SAN ANTONIO, Texas – For the first time since Oct. 14, the University of the Incarnate Word football team will not play a nationally-ranked opponent, but the Cardinals will also not be granted much of a reprieve as they face Prairie View A&M for the first time in program history, at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 16, at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium.
 
CEREMONIAL SEND-OFF
 
Thursday's contest will serve as Senior Day as UIW football honors 23 student-athletes for their contributions to the program. The 2017 senior class will be recognized in a pregame ceremony at approximately 5:35 p.m.
 
OPENING KICK
 
Facing arguably the most difficult schedule in the country at the FCS level, along with a number of key injuries, UIW (1-9, 1-7 SLC) hasn't had the success it envisioned for the 2017 season back in August. The Cardinals opened the year with back-to-back games in California at FBS opponent Fresno State and Sacramento State, before a third straight road contest at Stephen F. Austin to begin Southland Conference play. More recently, UIW has faced No. 19 McNeese, No. 23 Nicholls, No. 5 Sam Houston and No. 3 Central Arkansas in consecutive weeks.
 
HOW TO WATCH
 
Network:
Eleven Sports
National Coverage:
DirecTV 623
AT&T U-verse 1665
Verizon FiOS 597
Local Coverage:
San Antonio Time Warner Spectrum 414
Stream:
Southland Digital Network
Southland Conference app (iPhone, Android, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV and Roku)
 
HOW TO LISTEN
 
Cardinals fans can listen to the game, broadcast by Chris Reyes and Jaime Valdes, by visiting KUIW.org.
 
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
 
2017: 4-5, 3-3 SWAC
Last Game: W 35-12 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Nov. 11)
Head Coach: Willie Simmons
Key Offensive Players:
No. 2 r-Fr. QB Neiko Hollins (85-171-4, 1186 YRDS, 14 TD)
No. 5 r-Jr. QB Lavell McCullers (72-145-1, 907, 5 TD)
No. 6 r-Sr. RB Sta'Fon McCray (80-596, 7.3 YPC, 6 TD)
No. r-Sr. WR Khadarel Hodge (38-723, 19.0 YPC, 10 TD)
Key Defensive Players:
No. 20 Jr. LB Anthony Stubbs (61 TKL, 7.5 TFL, 4 QBH, 3.5 SACKS, 2 FF, 1 BU, 1 PD)
No. 23 r-So. DB Jalyn Harris (54 TKL, 17.0 TFL, 4.0 SACKS, 2 BU, 2 PD, 2 QBH, 1 FR, 1 FF)
No. 24 So. S Reggie Stubblefield (37 TKL, 8 PD, 6 BU, 3.5 TFL, 2 INT, 1 FF, 1 BK)
Summary: Prairie View A&M posted a 7-4 record last season, including an 7-2 mark in Southwestern Athletic Conference action. The Panthers are coming off of a 35-12 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Nov. 4.
 
Prairie View A&M averages 28.7 points and 414.1 yards of total offense. The Panthers average 244.4 yards through the air, led by quarterbacks Neiko Hollins (1186 yards, 14 touchdowns) and Lavell McCullers (907 yards, 5 touchdowns). Running back Sta'Fon McCray (596 yards, 6 touchdowns) spearheads the Prairie View A&M rushing attack. Wide receiver Khadaral Hodge (723 yards, 10 touchdowns) emerges as the favorite target of his two quarterbacks.
 
Defensively, the Panthers allow 25.7 points and 346 yards per game, including 230.3 passing yards and 115.7 yards on the ground.
 
Linebacker Anthony Stubbs headlines the Prairie View defensive unit with 61 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 4 quarterback hurries, 3.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 pass breakup and 1 pass defended. Defensive back Jalyn Harris has 54 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 2 pass breakups, 2 passes defended, 2 quarterback hurries, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery, while safety Reggie Stubblefield has 37 tackles, 8 passes defended, 6 pass breakups, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery.
 
THE CARDINAL FILE
 
2017: 1-9 Overall, 1-7 SLC
Last Game: L 56-10 vs. No. 3 Central Arkansas (Nov. 11)
Head Coach: Larry Kennan
Key Offensive Players:
No. 15 Sr. QB Taylor Laird (40-104-6, 675 YRDS, 3 TD)
No. 6 Gr. RB Derrick Mitchell (119-547, 4.6 YPC, 4 TD)
No. 21 Jr. WR Phillip Baptiste (31-623, 20.1 YPC, 3 TD)
No. 11 Jr. WR Zaire Andre (27-356, 13.2 YPC, 4 TD)
Key Defensive Players:
No. 9 So. LB Mar'kel Cooks (80 TKL, 8.5 TFL, 2.5 SACKS, 2 QBH, 1 BU)
No. 8 Sr. LB Quandre Washington (74 TKL, 2.5 TFL, 2 BU, 2 QBH, 1.0 SACKS, 1 FR)
No. 55 Jr. DE Darrius Montgomery (32 TKL, 6.0 TFL, 5 QBH, 4 BK, 3.5 SACKS, 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 1-9 this season, including and 1-7 mark in league action, and coming off of a 56-10 loss to No. 3 Central Arkansas on Saturday.
 
The Cardinals average 20.4 points and 283 yards of total offense. UIW averages 195.2 yards through the air, led by quarterback Taylor Laird (675 yards, 3 touchdowns). Receivers Phillip Baptiste (623 yards, 3 touchdowns) and Zaire Andre (356 yards, 4 touchdowns) emerge as Lairds most reliable targets. Running back Derrick Mitchell paces the UIW rushing attack with 547 yards on 119 carries with 4 touchdowns.
 
Defensively, the Cardinals surrender 48.3 points and 493.8 yards per game, including 326.7 passing yards and 167.1 rushing yards.
 
Linebacker Mar'kel Cooks leads the UIW defense with 80 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 2 quarterback hurries and 1 pass breakup. Fellow linebacker Quandre Washington has contributed 74 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2 pass breakups, 2 quarterback hurries, 1 sack and 1 fumble recovery, while defensive end Darrius Montgomery has totaled 32 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 5 quarterback hurries, 4 blocked kicks, 3.5 sacks and 1 forced fumble for the Cardinals.
 
SERIES HISTORY
 
UIW and Prairie View A&M will meet for the first time in program history on Thursday. The Panthers are not unfamiliar with the Southland Conference however, having played both Sam Houston and Nicholls earlier this season.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Southland Conference will announce all-conference selections at the conclusion of the regular season.
 
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.