SAN ANTONIO, Texas – For a second consecutive week, the University of the Incarnate Word football team will face a top-25 opponent that is coming off of a bye as the Cardinals welcome No. 23 Nicholls to Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium for a homecoming battle at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
 
OPENING KICK
 
UIW (1-6-1-4 SLC) is coming off of a 55-7 loss to No. 19 McNeese in Lake Charles, La., and the road doesn't get any easier for the Cardinals. Saturday's matchup will be the second of four consecutive games against nationally-ranked opponents for UIW, and will come against a Colonels team that defeated McNeese earlier in the season. The Cardinals travel to No. 5 Sam Houston in week 10, host No. 4 Central Arkansas in week 11 and close out the 2017 season with a difficult matchup against Prairie View A&M in San Antonio.
 
If UIW is wants a blueprint for how to turn things around in a down year, it should look no further than Nicholls (5-2, 4-1 SLC). The Colonels were a horrendous football program only two years ago, riding the nation's longest losing streak at 23 games. This season Nicholls is nationally-ranked, and in the hunt for a Southland Conference title under third-year Head Coach Tim Rebowe. The Colonels are coming off of a 29-20 victory over Abilene Christian, and have had two weeks to prepare for the Cardinals after a bye in week eight.
 
HOW TO WATCH
 
Fans of UIW football can catch all of the action via the UIWtv live stream.
 
HOW TO LISTEN
 
Cardinals fans can listen to the game, broadcast by Chris Reyes and Jaime Valdes, by visiting KUIW.org.
 
SCOUTING THE NICHOLLS COLONELS
 
2017: 5-2, 4-1 SLC
Last Game: W 29-20 vs. Abilene Christian (Oct. 7)
Head Coach: Tim Rebowe
Key Offensive Players:
No. 9 So. QB Chase Fourcade (81-151-4, 1226 YRDS, 8 TD)
No. 30 So. RB Kyran Irvin (83-422, 5.0 YPC, 5 TD)
No. 3 Jr. WR Damion Jeanpiere Jr. (21-539, 25.7 YPC, 3 TD)
No. 86 Fr. WR Dai'Jean Dixon (11-210, 19.1 YPC, 1 TD)
Key Defensive Players:
No. 47 r-So. LB Allen Pittman (53 TKL, 5 QBH, 4.5 TFL, 1.0 SACKS, 1 INT)
No. 31 Jr. DB Corey Abraham (48 TKL, 4.0 TFL, 2 BU, 1 FR)
No. 55 So. DL Sully Laiche (15 TKL, 6.5 TFL, 4.5 SACKS, 3 QBH, 1 FF)
Summary: Nicholls posted a 5-6 record last season, including a 5-4 mark in Southland Conference action. The Colonels are 5-2 in 2017, with a 4-1 league record, and are coming off of a bye week after a 29-20 victory over Abilene Christian in Thibodaux, La. on Oct. 7.
 
Nicholls averages 28 points and 368.9 yards of total offense. The Colonels average 191 yards through the air, led by quarterback Chase Fourcade (1226 yards, 8 touchdowns). Running back Kyran Irvin (422 yards, 5 touchdowns) spearheads the Nicholls rushing attack. Wide receivers Damion Jeanpiere Jr. (539 yards, 3 touchdowns) and Dai'Jean Dixon (210 yards, 1 touchdown) emerge as Fourcade's favorite targets.
 
Defensively, Nicholls allows 26 points and 374.7 yards per game, including 220.3 passing yards and 154.4 yards on the ground.
 
Linebacker Allen Pittman headlines the Colonels defense with 53 tackles, 5 quarterback hurries, 4.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack and 1 interception. Defensive back Corey Abraham has 48 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, 2 pass breakups and 1 fumble recovery, while defensive lineman Sully Laiche has contributed 15 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 3 quarterback hurries and 1 forced fumble.
 
THE UIW CARDINAL FILE
 
2017: 1-6 Overall, 1-4 SLC
Last Game: L 55-7 at No. 19 McNeese (Oct. 21)
Head Coach: Larry Kennan
Key Offensive Players:
No. 3 So. QB Sean Brophy (116-201-10, 1063 YRDS, 9 TD)
No. 6 Gr. Derrick Mitchell (80-405, 5.1 YPC, 4 TD)
No. 21 Jr. WR Phillip Baptiste (19-314 YRDS, 16.5 YPC, 1 TD)
No. 22 Sr. WR Jamari Gilbert (21-237 YRDS, 11.3 YPC)
Key Defensive Players:
No. 8 Sr. LB Quandre Washington (56 TKL, 2.5 TFL, 1 SACK, 1 FR, 1 QBH, 1 BU)
No. 9 So. LB Mar'kel Cooks (48 TKL, 4.5 TFL, 2 QBH, 1 BU, 0.5 SACKS)
No. 55 Jr. DE Darrius Montgomery (23 TKL, 6.0 TFL, 4 QBH, 3.5 SACKS, 3 BK, 1 FF)
Summary: The Cardinals finished their 2016 campaign with a 3-8 overall record and a 3-6 mark in Southland Conference play. UIW is 1-6 this season, including and 1-4 mark in league action, and coming off of a 55-7 loss to No. 19 McNeese on the road.
 
The Cardinals average 20.4 points and 279.7 yards of total offense. UIW averages 181.4 yards through the air, led by quarterback Sean Brophy (1063 yards, 9 touchdowns). Receivers Jamari Gilbert (237 yards) and Phillip Baptiste (314 yards, 1 touchdown) emerge as Brophy's most reliable targets. Running back Derrick Mitchell paces the UIW rushing attack with 405 yards on 80 carries and 4 touchdowns.
 
Defensively, the Cardinals surrender 47.4 points and 482.3 yards per game, including 318.7 passing yards and 163.6 rushing yards.
 
Linebacker Quandre Washington leads the UIW defense with 56 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery, 1 quarterback hurry and 1 pass breakup. Fellow linebacker Mar'kel Cooks has contributed 48 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2 quarterback hurries, 1 pass breakup and 0.5 sacks, while defensive end Darrius Montgomery has totaled 23 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, 4 quarterback hurries, 3.5 sacks, 3 blocked kicks and 1 forced fumble for the Cardinals.
 
SERIES HISTORY
 
UIW holds a 2-1 advantage in the all-time series against Nicholls, but the Colonels won the most recent meeting between programs, 35-28, on Sept. 17, last season in Thibodaux, La.
 
UP NEXT
 
UIW travels to Huntsville for a matchup with No. 5 Sam Houston at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4.
 
STAY TUNED
 
The Cardinals host No. 4 Central Arkansas at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11.
 
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.