SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word football team matched Southeastern Louisiana blow for blow in the first half of Saturday's homecoming bout, but the Lions took control after the break and pulled away late for a 30-10 victory over the Cardinals on Military Appreciation Day.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
The Cardinals (1-8, 1-6 SLC) held the Lions' (5-4, 5-2 SLC) passing attack in check until late in the opening half, but UIW was never able to slow down SLU's powerful ground game.
 
The Cardinals scored first with a Cody Seidel 32-yard first-quarter field goal, but the Lions responded minutes later with a 10-yard touchdown scamper by Julius Maracalin.
 
The teams traded defensive stops for the remainder of the half and Southeastern La. took a 7-3 lead into the break.
 
The Lions chipped in a field goal at the 9:08 mark of the third quarter and jumped out to a 17-3 advantage after a 14-yard pass from D'Shaie Landor to Juwan Dickey with 3:20 remaining in the period.
 
Southeastern La. took advantage of the Landor-to-Dickey connection again only 41 seconds into the fourth quarter, scoring on a 16-yard pass. UIW blocked SLU's point after attempt and answered with a 10-yard strike from Trent Brittain to Kody Edwards at the 11:50 mark, but the Lions shut the door with 4:25 remaining after Landor hit Juwaan Rogers for an 8-yard touchdown reception.
 
LEADERS
 
Brittain finished 17-of-34 for 212 yards and a touchdown. Junior sessions paced the Cardinals' ground game with 43 yards on 12 carries. Edwards and Jordan Hicks combined for 140 receiving yards on the day.
 
Josh Zellars and Quandre Washington each tallied 12 tackles and a tackle for loss to lead the UIW defense.
 
Landor finished 14-of-16 for 153 yards and three touchdowns. Maracalin spearheaded the Southeastern La. offense with 191 yards and a touchdown on 34 carries. Dickey contributed 121 receiving yards in the victory.
 
Javon Tillman led the Lions defense with 10 tackles.
 
QUOTES
 
OVERALL THOUGHTS FROM HEAD COACH LARRY KENNAN
 
"I've been doing this for a long time, and I'm okay with everything except when your team doesn't play hard and give it their all. But today we did. We dropped four or five passes and to beat a team like Southeastern Louisiana you really have to make some plays."
 
COACH KENNAN ON THE MINDSET PRIOR TO SATURDAY'S GAME
 
"We talked all week about rallying around our teammates. We had a military general come talk to us about teammates and the sacrifices you have to make for one another. And I think we did that today. I really felt at halftime, when it was 7-3, we were going to do it and win the game. Then we scored the touchdown and were in it, but we needed to make some stops after that and we couldn't."
 
COACH KENNAN ON NEXT WEEK'S BALLGAME
 
"Now we have to come back, practice Tuesday and Wednesday, do our traveling, go down to Lamar and take care of the game."
 
OVERALL THOUGHTS FROM RECEIVER KODY EDWARDS
 
"It's a tough loss, but Southeastern Louisiana is a great program. They have a lot of talented guys and they were very well organized today. Games like today are when you find out about yourself. We have some adversity going on right now, but we never gave up. There's always something to play for. If it's not for a chance to advance to the tournament, then we can play for our teammates, our family and for those who can't play the game we get to play."
 
UP NEXT
 
The Cardinals will head to Beaumont for a 6 p.m. date with Lamar on Saturday, Nov. 12.
 
STAY TUNED
 
UIW will have a quick turnaround as the team hosts 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.