SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The University of the Incarnate Word football team will head to California for the second time in as many weeks as the squad prepares to face Sacramento State at 8 p.m. CT on Saturday in Hornet Stadium.
 
OPENING KICK
 
The Cardinals (0-1) are praying their return trip to The Golden State will be better than the first, after a disappointing 66-0 loss to FBS opponent Fresno State in week one. The Hornets (0-1) are also coming off of a season-opening defeat, dropping a 28-6 decision to Idaho.
 
Saturday's matchup will feature two teams voted at the bottom of their respective conference preseason polls. UIW was picked to finish last in the Southland, while Sacramento State was selected to finish second-to-last in the Big Sky. A win for either team would be a huge confidence builder heading into league play.
 
HOW TO WATCH
 
Cardinal fans can catch all of Saturday's action on Pluto TV. To watch, simply download the Pluto TV app and tune to Channel 233. For mobile devices and tablets, the Pluto TV app is available on iPhone and iPad from the App Store and on Android devices from Google Play. The Pluto TV app is also available on any connected living room device such as Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, PlayStation or Xbox, as well as most smart TVs, including those from Samsung, Vizio, Sony and Hisense. Additionally, Pluto TV can be accessed on the web at pluto.tv/watch.
 
SCOUTING THE HORNETS
 
2017: 0-1 Overall, 0-0 BS
Last Game: L 28-6 at Idaho (Aug. 31)
Head Coach: Jody Sears
Key Offensive Players:
#5 Jr. QB Kevin Thomson (10-21-0, 95 YRDS)
#33 Fr. RB Elijah Dotson (5-46 YRDS, 9.2 YPC)
#25 Gr. RB Joseph Ajeigbe (10-34 YRDS, 3.4 YPC)
#1 Sr. WR Isiah Hennie (5-49 YRDS, 9.8 YPC)
Key Defensive Players:
#34 Jr. LB Marcus Bruce (8 TKL)
#23 Jr. DB Dre Terrell (5 TKL, 1.0 SACKS, 1.0 TFL, 1 INT)
#99 Jr. DL George Obinna (3 TKL, 2.0 SACKS, 3.0 TFL, 2 FF)
Summary: Sacramento State posted a 2-9 record last season, including a 2-6 mark in Big Sky action. The Hornets are coming off of a 28-6 season-opening loss to Idaho on Aug. 31.
 
Sacramento State is averaging 6 points and 190 yards of total offense. The Hornets average 95 yards through the air, led by quarterback Kevin Thompson. Running backs Elijah Dotson (46 yards, 9.2 yards per carry) and Joseph Ajeigbe (34 yards and 3.4 yards per carry) spearhead the Sacramento State ground game. Receiver Isiah Hennie emerges as Thomson's favorite target, hauling in five receptions for 46 yards against the Vandals.
 
Defensively the Hornets surrendered 28 points and 356 yards against Idaho, including 163 passing yards and 193 yards on the ground.
 
Linebacker Marcus Bruce leads the Sacramento State defense with 8 tackles. Defensive back Dre Terrell has 5 tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss and an interception, while defensive lineman George Obinna racked up 3 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 tackles for loss and 2 forced fumbles against the Vandals.
 
THE CARDINAL FILE
 
2017: 0-1 Overall, 0-0 SLC
Last Game: L 66-0 at Fresno State (Sept. 2)
Head Coach: Larry Kennan
Key Offensive Players:
#15 Sr. QB Taylor Laird (9-20-1, 90 YRDS)
#29 Fr. RB Keyondrick Philio (7-19, 1.6 YPC)
#22 Sr. WR Jamari Gilbert (3-39 YRDS, 13.0 YPC)
#16 Sr. WR Daryl Brooks (2-45 YRDS, 22.5 YPC)
Key Defensive Players:
#25 Jr. CB Jamarkese Williams (7 TKL, 1 BU)
#8 Sr. LB Quandre Washington (5 TKL)
#55 Jr. DE Darrius Montgomery (3 TKL, 1.5 TFL)
Summary: The Cardinals finished their 2016 campaign with a 3-8 overall record and a 3-6 mark in Southland Conference play. UIW is coming off of a 66-0 season-opening defeat at Fresno State on Saturday.
 
Last year the Cardinals averaged 26.3 points and 360.4 yards of total offense. UIW averaged 242.5 yards through the air, with quarterback Taylor Laird seeing action in 9-of-11 games. Laird went 9-of-20 for 90 yards and an interception in week one against the Bulldogs. Senior receivers Jamari Gilbert (3 receptions, 39 yards) and Daryl Brooks (2 receptions, 45 yards) emerge as Laird's most reliable targets. Running back Desmond Hite rushed for 326 yards and a pair of scores in 2016, but was held to 0 yards on 15 carries at Fresno State.
 
Defensively the Cardinals surrendered 37.7 points and 447.4 yards per game last season. The unit hemorrhaged 66 points and 613 yards against the Bulldogs.
 
Linebacker Quandre Washington leads the UIW defense with 5 tackles in week one. Cornerback Jamarkese Williams contributed 7 tackles and a pass breakup, while defensive end Darrius Montgomery tallied 3 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss.
 
SERIES HISTORY
 
Saturday's game will be just the second meeting in program history between UIW and Sacramento State. The previous meeting came on Aug. 30, 2014 in San Antonio, with the Hornets earning a 49-13 victory over the Cardinals at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium.
 
UP NEXT
 
UIW opens Southland Conference action in week three as the squad travels to Nacogdoches for a matchup with Stephen F. Austin at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16.
 
UP NEXT
 
After a bye week, the Cardinals' home-opener will come in week five at 6 p.m. on Sept. 30 against rival Abilene Christian.
 
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.