SAN ANTONIO, Texas – For a third consecutive week, the University of the Incarnate Word football team will meet a top-25 opponent as the Cardinals travel to Huntsville for a 1 p.m. ESPN3 showdown with No. 5 Sam Houston at Bowers Stadium.
OPENING KICK
UIW (1-7, 1-5 SLC) is no stranger to difficult matchups. The Cardinals opened the year with back-to-back road swings in California against FBS opponent Fresno State and Sacramento State. More recently, UIW has faced one of the toughest stretches in the country, after battles with No. 19 McNeese in Lake Charles and No. 23 Nicholls at home. The Cardinals performed admirably against the Colonels in their most recent action, mounting a late comeback that fell one score short. Nicholls has since risen to the No. 17 spot in the NCAA Coaches Poll.
While UIW has undoubtedly been tested in 2017, the prospect of facing nationally-ranked perennial power Sam Houston (7-1, 5-1 SLC) on the road is a completely different type of encounter. The defending Southland Conference Champion Bearkats were nearly unanimously picked to defend their title in the league's preseason polling. Sam Houston's only loss this season came against No. 4 Central Arkansas. As Head Coach
Larry Kennan put it, "They're no fun to play against. They score almost at will and their defense is extremely talented." The Bearkats are coming off of a 33-23 victory over Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday in Hammond.
HOW TO WATCH
Saturday's action will air exclusively on ESPN3.
HOW TO LISTEN
Cardinals fans can listen to the game, broadcast by Chris Reyes and Jaime Valdes, by visiting KUIW.org.
SCOUTING THE BEARKATS
2017: 7-1, 5-1 SLC
Last Game: W 33-23 at Southeastern Louisiana (Oct. 28)
Head Coach: K.C. Keeler
Key Offensive Players:
No. 16 Sr. QB Jeremiah Briscoe (179-325-8, 2680 YRDS, 23 TD)
No. 6 Sr. RB Corey Avery (103-641, 6.2 YPC, 8 TD)
No. 14 Jr. WR Davion Davis (46-694, 15.1 YPC, 10 TD)
No. 81 So. WR Nathan Stewart (42-997, 23.7 YPC, 8 TD)
Key Defensive Players:
No. 54 Jr. LB Justin Johnson (58 TKL, 7.5 TFL, 4.0 SACKS, 2 QBH, 1 FF)
No. 92 Sr. DL P.J. Hall (32 TKL, 11.0 TFL, 5.0 SACKS, 4 BU, 4 PD, 2 BK, 1 QBH, 1 FF)
No. 97 Jr. DL Chris Stewart (31 TKL, 10.0 TFL, 8.0 SACKS, 7 QBH)
Summary: Sam Houston posted a 12-1 record last season, including a perfect 9-0 mark in Southland Conference action, en route to a league championship. The Bearkats are 7-1 in 2017, with a 5-1 league record, and are coming off of a 33-23 victory over Southeastern Louisiana in Hammond on Oct. 28.
Sam Houston averages 43.9 points and 539.9 yards of total offense. The Bearkats average 344.4 yards through the air, led by quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe (2680 yards, 23 touchdowns). Running back Corey Avery (641 yards, 8 touchdowns) spearheads the Sam Houston rushing attack. Wide receivers Davion Davis (694 yards, 10 touchdowns) and Nathan Stewart (997 yards, 8 touchdowns) emerge as Briscoe's favorite targets.
Defensively, Sam Houston allows 28.1 points and 434.4 yards per game, including 241.1 passing yards and 193.2 yards on the ground.
Linebacker Justin Johnson headlines the Sam Houston defense with 58 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, 2 quarterback hurries and 1 forced fumble. Defensive lineman P.J. Hall has 32 tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks, 4 pass breakups, 4 passes defended, 2 blocked kicks, 1 quarterback hurry and 1 forced fumble. Fellow defensive lineman Chris Stewart has contributed 31 tackles, 10.0 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks and 7 quarterback hurries.
THE CARDINAL FILE
2017: 1-7 Overall, 1-5 SLC
Last Game: L 38-31 vs. No. 23 Nicholls (Oct. 28)
Head Coach: Larry Kennan
Key Offensive Players:
No. 3 So. QB
Sean Brophy (135-239-11, 1277 YRDS, 11 TD)
No. 6 Gr.
Derrick Mitchell (96-510, 5.0 YPC, 4 TD)
No. 21 Jr. WR
Phillip Baptiste (24-387 YRDS, 16.1 YPC, 2 TD)
No. 11 Jr. WR
Zaire Andre (23-268 YRDS, 11.7 YPC, 3 TD)
Key Defensive Players:
No. 8 Sr. LB
Quandre Washington (65 TKL, 2.5 TFL, 2 QBH, 1.0 SACKS, 1 BU, 1 FR)
No. 9 So. LB
Mar'kel Cooks (58 TKL, 7.0 TFL, 2.5 SACKS, 2 QBH, 1 BU)
No. 55 Jr. DE
Darrius Montgomery (27 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 1-7 this season, including and 1-5 mark in league action, and coming off of a 38-31 loss to No. 23 Nicholls at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium.
The Cardinals average 21.8 points and 285.3 yards of total offense. UIW averages 185.5 yards through the air, led by quarterback
Sean Brophy (1277 yards, 11 touchdowns). Receivers
Phillip Baptiste (387 yards, 2 touchdowns) and
Zaire Andre (268 yards, 3 touchdowns) emerge as Brophy's most reliable targets. Running back
Derrick Mitchell paces the UIW rushing attack with 510 yards on 96 carries and 4 touchdowns.
Defensively, the Cardinals surrender 46.3 points and 476.4 yards per game, including 323.6 passing yards and 152.8 rushing yards.
Linebacker
Quandre Washington leads the UIW defense with 65 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2 quarterback hurries, 1 sack, 1 pass breakup and 1 fumble recovery. Fellow linebacker
Mar'kel Cooks has contributed 58 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 2 quarterback hurries and 1 pass breakup, while defensive end
Darrius Montgomery has totaled 27 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, 4 quarterback hurries, 3.5 sacks, 3 blocked kicks and 1 forced fumble for the Cardinals.
SERIES HISTORY
Sam Houston holds a 5-0 advantage in the all-time series against UIW. The Bearkats picked up a 63-48 victory on Oct. 8, last season in a shootout at Benson Stadium.
UP NEXT
The Cardinals host No. 4 Central Arkansas at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11.
STAY TUNED
UIW will close out the season at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 16 against Prairie View A&M at Benson Stadium.
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.
