SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word football team travels to Huntsville, Texas, to face No. 1 Sam Houston State University for the NCAA FCS Second Round. This is a historic year for the Cardinals as they were the Southland Conference outright champions, were the league's automatic qualifier, hosted the first round of the playoffs, and have made it to the second round, all for the first time in program history.
UIW enters the second round with a 10-2 overall record. They finished the regular season with a 7-1 record in the Southland Conference. The undefeated Bearkats of Sam Houston lead the series history between the two programs, 7-1.
FOLLOW THE GAME
THE LAST TIME THEY MET
- The two programs last faced each other on April 17, 2021, when Sam Houston defeated UIW, 42-14.
- The last time the Cardinals traveled to Huntsville, Texas, UIW fell to the Bearkats, 45-6.
- UIW last defeated the Bearkats, 43-26, at Benson Stadium in 2018. That year, the Cardinals were co-champions of the SLC.
- In the Spring 2021 contest, UIW amassed 318 yards of total offense, while Sam Houston had 593 yards of total offense.
UIW
- This is the first time in program history UIW has advanced to the second round of the NCAA FCS Playoffs.
- Head coach Eric Morris is a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award for National Coach of the Year. Morris was named the Southland Conference Coach of the Year on Nov. 23.
- Quarterback Cameron Ward is a finalist for the Walter Payton Award and was selected as the Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Year.
- Taylor Grimes earned the Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year award. Grimes is also one touchdown away from breaking the UIW career record for receiving touchdowns in his first season as a Cardinal.
Sam Houston
- No. 1 Sam Houston is coming into Saturday's matchup off a bye week (the top eight seeds in the FCS playoffs received a first-round bye).
- The Bearkats are undefeated this season and are the reigning National Champions.
- Sam Houston is led by quarterback Eric Schmid, who has 2,254 passing yards and 26 touchdowns this season.
UIW PLAYERS TO WATCH
- Ward has broken UIW records for the most passing touchdowns in a single game (seven) and most passing yards in a single game (610). After only 13 career starts, Ward broke the UIW program record for most career passing touchdowns. Through 17 games in red and black, Ward has 66 passing touchdowns, with 42 in the Fall 2021 season alone.
- Ward was also named the Week 13 CFPA FCS National Performer of the Week after leading UIW to a 35-28 OT victory over SFA on Nov. 27.
- Kevin Brown has 892 rushing yards with 12 touchdowns this season. Brown also had a season-long 85-yard rushing touchdown against Nicholls.
- Marcus Cooper follows Brown with 528 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
- Grimes leads the Cardinals in receiving yards. He has 1,041 yards and 14 touchdowns this season.
- Grimes has broken the UIW program record for most receiving yards in a game (193), most receptions in a game (12), and most receiving touchdowns in a game (four). He now holds the individual season record for pass reception yards with 1,041, pass receptions with 78, and pass reception touchdowns with 14.
- Robert Ferrel has amassed 760 receiving yards with eight touchdowns this season.
- Anyalebechi, who broke the UIW program record for most tackles in a single season against HBU on Nov. 20, has 119 tackles, six TFLs, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, five pass breakups, four quarterback hurries, and four forced fumbles.
- Rashon Davis leads the Southland Conference in passes defended this season, including 13 pass-breakups and three interceptions.
- Kaleb Culp ranks second for UIW in most tackles this season, contributing 96 total tackles, 2.5 TFLs, one sack, one interception, two pass breakups, and one forced fumble.
FOLLOW ALONG
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--UIW CARDINALS--
