SAN ANTONIO – For the first time in 2019, the University of the Incarnate Word football team took the field at Benson Stadium in front of the UIW faithful for the annual Spring Game. The game, a scrimmage between the UIW offense (white) and defense (red), produced multiple highlights, including three touchdowns, an interception and a field goal in front of the largest crowd in UIW spring game history.

"I thought the game was a success," head coach Eric Morris said. "We were injury free, which was huge. The offense came out hot early, picked up a couple touchdowns, but the defense settled in nicely after that and got some stops down the stretch. Good to see both sides battling back and forth."
 
As the team waits for a majority of the 2019 signing class to arrive this summer, the Spring Game provided the opportunity for the Cardinal returners to show the coaches and fans what to expect from them in the fall. On the offensive side, senior quarterback Sean Brophy started and connected early with redshirt senior wide receiver Lamont Johnson for a long gain to set up a touchdown.
 
Johnson knows that he'll be leaned on to continue to make big plays like that throughout the season, and that leadership role is one that the fifth-year player is eager to embrace.
 
"It's not just about me," Johnson said. "I have to get the whole team going. We have to pick up where we left off and keep getting better. Spring ball has been great. Everybody is getting better, the team is better, we have some great chemistry going, but it can't stop. We need to keep striving. From this point on, we have to pick it up. I don't feel any pressure with these guys. Eyes are going to be on me on the outside, but at the end of the day I just have to do my job. We're all here for a reason and I just need to do my part because the rest of my guys are going to be doing the same."
 
From there, the offense showed its ability to move the ball on the ground with strong runs from sophomore Ameer King, junior transfer Kevin Brown and junior Keyondrick Philio.
 
"I thought the offense ran the ball well today," Morris said. "Our offensive line made some holes and the guys back there did a good job of finding them. We need to work a little more on our pass protection though. That will be a key for us in the last few practices of spring."
 
The defense found its footing as the scrimmage progressed and strung together multiple stops, including an interception to stop a drive after the offense worked the ball across the 50-yard line.
 
"It was fun to see the defense fly around out there," Morris said. "They didn't make any glaring mistakes. No busted coverages or anything like that. We made some contested plays down the field and that's always nice to see. I thought both sides had some bright spots, but we also still have plenty to get better at."
 
One of the key pieces on this UIW defense will be senior linebacker Mar'Kel Cooks. He finished last season third on the team with 72 tackles and will looked to keep improving on those numbers when the regular season comes around in August.
 
"Today was great," said Cooks. "Everybody was out here competing, hitting hard, running fast and making plays. The offense looked good, real fast paced. I can't wait to see what they do this season. This offseason has happened so fast and it feels like we were right back where we left off when we started this spring. Now, we look back and see how much better we got this spring and how much better we'll get this summer, it's exciting. We're going to get faster on defense. We're going to be flying around the ball. I'm excited to see all the guys we're adding this summer and they better come ready to play, because we need them and we're going to do some special things with them in here."
 
UP NEXT
The Cardinals have three more practices remaining on the spring schedule before they hit the weight room and get ready for the summer regiment. The 2019 season kicks off in the Alamodome on Aug. 31, when UIW takes on crosstown rival UTSA.

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