CONWAY, Ark. -- The University of the Incarnate Word football team secured at least a share of the Southland Conference championship with a 40-27, come-from-behind victory at Central Arkansas on Saturday afternoon in Estes Stadium.
 
This is the first conference championship for the Cardinals, who became postseason eligible at the Division I level in 2017. The Cardinals went from a 1-10 record in 2017 to 6-4 overall and 6-2 in SLC action in Head Coach Eric Morris' first season at the helm.
 
Central Arkansas is now 5-5 overall, 4-4 in SLC play.
 
Ra'Quanne Dickens broke the program record for single-season rushing yards and single-season rushing touchdowns. He finished the game with 213 rushing yards -- his second 200-yard rushing effort this season -- and three touchdowns. Dickens now has 1,054 rushing yards in 2018, becoming the first 1,000-yard rusher in UIW program history. He also has 14 rushing TDs this season.
 
Sean Brophy finished the night with 14 completions for 243 yards and a touchdown, while Jon Copeland completed 11 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown.
 
Phillip Baptiste (158) and Kody Edwards (140) both racked up over 100 receiving yards on the night. Baptiste added a receiving touchdown, while Edwards finished with 187 all-purpose yards.
 
After the first drive ended in a punt for each team, Central Arkansas took the lead with a 32-yard pass from Luke Hales to Cedric Battle. The pass capped a four-play, 95-yard drive that gave the Bears a 7-0 advantage with 9:41 remaining in the first quarter.
 
On the next drive, Copeland came alive and found Jaelin Campbell for a 19-yard pass before hitting Baptiste with a 60-yarder to put the Cardinals on the UCA 13-yard line. The eight-play, 81-yard drive resulted in a Rhett Marshall field goal as UIW cut UCA's lead to 7-3.
 
Central Arkansas extended its advantage early in the second quarter. The Bears used a single, 32-yard pass play from Hales to Battle to take a 14-3 lead, but the Cardinals answered on the next drive.
 
UIW was in a fourth-and-17 situation when Copeland found Ameer King for 31 yards and a first down. Two plays later, Copeland hit Lamont Johnson for a 16-yard score, cutting the UCA advantage to 14-10 with 9:45 left in the half.
 
In a drive that started with 1:37 left in the first half, the Cardinals mounted a seven-play, 80-yard drive to take a 17-14 lead. UIW quarterback Sean Brophy hit multiple key passes, including a 27-yard pass to Baptiste to start the drive, followed by a 12-yard aerial to Campbell. The Cardinals capped the drive with a double-reverse flea-flicker pass from Brophy to Baptise for a 26-yard score.
 
The Cardinals carried their momentum into the second half, scoring on a drive that was largely due to Dickens' efforts. The senior had rushes of eight yards, 19 yards and four yards before taking the ball to the house on a 15-yard scramble. The play concluded a seven-play, 65-yard drive and gave UIW a 24-14 advantage.
 
The UIW defense stiffened on the next drive, forcing a UCA three-and-out and giving the offense the ball with 11:46 left in the third quarter. The Cardinals then went 70 yards in 10 plays -- complete with a two-yard touchdown rush from Dickens -- to push their lead to 30-14.
 
Central Arkansas responded, using a six-play, 65-yard touchdown drive that ran 2:09 off the clock and cut UIW's lead to 30-21.
 
With 12:08 left in the fourth quarter, the Cardinals started with a short field after a bad snap on a fourth-down punt attempt. Two plays later, Dickens bounced off a defender, used a block from Brophy, and charged into the end zone for a five-yard touchdown, giving the Cardinals a 37-21 advantage with 11:14 remaining in the game.
 
UCA then used a two-yard touchdown rush to finish a four-play, 31-yard drive that consumed 2:06 off the clock. After a failed two-point conversion, the Cardinals maintained a 37-27 lead.
 
UIW added a field goal with 2:55 left in the game, securing a 40-27 victory and at least a share of the conference championship for the Cardinals.

Quotes from Head Coach Eric Morris
On capturing the conference championship…
I can't think right now, I'm just happy for the kids. I'm proud of them. They bought into what we were selling them. We told them they'd have a great product if they worked hard for it. They are a testament to what pure heart, determination, and courage can do. I'm speechless right now, but super proud of them.
 
On the season coming full-circle…
That's what "stealth mode" meant this whole year. It meant we were going to work hard where others were talking. We weren't going to pay attention to that. We were just going to keep our heads down and work towards something. I don't think we are stealth mode anymore; people know who we are. What a great team performance tonight. Defense, offense, special teams all contributed tonight. It was a fun way to win.
 
On the composure late in the game to run the clock out…
O-line did a great job. Ra'Quanne Dickens did a great job. Philio came in and did a great job. I'm proud of them. We told them it was going to be on them, and they did a great job of executing.