BEAUMONT, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word football offense generated 443 yards and the UIW defense came up with countless critical stops to overcame three Lamar special teams touchdowns and pick up a come-from-behind win, 35-28, at Provost Umphrey Stadium on Saturday night.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
The Lamar Cardinals (3-7, 3-5 SLC) got things started early on Senior Night, returning the opening kickoff for a 98-yard touchdown just 14 seconds into the ballgame.
 
Less than a minute later the UIW Cardinals (2-8, 2-6 SLC) answered with an electrifying 65-yard touchdown reception by Kody Edwards from Trent Brittain. On the play, Edwards collected a short pass from Brittain across the middle and was met immediately by a Lamar defender, but refused to go down. Edwards caught himself with his off hand, pirouetting and spinning away before sprinting more than 50 yards to the end zone.
 
After two thrilling touchdowns in just over a minute, the game turned into a defensive slugfest. Lamar appeared to have a promising drive late in the first, but Robert Hayes Jr. robbed an Adam Morse deep ball for the first interception of the season by UIW.
 
The teams headed into the break locked in a 7-7 tie.
 
The start of the second half was nearly as incredible as the first. After a three-and-out by UIW on its opening drive, Brendan Langley returned an Oscar Draguicevich punt 90 yards for a score.
 
Less than five minutes later, UIW answered with a 35-yard touchdown reception by Marquis Lawson from Taylor Laid on a go-route down the UIW sideline.
 
On the subsequent Lamar possession, Adam Morse dropped back to pass and was absolutely crushed from his blind side by Eric England. The force of England's hit dislodged the ball and Blake Klumpp recovered the fumble as UIW's sideline went into a frenzy.
 
Four plays later Jordan Hicks hauled in a 30-yard touchdown reception from Brittain, giving UIW its first lead of the night at the 1:49 mark of the third.
 
The UIW defense came up huge again with a third-down stop, but a Lawson fumble on the ensuing punt return was recovered by Lamar.
 
The home team instantly connected on a 26-yard touchdown pass from Morse to DeWan Thompson, notching the game at 21 apiece.
 
After a UIW three-and-out, the Lamar special teams unit struck for a third time with a 75-yard Langley punt return touchdown that put Lamar up seven with 10:08 remaining.
 
UIW punched back with a 10-play, 68-yard drive, capped off by a Dorland Fields 9-yard touchdown scamper at the 6:08 mark. Fields bounced off multiple Lamar defenders before launching himself into the end zone for the tying score.
 
Fields found pay dirt again three minutes later, sprinting 15 yards to the corner and stretching the football inside the right pylon for the go-ahead touchdown with 2:48 remaining.
 
Hundreds of UIW faithful made the trip to Beaumont and echoes of "defense" filled the stadium on Lamar's final two offensive possessions. The UIW defense answered the bell with a sack and fumble recovery on Lamar's second-to-last possession, then sealed the victory with a fourth-down sack of Morse.
 
LEADERS
 
Brittain finished 14-of-33 for 273 yards and two touchdowns. Laird was a perfect 3-for-3 for 59 yards and a score. Fields paced the UIW ground game with 63 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries, while Edwards and Hicks combined for 210 yards and two scores through the air.
 
Josh Zellars tallied a team-high 10 tackles, while Washington contributed eight tackles, and a fumble recovery. England had a monster night with seven tackles, two sacks for 16 yards and a forced fumble. Klumpp earned seven tackles and a tackle for loss, while Alex Jenkins registered seven tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1.5 tackles for loss, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry. Hayes Jr. picked up three tackles to go along with his interception.
 
Morse finished 24-of-44 for 162 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Austin Krautz spearheaded the Lamar rushing attack with 12 carries for 27 yards. Thompson contributed 48 yards receiving and a score in the loss.
 
Xavier Bethany led the Lions defense with 11 tackles, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
 
QUOTES
 
OVERALL THOUGHTS FROM DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR BRIAN GAMBLE
 
"This was huge. Clearly the season hasn't gone the way we'd hoped it would, but our guys have been resilient and kept fighting. We looked at this game and thought we would have a chance to win. We knew it would be a battle and we found a way to win."
 
COACH GAMBLE ON THE DEFENSIVE PERFORMANCE
 
"We really challenged the defense this week to have a lot of energy and to fight when we have our back against the wall. That happened a few times tonight. It happens in football. Our guys really rose to the challenge. They had a great energy level. There was a lot of enthusiasm all night. They made plays when they needed to make plays. I'm really proud of them. I'm proud of the way they prepared, the way they played and the fight and enthusiasm they showed."
 
OVERALL THOUGHTS FROM RUNNING BACK DORLAND FIELDS
 
"This win means a lot for the team. Lamar recruits a lot of the same guys we do so it's going to be a rivalry every time. I have a lot of faith in everybody on this team. Any time I see guys out there making plays, I've expected it the whole time."
 
FIELDS ON LOOKING FORWARD TO SENIOR NIGHT AT BENSON STADIUM
 
"We're going to put it all on the line on Senior Night for the seniors. We love those guys. We really do. I love those guys."
 
UP NEXT
 
UIW will have a quick turnaround as the team hosts a season-finale Senior Night battle with Houston Baptist at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 17.
 
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