowns over the final 2:08 to secure a 35-21 lead at halftime.
 
UIW scored first out of the break when Jamari Gilbert reeled in a 26-yard pass from Brittain, but the Bearkats countered with a Corey Avery one-yard touchdown plunge.
 
The Cardinals traded points with Sam Houston for the remainder of the night, but were unable to climb back into the ballgame.
 
The 111 combined points scored on Saturday night are the most in UIW history, while the 48 points scored by the Cardinals are the most in program history in a loss.
 
LEADERS
 
Brittain finished 22-of-36 for 258 yards and a UIW record four touchdown passes, including three to Edwards, which set the program mark for individual touchdown receptions in a game. Taylor Laird went 2-for-2 off the bench, finding Daryl Brooks for a 36-yard touchdown. Brittain and Laird's combined five touchdown passes is also a school record. Brittain's now has 12 touchdown passes on the year, a Cardinal best.
 
While the UIW air attack was firing on all cylinders, Broderick Reeves quietly turned in a 102-yard outing with a touchdown on the ground. Desmond Hite was strong early, totaling 37 yards on just eight carries, while adding 23 receiving yards before leaving the game early with injury.
 
Josh Zellars paced the Cardinal defense with 12 tackles. Tim McCoy recorded an 11-yard sack, while contributing three total tackles in the loss.
 
Briscoe finished 14-of-29 with 203 yards and four touchdowns. Avery played lights out with 212 rushing yards and four scores. Davis turned in 106 yards and two touchdowns receiving to lead the Bearkats.
 
Justin Johnson led the Sam Houston Defense with 17 tackles, one tackle for loss and one quarterback hurry.
 
QUOTES
 
OVERALL THOUGHTS FROM HEAD COACH LARRY KENNAN
 
"I'm very proud of our guys tonight. All they have done all year is fight. I told them, 'we are a good football team' and tonight we broke through and showed it. But their offense, if they played Alabama, I guarantee you they'd score 40 on them. Their offensive line, running backs and wide receivers are unbelievable."
 
KENNAN ON THE RUN GAME AND SEASON TO THIS POINT
 
"It's been a frustrating start to the season obviously. We are 1-and-5, but we are better than that. We ran the ball really well. We knew we'd run the ball, but didn't know how well we'd run it, and we kicked their butt really good tonight."
 
OVERALL THOUGHTS FROM QUARTERBACK TRENT BRITTAIN
 
"In football there are no moral victories, because the only thing that matters is what the record shows. But you have to be proud of what we did tonight. We knew they had a really good offense and we were going to have to put up a lot of points and we were able to do that. Like I said, no moral victories, but this one didn't hurt as bad."
 
BRITTAIN ON THE OFFENSIVE PERFORMANCE
 
"Offense was really clicking tonight. I have to thank the big guys up front. They played a heck of a game. It was probably the best since I've been here, so I couldn't be more proud of the guys on offense. I know we didn't come out on top, but we had a fun night on offense tonight."
 
UP NEXT
 
The Cardinals will have a bye week before heading north to face rival Abilene Christian at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22.
 
STAY TUNED
 
UIW will host Stephen F. Austin at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29.
 
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