THIBODAUX, La. – The University of the Incarnate Word football team mounted a furious fourth-quarter comeback on Saturday afternoon, but the Cardinals came up just short against Nicholls, falling 35-28 in front of a rowdy crowd at John L. Guidry Stadium.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
With 4:36 remaining in the contest, UIW (1-2, 1-1 SLC) pulled within a touchdown, 35-28, after Trent Brittain hit Jamari Gilbert with a 63-yard bomb.
 
The Cardinal defense forced a punt by the Colonels (1-1, 1-0 SLC) and afforded the offense one final chance to tie the ballgame, but UIW was unable climb all the way back.
 
The Cardinals came out flat in the first half, totaling just 26 yards off offense on 27 plays. In contrast, Nicholls racked up 290 yards offensively. Despite the lopsided nature of the opening 30 minutes of play, UIW only trailed 14-6 at the break thanks to a blocked field goal by Alex Jenkins that was recovered and returned for a touchdown by Robert Hayes Jr.
 
Midway through the third quarter the Colonels found pay dirt, scoring on a C.J. Okpalobi 5-yard run that gave Nicholls a 21-6 advantage.
 
Eight minutes later, Okpalobi scored again from four yards out, putting the Colonels up, 28-6.
 
Just when it looked like the game was out of reach, Desmond Hite broke through the middle of the Nicholls defense and sprinted for an 85-yard score that ignited the Cardinals sideline.
 
The Colonels quickly answered with an 11-yard connection from Chase Fourcade to Christian Booker at the 11:44 mark of the fourth quarter.
 
UIW punched back only two minutes later as Brittain found Gilbert for a 40-yard touchdown reception.
 
LEADERS
 
Brittain finished 12-for-29 with 173 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Hite tallied his first career 100-yard outing with 101 yards on the ground and a touchdown. Gilbert recorded 111 through the air and two scores.
 
Quandre Washington and Jawun Jiles each registered nine tackles in the ballgame. Josh Zellers and Sean Hoeferkamp finished with eight apiece.
 
Fourcade was 23-for-38 on the afternoon, throwing for 289 yards and two touchdowns. Okpalobi racked up 115 yards rushing and two touchdowns, while C.J. Bates turned in 107 yards to pace the Nicholls receiving core.
 
QUOTES
 
COACH KYLE KENNAN ON THE TEAM'S FOURTH-QUARTER COMEBACK
 
"Going into this game we knew this Nicholls team wasn't the same Nicholls team we played a couple of years ago. They've improved a lot, so we knew we were going to be in for a little bit of a fight. We started off on offense very slowly to say the least, but what we talked about in the locker room after the fact was that we never quit playing. We got one play and all of a sudden the floodgates opened up a little bit. That's something we've got to learn from and build off of, because it was looking kind of bleak there and we just kept playing. Our defense got us some opportunities and finally the offense made a couple plays. A lot of teams could have just folded it up and called it a loss, but we kept playing and gave ourselves a chance at the end there. You've got to be proud of that fact."
 
JAMARI GILBERT ON NOT GIVING UP
 
"We're trying to win a conference championship, so we know we can't give up at any point in any game. We just kept on pushing and we didn't get the result that we wanted, but I just love my team and love the fight that we gave. We just have to come back next week and get the win at home."
 
UP NEXT
 
The Cardinals return to Military City for a 6 p.m. matchup with McNeese on Saturday, Sept. 24 at Benson Stadium.
 
STAY TUNED
 
UIW will have a short road trip to San Marcos for a battle against Texas State on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 6:30 p.m. in Bobcat Stadium.
 
For the most up-to-date information on Incarnate Word Athletics visit uiwcardinals.com. Be sure to follow Incarnate Word Athletics on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like Incarnate Word Athletics on Facebook at UIW Athletics.