SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word football team sets off to Houston, Texas, to face Houston Baptist University (HBU) in its final regular-season game of the Fall 2021 season. With a win, the Cardinals will clinch the outright Southland Conference Championship. UIW has already secured an automatic bid to the FCS playoffs, a first in program history.
FOLLOW THE GAME
THE LAST TIME THEY MET
- The Cardinals and Huskies last faced each other on Oct. 30, 2021, when UIW defeated HBU, 49-21, at home.
- Cameron Ward passed for 328 yards and four touchdowns. He completed 34 passes on 46 attempts with no interceptions and was only sacked once.
- Ward broke his own single-season touchdown pass record of 24 (set last year in the shortened six-game season) with four thrown against the Huskies. He currently has 35 TDs this year.
- Marcus Cooper led the Cardinals in rushing yards, gaining 104 yards and scoring two touchdowns. He was followed by Kevin Brown's 89 yards and one touchdown.
- Robert Ferrel led UIW with 102 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Darion Chafin and Roger McCuller also registered a touchdown on the day.
- Kelechi Anyalebechi and Kaleb Culp led the defense, both tallying 11 tackles. Anyalebechi also had one tackle for loss, one sack, and one forced fumble, while Culp chipped in one tackle for loss and one forced fumble.
UIW
- UIW is coming off a big 27-23 win against Nicholls in Thibodaux, Louisiana, improving its overall record to 8-2 and 6-1 in Southland Conference play. UIW is currently first in the Southland Conference rankings and can secure the title with a victory over HBU.
- The Cardinals head into the game ranked No. 18 by FCS Stats Perform and No. 19 in the FCS Coaches Poll.
- UIW has secured an automatic bid to the FCS playoffs.
- The Cardinals travel to Houston with a 3-2 record in away games this season.
HBU
- HBU remains winless in the Fall 2021 season with a record of 0-10 overall and 0-7 in Southland Conference play.
- The Huskies celebrate their Senior Day before the 2 p.m. kickoff.
- HBU is led by freshman quarterback Orion Olivas who has registered 1,304 yards and six touchdowns this season. Olivas has completed 146 passes on 249 attempts.
- HBU's Rodney Dansby leads the Southland Conference with 11.2 tackles per game.
UIW PLAYERS TO WATCH
- Ward has passed for 3,525 yards and 35 touchdowns, completing 279 passes on 441 attempts.
- The sophomore is tied for second in the FCS for most passing touchdowns. He also ranks fourth for most passing yards and most passing yards per game with 352.50.
- Kevin Brown is coming off a big weekend where he had a season-long 85-yard rushing touchdown against Nicholls. Brown leads the Cardinals with 808 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. He ranks 29th in the FCS for most rushing yards.
- Taylor Grimes leads UIW in receiving yards with 850 and has 10 touchdowns on the season. Grimes ranks ninth in the FCS for most receiving yards in a single season.
- Kelechi Anyalebechi leads the Cardinal defense with 107 total tackles, putting him at number six in the FCS rankings. Anyalebechi is four tackles away from breaking the UIW program record for most tackles in a single season.
- Anyalebechi has also tallied three sacks on the season.
FOLLOW ALONG
For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics, visit
uiwcardinals.com, follow the Cardinals on Twitter
@UIWAthletics, and like UIW Athletics on Facebook.
Follow the team on Twitter @UIWFootball and Instagram @uiw_football.
--UIW CARDINALS--
