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UIW football hosts No. 21 Sam Houston State

 
SAN ANTONIO -- The University of the Incarnate Word football team hosts No. 22/21 Sam Houston State in its Frost Bank Military Appreciation Football Game on Saturday at 2 p.m. (CT).
 
PROMOTIONS
  • Saturday is Homecoming. For a full schedule of events, visit the UIW alumni website.
  • All active, retired, and veteran military members can receive up to four free tickets, courtesy of Frost Bank.
  • Senior Day celebration: UIW football seniors will be honored 20 minutes before kickoff.
  • The UIW Fan Zone will include: a football toss, two military vehicles, a rock-climbing wall, an inflatable wall climb, and a booth with giveaways (courtesy of the Army, Air Force, and National Guard); giant water pong, giant connect four, and cornhole (courtesy of Rent Giant Games); inflatable obstacle course, a bounce house, and more!
  • UIW Military Appreciation t-shirts will be on sale for $15 (while supplies last).
  • Free mini UIW footballs, courtesy of Frost Bank (while supplies last).
 
HIGHLIGHTS FROM NO. 19/20 NICHOLLS
  • Freshman quarterback Jon Copeland broke the UIW single-season passing record in the second quarter with a 17-yard pass to senior wide receiver Kody Edwards. Copeland surpassed the record previously held by Trent Brittain (2,274 passing yards in 2016).
  • Copeland finished with 392 yards through the air to make his record total for the season 2,472 yards with three games remaining on the schedule.
  • He is the first quarterback in school history to throw for 300+ yards four times in a single season.
  • He completed 32 passes, improving his season total to 181, just two behind the program record.
  • Freshman running back Ameer King set a new season high with six receptions for 88 yards.
  • Freshman wide receiver Jaelin Campbell scored his first career touchdown in the third quarter off a fumble recovery on the Nicholls two-yard line.
  • Campbell followed that with a nine-yard receiving touchdown in the fourth quarter.
  • Junior defensive back Louis Otis snagged an interception in the end zone in the second quarter, giving the Cardinals the ball back. This is Otis' second consecutive game with an interception.
  • With the interception, the Cardinals have forced a turnover in nine consecutive games dating back to the 2017 season. This ties the longest turnover streak in program history -- UIW also had turnovers in a stretch of nine games from Oct. 3, 2015, to Sept. 3, 2016.
  • The UIW defense finished with seven tackles for loss, improving its season total to 61. This is the fifth-most TFL in a single season.
 
UIW AROUND THE CONFERENCE, IN THE NATION
  • The Cardinals lead the Southland and are No. 14 in the FCS with an average of 472.3 yards of total offense per game.
  • UIW is second in the SLC and eighth in the nation with 310.3 yards of passing offense per game.
  • The Cardinals are second in the league and sixth 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 second in the league and fifth in the FCS with 2,472 passing yards this season. He also leads the league and is No. 4 in the nation with 309.0 passing yards per game.
  • Copeland leads the Southland and ranks No. 6 nationally with 313.8 yards of total offense per game.
  • Ra'Quanne Dickens leads the league and ranks No. 12 in the FCS with 6.92 rush yards per carry; he also leads the league and ranks No. 21 nationally with 768 rushing yards.
  • Dickens leads the SLC and is No. 11 in the FCS with 10 rushing touchdowns; the 10 TDs is second in the SLC and No. 20 nationally in total touchdowns.
  • Dickens leads the league and is No. 24 in the FCS with 96.0 rushing yards per game.
 
DEFENSES CAN'T COPE
  • Freshman quarterback Jon Copeland broke the UIW single-season passing record against #19 Nicholls with a 17-yard pass to senior wide receiver Kody Edwards. Copeland surpassed the record previously held by Trent Brittain (2,274 passing yards in 2016). He finished the Oct. 27 contest with 392 yards through the air and now has 2,472 yards with three games remaining on the schedule.
  • Copeland became UIW's third 2,000-yard passer when he racked up 236 yards against No. 6 McNeese on Oct. 20.
  • With three touchdown passes against the Colonels on Oct. 27, Copeland has 17 on the season. He is one 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 four games with over 300 passing yards this season, becoming the first quarterback in program history to throw for 300 yards in four 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 was 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 768 rushing yards this season, just 121 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 three 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 No. 22/21 SAM HOUSTON
  • Sam Houston State is 5-3 overall, 4-2 in Southland Conference action, and ranked No. 22/21 in the nation after topping Southeastern Louisiana (28-25) on Saturday.
  • Ty Brock leads the Bearkats with 1,566 passing yards and 10 touchdowns on 119 completions.
  • Sam Houston State has the No. 1 defense in the conference in passing yards allowed; opponents record an average of 212.4 yards per game against the Bearkats.
  • The Bearkats lead the all-time series, 6-0, against the Cardinals. The teams last faced on Nov. 4, 2017, when SHSU secured a 57-20 victory.
 
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.
 
RANKED WINS
When UIW took the field against sixth-ranked McNeese on Oct. 20, it was 0-19 against ranked opponents in program history. That day, 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.
 
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. 29: McNeese (12), Central Arkansas (19), Nicholls (20t), and Sam Houston State (22). The Cardinals defeated McNeese (45-17) on Oct. 20, but fell at Nicholls (48-21) on Oct. 27. UIW hosts Sam Houston on Nov. 3 before traveling to Central Arkansas on Nov. 10.
 
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 turned 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 67 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.
 
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Players Mentioned

Taylor Woods

#11 Taylor Woods

QB
6' 3"
Freshman
Trent Rios

#22 Trent Rios

RB
5' 8"
Senior
 Trent Brittain

#4 Trent Brittain

QB
6' 3"
Junior
Broderick Reeves

#25 Broderick Reeves

RB
5' 9"
Senior
Phillip Baptiste

#21 Phillip Baptiste

WR
6' 0"
Senior
Mar

#9 Mar'kel Cooks

ILB
6' 0"
Junior
Ra

#4 Ra'Quanne Dickens

RB
5' 10"
Senior
Tyler Preston

#63 Tyler Preston

OL
6' 3"
Senior
Cody Seidel

#41 Cody Seidel

K
6' 2"
Senior
Silas Stewart

#12 Silas Stewart

OLB
6' 3"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Taylor Woods

#11 Taylor Woods

6' 3"
Freshman
QB
Trent Rios

#22 Trent Rios

5' 8"
Senior
RB
 Trent Brittain

#4 Trent Brittain

6' 3"
Junior
QB
Broderick Reeves

#25 Broderick Reeves

5' 9"
Senior
RB
Phillip Baptiste

#21 Phillip Baptiste

6' 0"
Senior
WR
Mar

#9 Mar'kel Cooks

6' 0"
Junior
ILB
Ra

#4 Ra'Quanne Dickens

5' 10"
Senior
RB
Tyler Preston

#63 Tyler Preston

6' 3"
Senior
OL
Cody Seidel

#41 Cody Seidel

6' 2"
Senior
K
Silas Stewart

#12 Silas Stewart

6' 3"
Senior
OLB