SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word football team dominated the Nicholls Colonels, 55-10, avenging last season's heartbreaking loss at the end of the 2023 season to start Southland Conference play 1-0.
 
This is the first time the Cardinals have scored more than 50 points in back-to-back games since the 2022 season when they took down Houston Christian (73-20) and Northwestern State (66-7).
 
This was a game of first for many Cardinals as Jackson Lowe and Lontrell Turner both had their first touchdown catches of the season. Lloyd Johnson and Dune Smith both found the endzone for the first time on defensive scores and Josh Lorick threw a touchdown putting up six for the first time in his college career.
 
The Colonels came out similarly to last season, looking to run the ball and control the clock. The Nicholls drive started on the 35-yard line and the Colonels took up 9:18 minutes in 17 plays but only walked away with a field goal (3-0).
 
UIW was able to respond in just eight plays and the final play of the drive was another explosive play as Zach Calzada found Turner streaking 30 yards down the sideline for six. Soon after, the Cardinal defense took command of the game. Mister Williams and Tylan Foster met the Nicholls running back in the hole forcing a fumble that Lloyd Johnson recovered and took the ball to the endzone, putting UIW up 14-3.
 
On the following drive, the Cardinals forced another turnover when Kendrick Stone dove in front of his receiver for the interception, continuing to pressure the Colonel offense.
 
Early in the second quarter the Colonels forced a fumble of their own, getting the ball with great position, starting on the 24-yard line. Three plays later Nicholls was in the endzone, and the Cardinal lead was cut to four, 14-10.
 
UIW once again was able to respond to the Colonel score. This time the Cardinals went 75 yards down the field, 69 of which, were through the air and was capped off by Lowe's first touchdown of the season.
 
After UIW forced another Colonel punt, Dekalon Taylor make some more magic on special teams setting the Cardinals up on the Nicholls 28-yard line. In the final minute of the half, Calzada found Lowe wide open in for his second touchdown of the season and UIW went into the locker room up, 28-10.
 
UIW came out of the locker room on fire. On the third play from scrimmage Calazda launched the ball down the field to his favorite target Jalen Walthall. Walthall was able to make an acrobatic catch taking the ball out of the cornerback's hands and making his way to the endzone.
 
The Cardinals continued to be dominant in all three phases of the game after the touchdown. The defense didn't just hold the Colonels to zero yards and a three-and-out but pushed Nicholls back 17 yards. Taylor followed this up with an impressive 25-yard punt return, and the offense punched it into the endzone with a Josh Lorick pass to Logan Compton, extending the lead to 32 points (42-10).
 
UIW kept pouring it on in the fourth quarter. After starting in plus territory once again, the Cardinals marched down the field and Walthall finished an amazing back-shoulder one-handed grab for his second TD of the game, the fifth for Calzada. UIW held an outstanding 49-10 lead.
 
With three and a half minutes remaining in the game the Cardinals didn't quit. On second down, Dune Smith intercepted the ball at the 45-yard line and ran it back, diving across the goal line adding to the UIW lead.
 
The Colonels battled until the end, but the Cardinal defense kept Nicholls out of the board in the second half, walking away with the 55-10 win.
 
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