HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word football team dropped a 49-42 decision to No. 1 Sam Houston on Saturday at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium in the NCAA FCS Second Round. 42 points are the most scored against the Bearkats since 2018 when UIW scored 43 points against SHSU.
 
"There is so much to be proud of," said UIW head coach Eric Morris. "What we have accomplished in the last four years, being a nobody and moving up to where we're somebody and a force to be reckoned with. It's just such a heartbreak for our kids. That's the National Champions on their home turf. I am super proud of our coaches and players and excited to see what the future holds for us."
 
Cameron Ward finished the game with 481 passing yards. On the first drive of the game, Ward broke the career passing yards record. He currently has 6,908 career passing yards in just 19 games.
 
Darion Chafin led the Cardinals with 172 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Taylor Grimes, who set the career TD reception record on the first drive of the game, had 104 receiving yards and one touchdown. The junior now has 15 career touchdowns in only 13 games.
 
The Cardinals took an early advantage, scoring on their first drive of the day to go up 7-0. Ward found Darion Chafin for a 23-yard pass to put UIW inside the red zone before he hit Grimes for a nine-yard score.
 
Sam Houston responded, using a three-yard rushing touchdown and a 37-yard field goal to take a 10-7 lead at the end of the first frame, but the Cardinals answered at the start of the second quarter. Ward threw to Chafin for back-to-back completions before Marcus Cooper ripped off a 40-yard rushing touchdown, the longest run SHSU has allowed this season, to give UIW a 14-10 advantage.
 
The Bearkats jumped ahead again, scoring three TDs in the second quarter. UIW kept up its intensity, though, and added a touchdown of its own before the break. Ward connected with Chafin again, this time for a one-yard TD, cutting the SHSU lead to 31-21 going into the break.
 
The Cardinals came out of the locker room on fire, forcing a three-and-out on SHSU's first drive before marching down the field and scoring. On fourth-and-seven, Ward hit Robert Ferrel in the end zone for a 16-yard TD to leave Sam Houston with a 31-28 advantage.
 
UIW took the lead once again eight seconds into the fourth quarter when Ward found Chafin for a 48-yard touchdown. The 77-yard drive put the Cardinals ahead, 35-34.
 
Sam Houston used a one-yard rush, combined with a two-point conversion, to go up 42-35, but UIW took just two plays to knot the game. Ward hit Trevor Begue for a 13-yard first down. On the next play, Ward found Begue again. This time, the wide receiver scampered 62 yards down the sideline and into the end zone.
 
SHSU's three-yard rushing touchdown gave the Bearkats a 49-42 lead, which they held on to for the win.
 
 
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