SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word football team prevented a game-tying two-point conversion and recovered an onside kick with 2:02 remaining to hold off rival Houston Baptist and preserve a 28-26 victory on Senior Night at Benson Stadium.
 
HOW IT WAS WON
 
The 2016 senior class left its handprints on nearly every key play for the Cardinals (3-8, 3-6 SLC) on Thursday night. Senior quarterback Trent Brittain rushed for one touchdown and threw for three more, including one apiece to seniors John Oglesby and Jordan Hicks. The UIW ground game was spearheaded by seniors Junior Sessions and Broderick Reeves, while senior offensive linemen Matt McCarthy and Trevor Mason paved the way for 182 combined rushing yards.
 
A strong senior presence was felt on the defensive side of the ball for UIW as well. Senior Josh Zellars registered nine tackles and a sack, while senior Joel Higgins earned four tackles and a sack. Senior Alex Jenkins tallied four tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss, and a blocked field goal, while Adrian Norwood, Jr. contributed five tackles and recovered the game-saving onside kick. Seniors Daryl Irby, Trey Colbert, Michael Allen, Cyril Clarke and Josh Esukpa also made significant contributions from their respective positions.
 
The Cardinals opened Senior Night with the bang as Brittain hit Jamari Gilbert on a 76-yard touchdown pass less than four minutes into the game.
 
After a defensive battle, the Huskies (4-7, 3-5 SLC) got on the board with an Alec Chadwick 43-yard field goal at the 7:40 mark of the second quarter.
 
Seven minutes later, HBU secured its first and only lead of the night with a 2-yard Tony Dawson rushing score.
 
UIW attempted a 48-yard field goal to end the half, but the attempt went wide right, and the Huskies took a 10-7 advantage into the break.
 
The Cardinals regained the lead in the third after Brittain found Oglesby for a 4-yard touchdown reception.
 
Five minutes later Brittain dove into the end zone on a quarterback keeper, capping off a 12-play, 53-yard drive and giving UIW a 21-10 advantage.
 
The play of the night for HBU came just 11 seconds into the fourth quarter. After the Cardinals defense stopped the Huskies on fourth down, HBU elected to kick a 60-yard field goal without hesitation. Chadwick lined up for the seemingly difficult kick, and drilled the field goal straight down the middle, clearing the uprights by more than 10 yards. Chadwick's kick tied for the second-longest in Southland Conference history and is the longest made field goal in the league since 1974.
 
Just when it looked as though the Huskies were gaining momentum, UIW put together their longest drive of the season, punctuated by a spectacular 14-yard touchdown grab by Hicks in the back of the end zone. The Cardinals marched 75 yards in 18 plays and milked 8:47 off the clock. The marathon drive was the longest of the season for UIW, both in total time and number of plays, and left the HBU defense gasping for breath.
 
While the Huskies may have been drained on defense, the squad's offense refused to yield. On the ensuing drive, HBU reached into its bag of tricks for a reverse toss back to Dawson, who found Ethan Fry for a 44-yard completion. Two plays later, B.J. Kelly scampered six yards for a touchdown to pull within eight at the 4:55 mark of the fourth quarter.
 
The Huskies forced a Cardinal punt and scored again on a Dawson 6-yard run with 2:07 remaining, but HBU's two-point conversion pass attempt was deflected in the end zone and after recovering the subsequent onside kick, UIW ran out the clock.
 
Thursday's win secured the first two-game winning streak for the Cardinals since Nov. 9, 2013, and brings UIW's all-time record against the Huskies to 4-0.
 
LEADERS
 
Brittain finished 15-of-34 for 234 yards, three touchdowns and an interception off of a dropped pass. He also rushed for 19 yards and a score. Desmond Hite returned from injury to lead the Cardinals in rushing with 56 yards. Reeves and Sessions combined for 95 yards on the ground in their final game. Gilbert paced the receiving core with 158 yards and a touchdown. Oglesby contributed 20 yards through the air and a score, while Hicks made his lone reception count with a 14-yard touchdown.
 
Sean Hoeferkamp spearheaded the UIW defense with 10 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
 
Dawson finished 12-of-25 for 218 yards, while leading HBU with 53 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. Kelly totaled with 43 rushing yards and a score. Ricardo Barnett went for 99 receiving yards and Fry recorded 69 in the loss.
 
Dolan Garrett paced the Huskies defense with 15 tackles.
 
QUOTES
 
SENIOR TRENT BRITTAIN ON WHAT THE WIN MEANS TO THE SENIOR CLASS
 
"It means a lot. We definitely didn't have the season we anticipated, but there's a reason for that; there's a higher power that controls that. All we can do is learn from this experience. It was definitely good to get a couple of wins late. We put in a lot of work. We were able to come together and fight."
 
HEAD COACH LARRY KENNAN ON ENDING THE SEASON ON A TWO-GAME WINNING STREAK


"It feels really good. In the Lamar game, we came from behind and won it, and this game, we played well and had an 18-play drive that changed the game. They came back and we stopped them on a two-point play. We earned it. It was a hard-fought game. I'm really extremely proud of our guys."
 
KENNAN ON WHAT THE WIN MEANS TO THE SENIOR CLASS
 
"No question it means a great deal. We had a meeting last night and all the seniors stood up and talked about what football and UIW meant to them. They'll remember it for the rest of their lives."
 
SENIOR JOHN OGLESBY ON ENDING THE SEASON ON A HIGH NOTE
 
"It was a tough season, but we kept our heads together and stayed together as a team. I know one thing, that every game we went out there and played our hearts out."
 
OGLESBY ON ENDING HIS COLLEGIATE CAREER WITH A VICTORY
 
"It feels great. To play with the guys I came in with, it's a pleasure. We all got emotional last night and after the game tonight, but it was great to come out with a win. But it wasn't about us, more for the younger guys, to show them they have hope next year."
 
SENIOR ADRIAN NORWOOD, JR. ON RECOVERING THE ONSIDE KICK


"I kind of tuned out all the noise. I have to thank my coaches, who put me in position to make the play. They had trust in me, they had faith in me. To get that catch to end my senior year, it meant the world to me. I'm just speechless right now."
 
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