SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word football team played one of its most complete games of the season on Senior Day, but Prairie View A&M held on in the fourth quarter to steal a 42-28 victory at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
The Panthers (5-5, 3-3 SWAC) scored first when Neiko Hollins hit Darius Floyed with a 48-yard strike.
 
Five minutes later Hollins found Khadaral Hodge for an 11-yard touchdown reception to take an early 14-0 lead.
 
At the 11:23 mark of the second quarter, Caleb Broach tacked on a 3-yard rushing score as PVAMU secured a three-touchdown advantage.
 
When the Cardinals (1-10, 1-7 SLC) finally got on the board four minutes later, they scored in dramatic fashion, as Taylor Laird hooked up with Daryl Brook for an 81-yard senior-to-senior connection.
 
The Panthers responded with a 28-yard rushing touchdown on their ensuing drive to go up, 28-7.
 
With just over two minutes remaining in the half, future NFL punter Joe Zema booted a 40-yarder to Dawonya Tucker, and Jared Ambres separated him from the ball with a punishing tackle. Tucker's fumble was recovered by Israel Acuay and returned to the PVAMU 41-yard line.
 
UIW capitalized on short field position, punching in a Derrick Mitchell 3-yard touchdown with 1:09 remaining in the half.
 
At the break, the Cardinals trailed the Panthers, 28-14.
 
UIW came out of the locker room with a ton of momentum, and at the 7:42 mark of the third quarter, Laird found Jezel Parra for a 16-yard score.
 
Seven minutes later, the Cardinals tied the ballgame when Laird found Phillip Higgins for a 4-yard touchdown reception.
 
The contest was only tied for 25 seconds however, as Tucker scampered 72 yards to the end zone on PVAMU's next offensive play, giving the Panthers a 35-28 lead.
 
With 6:37 remaining in the game, Hollins lofted a deep ball to Hodge, who was left wide open when a UIW defender lost his footing in the secondary. Hodge hauled in the pass for a 49-yard score to give PVAMU a two-touchdown advantage they would not surrender.
 
LEADERS
 
Laird finished 19-of-37 for 287 yards, 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. He was sacked twice. Mitchell and Ra'Quanne Dickens combined for 101 yards and a score, while Parra tallied 3 receptions for 47 yards and a touchdown. Brooks led the Cardinals receiving core with 117 yards and a score.
 
Hollins went 23-of-35 for 343 yards and 4 touchdowns. He was sacked twice. Tucker paced the Panthers ground game with 97 yards and a score, while Darius Floyd and Hodge racked up a combined 235 yards and four receiving touchdowns.
 
Quandre Washington spearheaded the UIW defense with 11 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks. Juwan Jiles and Mar'kel Cooks each added 8 tackles.
 
Jalan Coleman and Jayln Williams registered 12 and 11 tackles respectively.
 
QUOTES
 
SENIOR QUARTERBACK TAYLOR LAIRD ON HIS FINAL COLLEGIATE GAME
 
"It's our last game, with a 1-9 record, we just went out and gave it all we had. We had a slow start, but we picked it up. It felt good going out there with everyone. My O-line, my receivers, I love them all."
 
LAIRD ON THE SIDELINE ATMOSPHERE AFTER THE GAME-TYING SCORE
 
"Everyone was pumped up, jumping up and down. We thought we had it at that point."
 
SENIOR LINEBACKER QUANDRE WASHINGTON ON THE GAME PLAN
 
"We were going to give it our all and continue to fight. We were going to come out and attack."
 
WASHINGTON ON THE GAME-TYING TOUCHDOWN
 
"It's a whole new ball game. Unfortunately, it didn't end the way we wanted it to end."
 
WASHINGTON ON PLAYING HIS FINAL COLLEGIATE GAME
 
"I'm proud to say I'm a UIW Cardinal! My last years have been great; I wish nothing but the best. My plan is to prepare for the NFL Combine and hopefully get drafted."
 
HEAD COACH LARRY KENNAN ON PLAYING PRAIRIE VIEW A&M
 
"We knew they were a good team; maybe not as good as schools we played earlier this year, like McNeese, UCA and Sam Houston. They jumped out to a big lead early, then we started losing guys. We lost about 10 guys tonight due to leg cramps and whatnot. It got harder and harder as the game went on. I admire their courage to come out after halftime."
 
KENNAN ON HIS HALFTIME SPEECH, TRAILING 28-14
 
"Hollywood wrote a script where the good guys would look like hell in the first half and come out in the second half and win. We can't throw as many interceptions as we threw and do stuff like that and expect to win."
 
KENNAN ON THE FUTURE OF UIW FOOTBALL
 
"We have good, young guys in our program. We're 3-4 defensive players away from being really good and 1-2 offensive players away."
 
UP NEXT
 
The Southland Conference will announce its all-conference selections prior to the start of the FCS College Football Playoff.
 
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.