SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word football team answered the bell against No. 23 Nicholls on Saturday, but the nationally-ranked Colonels held on for a 38-31 victory over the Cardinals on homecoming at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
Nicholls (6-2, 5-1 SLC) lived up to the hype in the opening minutes, jumping out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.
 
UIW (1-7, 1-5 SLC) fought back in the second and cut the lead in half when Phillip Baptiste hauled in a 20-yard touchdown reception from Sean Brophy.
 
The Colonels tacked on a field goal with 6:06 remaining in the half to take a 17-7 advantage, but the Cardinals immediately countered with a Desmond Hite 100-yard kick return for a touchdown just 15 seconds later.
 
After forcing a Nicholls punt, UIW received the ball trailing by just three points, but a fumble on first down gave the Colonels possession on the 8-yard line. Nicholls immediately capitalized when Chase Fourcade hit Jean'Dai Dixon for an 8-yard score.
 
On the ensuing drive, with just 1:03 remaining before halftime, a Brophy pass was intercepted by Laryon James and returned 57 yards for a touchdown, giving the Colonels a 31-14 lead at the break.
 
Undaunted, the Cardinals emerged from the locker room and put together a 6-play, 90-yard drive, capped off with a 1-yard Ra'Quanne Dickens rushing score.
 
Six minutes later, Nicholls responded with a 55-yard bomb to Dixon for his second touchdown of the ballgame.
 
UIW tacked on a 45-yard Jose Perez field goal at the start of the fourth quarter, and made things interesting as time winded down.
 
Brophy hit Zaire Andre for a 2-yard touchdown reception with 45 seconds left in the game, but the Cardinals' on-side kick attempt was recovered by the Colonels, and Nicholls held on for the win.
 
LEADERS
 
Brophy finished 19-of-38 for 214 yards, with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. He was sacked once. Derrick Mitchell led the UIW ground game with 73 yards, while adding 26 through the air. Dickens totaled 43 rushing yards and contributed a score. Baptiste paced the Cardinals receiving core with 5 receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown.
 
Fourcade went 18-of-31 for 358 yards, 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. He was sacked twice. Kyran Irvin led Nicholls on the ground with 39 yards and a score. Receivers Mason Roberts, Dixon and Damion Jeanpiere finished with 106, 100 and 89 yards respectively.
 
Mar'kel Cooks spearheaded the UIW defense with 10 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks. Quandre Washington and Blake Klumpp each totaled 9 tackles, while Devin Bracy and Cam Knight each recorded an interception.
 
Corey Abraham led the Colonels defense with 11 tackles.
 
QUOTES
 
OVERALL THOUGHTS FROM HEAD COACH LARRY KENNAN
 
"I was really proud of their effort. We needed to make two or three more plays. I told them at halftime that we needed to be within striking distance with four minutes left to play to give ourselves a chance to win, and we did. I told them I was a little miffed we had so many 15-yard penalties. We don't do that. We don't get unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. The guys are frustrated and they act out, but I was very proud of our effort and how we came back."
 
KENNAN ON THE TEAM'S COMEBACK
 
"We've done that all year – we dig ourselves in a hole and we come back. We always fight. One coach I talked to before the game said our guys are always fighting every second."
 
KENNAN ON THE REMAINING SCHEDULE
 
"Going into the Sam game, I'll tell them the same thing I tell them every week: We do this because it's about us; it's not about them. We're going to play to the best of our ability, and if we win, good, if we don't, we're going to keep on keeping on. That's what we do."
 
JUNIOR SAFETY CAM KNIGHT ON THE DEFENSIVE PERFORMANCE
 
"We played good as a team and we make a good effort every play. With that mentality, it leads to turnovers, like the interception."
 
KNIGHT ON THE MESSAGE AT HALFTIME
 
"Basically, come out and keep playing; don't give up. Stay with them. Don't let them score and our offense will do their thing."
 
KNIGHT ON THE TEAM'S MENTALITY AGAINST NATIONALLY-RANKED OPPONENTS
 
"We know we're as good as any of these teams we play. Every week I see that we're coming together as a team. We just have to keep pushing."
 
KNIGHT ON PLAYING WITHIN A TOUCHDOWN OF NO. 23 NICHOLLS
 
"Today gives us a lot of confidence. We have to come out and get Sam Houston next week."
 
NOTEABLES
 
Hite's 100-yard kickoff return touchdown was his third kickoff return score of the year, tying a Southland Conference record.
 
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.
 
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