NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word football program lost to Stephen F. Austin in the most heartbreaking of fashions on Saturday night after a 67-yard interception return for a touchdown gave the Lumberjacks a 37-31 victory as time expired.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
After falling into a 21-0 hole early at Homer Bryce Stadium, the Cardinals (0-3, 0-1 SLC) took complete control of the ballgame from the second quarter until the last play of the night. UIW ran off 31 unanswered points, before SFA (1-2, 1-0 SLC) responded with 10 straight.
 
It appeared the game was headed to overtime as the Cardinals were pinned on their own 25-yard line, facing a third-and-six, with just seconds remaining. However, rather than run out the clock, UIW made the call to try a flea flicker.
 
Sean Brophy handed the ball off to running back Derrick Mitchell, who took a few steps forward before tossing it back to Brophy. The trick play was sniffed out by the Lumberjacks, who blanketed Brophy's intended receiver, Zaire Andre. SFA safety Alize Ward came up with the ball and returned it 67 yards to the house.
 
The Cardinals got off to a rough start for a third consecutive week, surrendering a touchdown to the Lumberjacks on a 6-play, 46-yard drive that lasted less than two minutes.
 
SFA struck again at the 9:45 mark, when quarterback Foster Sawyer dropped back to pass, saw an opening, tucked and scampered up the middle for a 19-yard score.
 
The Luberjacks secured a 21-0 advantage with 2:45 remaining in the first quarter. Sawyer lobbed a pass to Goree Terian, who ripped the ball away from a UIW defender in the front left corner of the end zone.
 
The tide turned in the second when the Cardinals put together a 17-play, 83-yard marathon drive that lasted 7:33 and was capped by a 4-yard touchdown pass from Brophy to Marcus Valverde.
 
After trading offensive possessions over the next five minutes, the powerful running back duo of Mitchell and Ra'Quanne Dickens came alive.
 
Dickens ripped off 10 quick rushing yards for a UIW first down, before a 10-yard completion to Andre moved the chains. After a sack, Mitchell busted a 41-yard rush to the Lumberjacks 32.
 
With six seconds remaining in the half, Jose Perez connected on a 40-yard field goal, and the Cardinals entered the locker room trailing, 21-10, at the break.
 
UIW continued to ride its momentum in the third quarter. After trading drives with SFA, the Cardinals notched runs of 19, 7 and 5 yards, before an 11-yard completion to Phillip Baptiste. On the next play, Brophy hooked up with Malik Harris for a 12-yard touchdown.
 
After forcing the Lumberjacks to punt, UIW used a 9-play, 70-yard scoring drive to secure their first lead of the season, 24-21. Brophy laid out a pass across the middle to Andre, who sacrificed his body and held on, despite taking a powerful shot from an SFA defender in midair.
 
The Cardinals capped off 31 unanswered points when Brophy hit Harris on a swing pass, and the mountain-of-a-man rumbled into the end zone for his second score of the night. UIW led, 31-21, with 11:58 remaining in the contest.
 
The Lumberjacks responded with a 37-yard field goal to pull within a touchdown.
 
After forcing the Cardinals to punt, SFA used a 4-play, 73-yard drive, that spanned just 51 seconds, to tie the ballgame at 31 apiece. The Lumberjacks ended the drive on a 24-yard connection from Sawyer to Tamrick Pace.
 
LEADERS
 
Brophy finished 24-of-38 for 217 yards and an interception, while also tying a school record with four touchdown passes. Mitchell handled the rock 25 times for 168 yards – the fifth most for a single game in program history. Dickens added 65 yards on 11 carries. Baptiste led the receiving core with 60 yards on five receptions. Harris contributed 48 yards on four receptions, while scoring twice. Andre tallied 40 yards and a touchdown.
 
Sawyer went 33-of-43 for 283 yards and two scores. Trae Hart paced SFA through the air with 77 yards, while Kijana Amous totaled 25 rushing yards and a touchdown.
 
Jawun Jiles and Quandre Washington spearheaded the UIW defense with 10 and 9 tackles respectively. Darrius Montgomery chipped in 5 tackles, 1.5 sacks and 1 tackle for loss.
 
Anthony Jacobs led the Lumberjacks with 13 tackles, while Ward finished with 10 tackles, 2 pass breakups, 1 tackle for loss and the game-winning interception return.
 
The Cardinals dominated time of possession (34:54-25:06) and finished with more total yards (422-349), rushing yards (205-66) and first downs (24-20). SFA had an advantage in passing yards (283-217) and totaled just 55 penalty yards, compared to 131 by UIW.
 
UP NEXT
 
After a bye week, the Cardinals' home-opener will come in week five at 6 p.m. on Sept. 30, as UIW welcomes rival Abilene Christian for Fan Appreciation Day.
 
STAY TUNED
 
The Cardinals travel to Hammond for a 4 p.m. battle with Southeastern Louisiana on Oct. 7.
 
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.