EL PASO, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word football team fell short on Saturday night at the Sun Bowl with a 28-14 loss against FBS opponent, the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP).
 
UTEP's rushing attack controlled the game with 329 total rushing yards, keeping the Cardinals off the field for over 35 minutes. UIW put up 245 yards in the air as Zach Calzada, in his first game as a Cardinal, finished 18-31-1 with one touchdown.
 
Ricky Rich totaled 10 tackles on the night, and Tylan Foster followed behind with nine and one QBH. Steven Parker notched his first sack of the season to go along with one quarterback hurry.
 
The Cardinals started the 2023 season with a 34-yard touchdown pass from Calzada to Brandon Porter who scored on a diving catch to claim a 7-0 start just under five minutes into the game.
 
UTEP found its footing with seven minutes left in the first as the Miners broke out for a 40-yard rush on the heels of the Cardinal defense to tie the game, 7-7. UIW had a chance to reclaim the lead on the next drive, but a UTEP pass breakup in the endzone left the two teams tied to end the first.
 
Caleb Chapman put the Cardinals in the red zone following an impressive 61-yard haul to the Miners' 5-yard line with 10:47 on the clock. Tre Siggers then rushed for 17 yards on three drives before the final seven yards into the endzone with his first touchdown as a Cardinal to put UIW back on top (14-7).
 
Once more, the Miners were quick to tie the game back up, 14-14, with 13 yards in the air to the house. The score remained tied as UIW and UTEP headed to the locker room at the half.
 
UTEP capped off an eight-minute drive in the third with a 24-yard touchdown pass (21-14), the sole TD of the quarter for either team. With 8:47 in the fourth, the Miners drove 96 yards, extending the lead to 28-14 to win their first game of the season.

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