SAN ANTONIO – Freshman quarterback Cameron Ward led the University of the Incarnate Word football team with a record-breaking seven touchdown performance in a, 56-45, win to upset No. 16/17 Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday afternoon in its home opener.
Ward tallied 407 yards off 26 completions, 47 attempts and no interceptions.
The Cardinals' first scoring opportunity came after the Lions scored an early touchdown, the red and black were shut down as Carson Mohr's kick was blocked, but were able to come back from that as the defense came out to force SLU to punt on the next possession.
UIW capped off a nine-play, 74-yard drive as Ward connected with Robert Ferrell on a seven-yard pass to tie the score, 7-7.
SLU scored to start the second quarter, quarterback Cephus Johnson III carried it past the end line on a three-yard rush to get ahead 13-7, after a missed extra point by the Lions' kicker.
UIW got up the field off a fake pass by Ward, who then turned to connect with Tre Wolf, a 59-yard gainer, just one yard shy of the goal line. Ward scored on the following snap when he faked the give, endured a tackle and dove into the endzone for UIW's first lead of the game after Mohr's PAT was good.
Jerick Petrie reached out for a big pass breakup in the endzone forcing and SLU field goal from the three-yard line as the Lions jumped ahead, 16-14.
Kevin Brown answered the house call 23 seconds later dodging a few defenders to carry it in for a 75-yard rush for the score.
The Cardinal defense got the ball back forcing a turnover on downs off a pass breakup by Gerald Bowie III, as the offense put more points on the board when Ward connected with Ferrell for his second touchdown of the game.
Jaelin Campbell recovered an offensive fumble to save the final drive of the first half, just in time for Ward to get the quick snap looking up to find Wolf in the endzone with three seconds remaining, for a 35-16 lead at the break.
UIW wasted no time, scoring in just a minute and a half into the quarter when Ward found a moving target in Ameer King off a 25-yard pass.
Southeastern responded with one of their own, to break up the four consecutive red and black touchdowns to cut UIW's lead, 42-23.
UIW's hurry-up offense sped up the field in just three plays over 36 seconds as Ward threw a 41-yard bomb to Campbell for the score.
SLU tried to make it a game, closing with one touchdown at the end of the third and two in the fourth quarter, but UIW was able to run out the clock for a 56-45 win and remain undefeated.
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