SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word football team won its second game in a row, taking down the Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) Panthers 56-28 to close out non-conference play on Saturday night. This marks the most points scored this season for the Cardinals.
 
Dekalon Taylor was a key contributor for the Cardinals tonight scoring two touchdowns for the third time this season; in each game Taylor has crossed the goal line he has made sure to do it twice in the game.
 
The UIW defense was able to hold the PVAMU starting quarterback to 140 yards and 50 percent completion percentage. Dune Smith was the star of the show racking up six total tackles and three tackles for loss for a total of 18 yards.
 
The first score of the game came off a field goal from Brack Peacock, a style of play Cardinal fans are not used to seeing. After getting the drive started on the 25-yard line, UIW drove 57 yards in 13 plays for the 3-0 lead. Prairie View answered with a 42-yard touchdown pass and the 7-3 lead.
 
As the next long drive began to stall the UIW receivers made big plays, first, on third-and-11 when Jalen Walthall made a spectacular catch on the sideline giving the Cardinals a first down in the redzone. This was followed by Walthall going up to make the contested grab over his defender to reclaim the Cardinals 10-7 edge.
 
PVAMU once again struck quickly, this time in just three plays, to take back the lead heading into the second quarter (14-10).
 
In the second, the Cardinals were the only team to score, putting three on the board with another Peacock field goal and a second touchdown pass from Calzada. UIW attempted the two-point conversion to go up by a full seven points but were unable to convert and went into the break, up 19-14.
 
The Cardinals came out of the locker room strong. After the defense forced a three-and-out, Calzada found Walthall streaking down the field for a 42-yard touchdown. On the next possession, the Panthers continued to hit on explosive plays. PVAMU threw a bubble screen that turned out to be a double-pass and a 43-yard touchdown, cutting the Cardinal lead to five, 26-21.
 
Late in the third quarter the Panthers intercepted the ball and appeared to return it for a touchdown. However, the ball was given back to UIW due to a holding call on the defense prior to the pass. UIW continued to take advantage of the penalties on its opponents when pass interference was called on fourth down, setting the Cards up on the 14. Dekalon Taylor easily ran the ball into the endzone pushing that UIW lead back up to double digits. The Cardinals once again went for two, this time the try was successful and UIW found themselves up 34-21.
 
With less than five minutes to go in the third, the Cardinal offense decided to commit to smash mouth football, running the ball on all but two of the eight plays from scrimmage. UIW went for two for a third time and scored on a Calazada run up the middle making the Cardinal lead 21 (42-21).
 
In the final minute of the game the Cardinal pressure got to the Panthers as two PVAMU players collided in the backfield and Dune Smith racked up his third tackle for loss moving the Panthers back thirteen yards.
 
The Cardinals second drive of the fourth quarter started with great field position thanks to a Dekalon Taylor 35-yard punt return to the PVAMU 28. This time UIW had more balanced play calling two passes and three runs as Lontrell Turner broke through the line scoring his first collegiate career touchdown.
 
After the Cardinals forced another stop, Taylor made back-to-back great punt returns. This time the specialist weaved through the kick team 62 yards down the field for this second touchdown of the game.
 
The Panthers put seven more points on the board scoring on a Pick-6. The Cardinals won by a final score of 56-28.
 
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