SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word Football team is set to host the 2024 FCS Football Championship – Second Round at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium on Saturday, December 7. The No. 6 Cardinals received a first-round bye and will face off against No. 11 Villanova at 1 p.m. More information regarding fan information for the playoff game can be found here.

UIW

• The No. 6 Cardinals earned the highest playoff seed in program history after securing UIW's fourth postseason trip since 2018 and the fourth Southland Conference Championship.
• Head Coach Clint Killough was named the Southland Coach of the Year and an Eddie Robinson Award Finalist after guiding the Cardinals to a 10-2 overall record and the first team in program history to finish undefeated in conference play (7-0).
• The Cardinal offense saw over 5,000 yards of offense, with student-athletes leading the FCS in passing and receiving touchdowns the majority of the season. UIW is sitting at No. 4 in the FCS for scoring offense, averaging 37 points per contest and No. 6 for total offense with 451 yards per game. In the air, the Cardinals are No. 10 with 285 passing yards per contest.
• On the defensive end, the Cardinals finished the season ranked No. 2 in the FCS for fumbles recovered, No. 5 for defensive touchdowns and No. 8 for red zone defense.
• Quarterback Zach Calzada earned himself the Southland Conference Player of the year, while receiver Jalen Walthall was crowned Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Year.
• Fifteen Cardinals were named to the Southland All-Conference First and Second Teams.
• Both Calzada and Walthall were announced as finalists for the Walter Payton Award Watchlist, while Mason Chambers appeared on the final 35 for the Buck Buchanan Watchlist.

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS

• Villanova is 10-3 on the season with a first-round win over unranked Eastern Kentucky. The Wildcats defeated the Colonels 22-17 on a touchdown as the time expired.
• Within the Coastal Athletic Association, Villanova finished regular season tied for third in the conference standings with a 9-3 overall record and a 6-2 conference record.
• The Wildcats are 15-14 all-time in the Division I Football Championship and this marks the sixteenth playoff appearance.
• Villanova has outscored its opponents 184-96 in the second half in the regular season and a 67-10 scoring margin in the fourth quarter alone through the last eight games.
• At the end of the regular season, the Wildcats ranked in the top three in the CAA in six defensive categories as well as in the top 25 nationally in five of those statistics.
• Villanova has held eight of its opponents to fewer than 20 points, with three not scoring a touchdown.
• Quarterback Connor Watkins has thrown 13 touchdowns and is averaging 154 passing yards per game with just under 2,000 yards on the season. His main target is Devin Smith who has tallied six receiving touchdowns.
• David Avit is the leading rusher for the Colonels, putting up 68 yard per game on the ground, while adding nine touchdowns.
• Shane Hartzell (112) and Brendan Bell (111) are the leading tacklers for Villanova. Bell adds 15 tackles for loss for 68 yards and three sacks.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

• Zach Calzada leads the FCS with 33 passing touchdowns and is sixth for passing yards with 3,351 on the season. He comes in at No. 8 for total offense with 298 yards per contest.
• Jalen Walthall is second in the FCS for his 14 receiving touchdowns. He's recorded at least one touchdown in 10 games this season, with a 6-game streak. He's amassed over 1,000 receiving yards at 1,149 yards on 70 catches to put him fifth in the FCS for receiving yards.
• Roy Alexander is the third-leading receiver in the Southland Conference, adding 11 touchdowns. He's finished two games this season with three TDs.
• Mason Chambers is the leading tackler for the Cardinals with 77 on the season to go along with seven pass break ups.
• Devin Grant leads the team in sacks with 7.5 for 60 yards and Mister Williams adds 13 tackles for loss for 41 yards with five forced fumbles.
• Darius Sanders leads the team in interceptions with three on the season and four pass breakups.

 
FOLLOW ALONG    
For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics, visit uiwcardinals.com, follow the Cardinals on, and like UIW Athletics on Facebook.     
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