LAKE CHARLES, La. – The University of the Incarnate Word football team fought back from the largest deficit of the season with a 28-0 run in the second half to defeat McNeese State University 35-24 on Saturday night.
 
Timothy Carter (165) and Isaiah Robinson (121) rushed for 100-plus yards each as the Cardinals put up a total of 301 yards on the ground. In the air, Richard Torres accounted for 161 yards and three touchdowns in the second half. Tylan Foster finished his third game in a row with double-digit tackles, accumulating 11 on the night.
 
The Cowboys struck first on a 24-yard rushing touchdown with six minutes left in the first and then again to start the second quarter, breaking out for 57 yards to the house and a commanding 14-0 lead.
 
Robinson, in his first game of the season, bullied his way into the end zone to cut the Cowboy lead three minutes into the second quarter (14-7) after Carter sparked the Cardinal offense on a 58-yard drive to put UIW in scoring position.
 
UIW was threatening to tie the game at 14 when McNeese forced a fumble in the red zone on the handoff and recovered the ball at their 16-yard line. The Cowboys then marched 84 yards for another touchdown (21-7) and a two-score lead once more. Five minutes later, McNeese settled for a 28-yard field goal to bring the score to 24-7 shortly before the two teams headed into halftime.
 
Following a rocky first half, Torres found CJ Hardy for 17 yards on fourth down to keep the Cardinals' drive alive and get into scoring position. Torres then spotted Brandon Porter all by himself in the end zone to cut the Cowboy lead to 10 with four minutes left in the third (24-14).
 
The Cardinal defense continued to shift momentum from the Cowboys as Mason Chambers intercepted McNeese at the 30-yard line to end the third quarter. Torres passed to Porter for 29 yards and a dive that was just short of a touchdown, however, Torres found a seam and rushed for two yards to put the Cardinals down 24-21 to start the fourth.
 
UIW's 48-yard field goal to tie the game with nine minutes left was just shy left to keep the score at 24-21 for McNeese. The Cardinal defense came up strong and forced a 3- and-out to get the ball back.
 
Porter handed the Cardinals a 28-24 lead on a 36-yard touchdown run with five minutes to go and Marquez called game with the final touchdown of the night to take the 35-24 victory.

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