BROOKINGS, S.D. – The University of the Incarnate Word football team fell to No. 3 South Dakota State University (55-14) in the FCS Football Championship Quarterfinals on Saturday afternoon in Brookings, South Dakota. This is only the second time in UIW football history that the Cardinals have reached the quarterfinals.

Mason Chambers forced an SDSU fumble on the Jackrabbits' first drive of the game and Declan Williams recovered to set the Cardinals up on the SDSU19, however, UIW was unable to capitalize as the score remained at zero.

The Jackrabbits found the end zone with five minutes left in the first on a 35-yard grab over the UIW defender on the first completed pass of the game for the 7-0 lead.

UIW looked to its run game to move up the field but was stopped short on the SDSU8 on fourth down.

SDSU answered with two quick touchdowns. The first on a 35-yd pass up the middle for a score. The Jackrabbits then picked off the Cardinals on the ensuing drive and returned it for 32 yards to the red zone before SDSU ran untouched for 3-yards to the house (21-0).

The Cardinal defense came alive once more with an interception from Ronald Wilson, but the Jackrabbits got the ball back and controlled the game until the end of the quarter when they added a 36-yard field goal following a UIW fumble to end the half at 31-0.

SDSU scored under two minutes into the second half, launching a 59-yard TD pass for the 38-0 lead.

Zach Calzada found Roy Alexander in the end zone for a short pass and the 38-7 score as the Cardinals continued to chip away, scoring once more in the third as Calzada ran in to cut the deficit to 38-14.

SDSU tacked on a 30-yard field goal and two more touchdowns in the final quarter to separate themselves from the Cardinals for the 55-14 victory.

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