SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word football team will look to feed off of a raucous homecoming crowd and right the ship on Military Appreciation Day as the squad welcomes Southeastern La. to Benson Stadium for a 2:30 p.m. skirmish on Saturday.
 
OPENING KICK
 
The Cardinals (1-7, 1-5 SLC) secured a promising Southland Conference-opening victory on the road at Northwestern State back on Sept. 8, but have dropped their last six games. A win against the Lions (4-4, 4-2 SLC) would be a major step towards ending the year on a positive note.
 
SCOUTING THE LIONS
 
2016: 4-4 Overall, 4-2 SLC
Last Game: L vs. No. 17 Central Arkansas (45-10)
Head Coach: Ron Roberts
Key Offensive Players:
#8 Sr. QB Justin Alo (77-148-6, 1362 YRDS, 12 TD)
#2 Sr. RB Rasheed Harrell (64-357 YRDS, 5.3 YPC, 3 TD)
#22 So. RB Julius Maracallin (67-318 YRDS, 4.5 YPC, 3 TD)
#5 Sr. WR Brandon Acker (24-556 YRDS, 23.2 YPC, 6 TD)
#1 Jr. WR Juwan Dickey (25-491 YRDS, 19.6 YPC, 4 TD)
Key Defensive Players:
#12 Jr. DB Max Lyons (69 TKL, 6 BU, 3 RCV, 2 QBH, 1 FF, 0.5 TFL)
#1 Jr. DB Javon Tillman (61 TKL, 2 FF, 1.5 TFL, 1 INT, 1 BU, 1 RCV)
#18 Jr. LB Sione Teuhema (23 TKL, 7.0 TFL, 3.5 SACKS, 2 QBH, 1 FF)
Summary: Southeastern La. heads to San Antonio at 4-4 overall and 4-2 in Southland Conference action. The Lions won four of their first five league games, but are coming off of a 45-10 home loss at the hands of No. 17 Central Arkansas.
 
Southeastern La. is averaging 26.8 points and 384.4 yards of total offense per game. The Lions average 218.9 yards through the air, lead by quarterback Justin Alo. Receivers Brandon Acker (556 yards, six touchdowns) and Juwan Dickey (491 yards, four touchdowns) emerge as Alo's favorite targets. Running backs Rasheed Harrell and Julius Maracallin pace the SLU ground game, rushing for a combined 675 yards and six touchdowns this season.
 
Defensively the Lions surrender 32.1 points and 404.6 yards per game, including 204.3 passing yards and 200.3 rushing yards per game.
 
Defensive back Max Lyons heads the SLU defense with 69 tackles, six pass breakups, three fumble recoveries, two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble. Fellow defensive back Javon Tillman has registered 61 tackles, two forced fumbles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one interception, one pass breakup and a fumble recovery. Linebacker Sione Teuhema has been a menace to opposing offenses, racking up 23 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.
 
THE CARDINAL FILE
 
2016: 1-7 Overall, 1-5 SLC
Last Game: L vs. Stephen F. Austin (42-19)
Head Coach: Larry Kennan
Key Offensive Players:
#4 Jr. QB Trent Brittain (124-251-4, 1555 YRDS, 12 TD, 4 rushing TD)
#8 Sr. RB Broderick Reeves (105-416, 3.8 YPC, 5 TD)
#10 Sr. RB Junior Sessions (54-164, 2.8 YPC, 2 TD)
#81 Jr. WR Kody Edwards (30-519, 17.3 YPC, 6 TD)
#22 Jr. WR Jamari Gilbert (18-272, 15.1 YPC, 4 TD)
Key Defensive Players:
#17 Jr. DB Sean Hoeferkamp (57 TKLS, 4 BU)
#9 Sr. LB Josh Zellars (56 TKLS, 1 QBH, 1 FR, 1 BU, 0.5 TFL)
#33 Sr. LB Joel Higgins (52 TKLS, 4.5 TFL, 3.0 SACKS, 1 BU)
Summary: The Cardinals enter Saturday's matchup at 1-7 overall and 1-5 in Southland Conference play. UIW has dropped six consecutive games and is coming off of a 42-19 defeat at home against Stephen F. Austin.
 
The Cardinals are averaging 27.1 points and 352.4 yards of total offense per game. UIW averages 236.1 yards through the air, led by quarterback Trent Brittain. Receivers Kody Edwards (519 yards, six touchdowns) and Jamari Gilbert (272 yards, four touchdowns) emerge as Brittain's favorite targets. Running backs Broderick Reeves and Junior Sessions spearhead the UIW ground game, rushing for a combined 580 yards and seven touchdowns this season.
 
Defensively the Cardinals surrender 41.4 points and 486.4 yards per game, including 298.3 passing yards and 188.1 rushing yards per game.
 
Defensive back Sean Hoeferkamp leads the UIW defense with 57 tackles and four pass breakups, while linebacker Josh Zellars has totaled 56 tackles, one quarterback hurry, one fumble recovery, one pass breakup and 0.5 tackles for loss. Fellow linebacker Joel Higgins has racked up 52 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and one pass breakup.
 
Trey Colbert has been key to the Cardinals special teams unit all year and set a program record with two blocked punts against Stephen F. Austin on Saturday. Both of his punt blocks resulted in a short field for UIW and led directly to a pair of scoring drives for the Cardinals. In recognition of his outstanding performance, the league tabbed Colbert as the Southland Conference Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's meeting will be just the third in program history between UIW and Southeastern La. The Lions lead the all-time series, 2-1, but the Cardinals earned a 16-2 victory in the most recent meeting between programs on Nov. 7 last season in Hammond, La.
 
UP NEXT
 
Following this weekend's action UIW will head to Beaumont for a 6 p.m. date with Lamar on Saturday, Nov. 12.
 
STAY TUNED
 
The Cardinals have a quick turnaround as they host a season-finale battle with Houston Baptist at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 17.
 
For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics visit uiwcardinals.com. Be sure to follow UIW Athletics on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like UIW Athletics on Facebook at UIW Athletics.