SAN ANTONIO -- The University of the Incarnate Word football team travels to No. 19/20 Nicholls on Saturday for a 3 p.m. (CT) contest at John L. Guidry Stadium.
 
KICKOFF COVERAGE

• Saturday's game is on the Southland Digital Network. A live streaming link can be found on the schedule page at uiwcardinals.com/football.
• Live audio is available for all football games on Stretch Internet and can be found at uiwcardinals.com/broadcast.
• Live stats can be found on the schedule page at uiwcardinals.com/football.

 
HIGHLIGHTS FROM NO. 6 MCNEESE

• The 45-17 win over No. 6 McNeese marks the first Cardinal win over a ranked opponent in program history.
• The Cardinals held sixth-ranked McNeese to just 222 yards of total offense, 90 yards below the Cowboys' season average.
• Phillip Baptiste scored his fifth touchdown of the season with 12:22 left in the first quarter, giving the Cardinals a 7-0 advantage.
• Jon Copeland racked up his 12th passing touchdown of the season when he found Lamont Johnson in the end zone for an eight-yard score in the first quarter.
• Ra'Quanne Dickens scored his 10th touchdown of the season with a seven-yard scamper in the second quarter. He is now one touchdown away from tying the season record for rushing touchdowns (set by Broderick Reeves in 2013). Dickens leads the Southland in rushing touchdowns.
• Copeland scored his second rushing touchdown of the season with a one-yard QB keeper, extending UIW's lead to 28-3 in the second quarter.
• Copeland found Baptiste again in the third quarter, this time for a 15-yard score. The touchdown extended UIW's lead to 38-10. Baptiste leads the team in receiving touchdowns with six.
• With 14:17 left in the first quarter, Malick Phillips snagged his first interception of the season. With the interception, the Cardinals have forced a turnover in eight consecutive games dating back to the 2017 season. This is the second longest turnover streak since joining DI -- the longest was a stretch of nine games from Oct. 3, 2015, to Sept. 3, 2016.
• Javon Burse had his first sack of the season in the second quarter to bring up a third-and-long situation. After failing to convert on third down, McNeese missed the field goal and UIW maintained a 14-3 advantage.
• Ian Peterson had his first interception of the season in the third quarter. The two interceptions against McNeese ties a season high (also against SFA, Sept. 15; Southeastern Louisiana, Oct. 6).
• After McNeese muffed a punt, Phillips recovered the ball with 4:05 left in the first half to put the Cardinals in Cowboy territory. This was Phillips' first fumble recovery of the season. Seven plays later, Copeland used a one-yard QB-keeper to extend UIW's lead to 28-3.
• David Balcomb landed two punts inside the five-yard line, pinning McNeese to the goal line. He had 314 yards on seven punts for an average of 44.9 yards.
• Balcomb had a career-long punt of 66 yards in the second quarter.

 
WINNING AIN'T EASY
When UIW took the field against sixth-ranked McNeese on Saturday, it was 0-19 against ranked opponents in program history. On Oct. 20, however, the Cardinals secured their first win over a ranked foe with a 45-17 victory over the Cowboys at Benson Stadium in a nationally televised contest. UIW held McNeese to just 222 yards of total offense (90 yards below its per game average) and forced four turnovers (three interceptions and a fumble recovery) in the victory.
 
UIW AROUND THE CONFERENCE, IN THE NATION

• The Cardinals lead the Southland and are No. 14 in the FCS with an average of 476.0 yards of total offense per game.
• UIW is second in the conference and No. 20 in the nation in scoring offense (34.1 points per game).
• The Cardinals are second in the league and fourth in the nation with three defensive touchdowns.

 
INDIVIDUALS AROUND THE CONFERENCE, IN THE NATION

• Mar'kel Cooks leads the SLC and is second in the FCS with three fumbles recovered.
• Jon Copeland is third in the league and eighth in the nation with 2,080 passing yards. He is also second in the league and eighth nationally with 297.1 passing yards per game.
• Copeland leads the Southland and ranks No. 9 nationally with 307.0 yards of total offense per game.
• Copeland is second in the league and ranks No. 21 in the FCS with 13.96 yards per completion.
• Ra'Quanne Dickens is third in the conference and No. 45 in the nation with 118.14 all-purpose yards per game.
• Dickens leads the league and ranks No. 9 in the FCS with 7.15 rush yards per carry; he also leads the league and ranks No. 16 nationally with 744 rushing yards.
• Dickens leads the SLC and is No. 5 in the FCS with 10 rushing touchdowns; the 10 TDs is second in the SLC and No. 12 nationally in total touchdowns.
• Dickens leads the league and is No. 16 in the FCS with 106.3 rushing yards per game.
• Justin Alexandre is third in the SLC and No. 17 nationally with 0.86 sacks per game.

 
DEFENSES CAN'T COPE

• Freshman QB Jon Copeland became UIW's third 2,000-yard passer when he racked up 236 yards against No. 6 McNeese on Oct. 20.
• Copeland ranks third all-time in season passing yards with 2,080. He is just 195 passing yards from breaking the single-season record (2,274 set by Trent Brittain in 2016).
• With three touchdown passes against the Cowboys on Oct. 20, Copeland has 14 on the season. He is four shy of tying the single-season program record (18, set by Trent Brittain in 2016).
• Copeland threw for 515 yards, a new program record, at Lamar on Oct. 13. That breaks the program record of 411 he set on Oct. 6 against SLU.
• Copeland threw for over 400 yards in two consecutive games (vs. SLU and at Lamar). He has three games with over 300 passing yards this season, becoming the first quarterback in program history to throw for 300 yards in three or more games in a single season.
• He is the first quarterback in program history to throw for 400-or-more yards in consecutive games, and the first to throw over 500 in a single game.
• Copeland is also the first SLC quarterback to eclipse 500 yards passing in a single game and just the second in the FCS this season (Davlin Hodges -- Samford – 562 yards – Oct. 6).
• When Copeland took the field against New Mexico in week one, it was the first time that a true freshman started at quarterback for the Cardinals in a season-opening game. Previously, UIW had started a redshirt freshman (Trent Brittain, 2013) in a season opener and started a true freshman (Taylor Woods, 2012) in midseason games. In that game, Copeland threw for 328 yards and one touchdown, while running for another.

 
RUN LIKE THE DICKENS

• Ra'Quanne Dickens scored his 10th rushing touchdown of the season against No. 6 McNeese on Oct. 20. He is one touchdown away from tying the program record of 11 rushing touchdowns in a single season (set by Broderick Reeves back in 2013).
• Dickens has 744 rushing yards this season, just 145 yards from breaking the single-season program record (888, Trent Rios, 2010).
• Dickens ran for 220 yards against Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 15. He is one of only two SLC running backs to surpass 200 yards in a single game this season.
• Dickens recorded the longest run from scrimmage in program history on Sept. 1 against New Mexico with a 90-yard touchdown run. He then added the fourth longest run from scrimmage in program history in the home opener, vs. SFA on Sept. 15, when he scampered for a 79-yard touchdown run.

 
SCOUTING NICHOLLS

• Nicholls is 4-3 overall and 3-2 in Southland Conference action after falling, 28-12, at Abilene Christian on Oct. 13. The Colonels had a bye week on Oct. 20 and are ranked No. 19/20 in the polls.
• The Colonels are led by Chase Fourcade, who has 1,513 passing yards in 113 completions.
• Nicholls leads the conference and ranks No. 39 in the nation in passing yards allowed (202.4 per game). The Colonels also lead the conference and are 26th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing opponents just 22.4 points per game.
• Nicholls won last year's contest (Oct. 28), 38-31, at Benson Stadium in San Antonio.

 
SERIES RECORD
UIW and Nicholls have played four times. The Cardinals won the first two games (Nov. 1, 2014, 38-20; Sept. 19, 2015, 20-10). Nicholls has won the last two (Sept. 17, 2016, 35-28; Oct. 28, 2017, 38-31).
 
NOTABLE CARDINAL PERFORMENCES AGAINST NICHOLLS

• Desmond Hite had an 85-yard run from scrimmage in the Sept. 17, 2016, game.
• Ramon Coto, Jr. kicked a 49-yard field goal in the Sept. 19, 2015, meeting.
• Oscar Draguicevich punted 11 times for 468 yards in the Sept. 17, 2016, matchup.
• Joe Zema had a 68-yard punt in the Oct. 28, 2017, game.
• Hite tied a school record with a 100-yard kickoff return in the contest on Oct. 28, 2017.
• Jordan Scelfo passed for 260 yards in the Nov. 1, 2014, game.
• UIW intercepted four Colonel passes in the matchup on Sept. 19, 2015.

 
RECEIVING CORPS

• The UIW offense had two wide receivers eclipse 150 yards at Lamar (Oct. 13) for the second consecutive game.
• Junior wide receiver Kam Williams hauled in a team-high 153 yards receiving at Lamar (Oct. 13), marking his second career game of 150+ yards through the air. Kody Edwards made 10 catches for 150 yards, which marks a new season high for the senior.
• In the game against Southeastern Louisiana on Oct. 6, senior Phillip Baptiste finished with 174 yards on seven catches, the most yards of any UIW receiver this season, and the second most in a single game by any UIW receiver (two tied for first with 188 yards) in program history. Junior WR Kam Williams put up 163 yards on six catches. This was the third-most receiving yards in program history.

 
RECEIVING VOTES
After defeating sixth-ranked McNeese, 45-17, on Oct. 20, the Cardinals received votes in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) FCS Coaches Top 25 Poll and in the STATS FCS Top 25 Media Poll, both released Oct. 22. This is the second time this season UIW has received votes in both polls. The Cardinals also received votes on Oct. 8 after capturing a dominating, 52-34 victory against Southeastern Louisiana on Oct. 6.
 
THREE STRAIGHT

• The three victories from Sept. 15-29 (Stephen F. Austin, 31-7, on Sept. 15; Abilene Christian, 44-34, on Sept. 29; Southeastern Louisiana, 52-34, on Oct. 6.) marks the first time the Cardinals have won three consecutive games since 2013 (HBU, 24-3, Oct. 26; McMurry, 47-43, Nov. 2; Abilene Christian, 34-31, Nov. 9).
• This is just the third time in program history the Cardinals have won three consecutive games (also Oct. 3-Oct. 24, 2009).

 
CARDINALS FACE THREE FBS OPPONENTS THIS SEASON
With the announcement that UIW will play Iowa State on Dec. 1, the Cardinals now play three Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponents this season. UIW opened its season with games against FBS opponents New Mexico and North Texas. The Iowa State game will be the sixth FBS opponent in UIW football history, and the first game against a proverbial "Power Five" conference school.
 
SPEAKING OF A CHALLENGING SCHEDULE
UIW also plays top-notch Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) opponents. Four schools represented the Southland Conference in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll, released on Oct. 22: Central Arkansas (14), McNeese (16), Nicholls (19), and Sam Houston State (22). The Cardinals defeated McNeese (45-17) on Oct. 20. UIW faces Nicholls on Oct. 27 and Sam Houston on Nov. 3.
 
10TH YEAR: CARDINAL FOOTBALL
This is UIW's 10th year of college football. The Cardinals won their inaugural game on Aug. 29, 2009, by a score of 42-39 against Monterey Tech. In that first year, UIW competed as a Division II independent. For the next four seasons, UIW played in the Division II Lone Star Conference. The Cardinals joined the Division I ranks as an independent in 2013 before becoming a member of the Southland Conference in 2014.
 
138th YEAR: THE UNIVERSITY OF THE INCARNATE WORD
In 1881, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, an order of Catholic nuns based in Paris, founded UIW as a center of higher education for young women. In 1970, male students first enrolled in undergraduate programs. UIW is the largest Catholic school in Texas and the fourth-largest private university in the state. Enrollment is approaching 11,000, which includes off-campus learning programs in Texas and international locations.
 
COLLEGE FOOTBALL COACHING PRODIGY
Eric Morris, who turns 33 on Oct. 26, is one of college football's youngest head coaches. He is more than two years younger than another coach who has received a lot of attention for his youth, 34-year-old Lincoln Riley of Oklahoma. Morris is not the youngest head coach in college football, however. Sean Lewis of Kent State, another 32-year-old, is more than six months younger.
 
HEAD COACH: DEEP TEXAS TIES
UIW's new head coach, Eric Morris, comes to UIW from Texas Tech and has deep Texas ties. He played at Tech before spending five years as its offensive coordinator, and he has brought the same exciting style of offense to Benson Stadium. He was also a graduate assistant under University of Houston head coach Kevin Sumlin, who later went on to coach at Texas A&M. Additionally, Morris coached at Washington State under former Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach.
 
ASSISTANT COACHES: MORE TEXAS TIES
Only one of Eric Morris' 11 position coaches/coordinators does not have a Texas background as either a player, coach, scholar, or native-born son.
 
PASSION FOR CHANGE
The Cardinals have an all new staff filled with young coaches who have a ton of energy and passion. Throughout the spring and in fall camp, they worked to change the culture of the team and will look to sustain that momentum throughout the season. Many of the players have remarked that they can relate to a youthful coaching staff that seems to have boundless energy.
 
SIX YEARS WITHOUT NATURAL TURF FOR THE CARDINAL GRIDDERS
UIW has played 66 consecutive football game on an artificial playing surface. The Cardinals last played on natural grass on Oct. 13, 2012 at Texas A&M-Kingsville's Javelina Field. All Southland Conference football teams play home games on artificial turf. The Cardinals' streak of consecutive games on a synthetic playing surface will come to an end on Dec. 1, 2018, when they play on natural grass at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa.
 
SPEAKING OF PLAYING SURFACES
UIW enjoys the Southland Conference's newest crop of artificial turf. Benson Stadium received new Field Turf over the summer, replete with a camouflaged end zone pattern in school colors of red and black with white lettering. The installation of the field turf garnered national attention from social media, Sportscenter, and more.
 
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS
When new UIW head football coach Eric Morris held spring football drills in March, he had a roster that numbered in the sixties. When fall drills began in August, those numbers had increased to 105. The new roster included a 20-player recruiting class announced on Feb. 7 (19 high school prospects and one transfer), plus numerous recruited and walk-on players who joined the team later.
 
MAKING THE GRADE
Since UIW head coach Eric Morris took charge of the Cardinal football team in December 2017, his student-athletes have increased the team GPA -- previously under a 2.5 -- through hard work and dedication. The emphasis that Morris and his assistant coaches placed on classroom attentiveness paid off in one semester. When spring semester grades arrived in late May, the team achieved a collective GPA of 3.2.
 
TEAM CAPTAINS
Five team captains, chosen by their fellow student-athletes, will provide leadership on and off of the field for the Cardinals this season. Center Tyler Preston from Georgetown and wide receiver Kody Edwards from Mesquite, both seniors, represent the offense. Senior linebacker Silas Stewart, from Wilmington, Delaware, and junior linebacker Mar'kel Cooks, from Irving, Texas, will lead the defense, while special teams members will look to senior kicker Cody Seidel, from Keller, Texas.