SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word football team earned a 38-14 win over Northern Arizona University on Hispanic Heritage night, where the Cardinals scored 31 unanswered points to secure the victory over the Lumberjacks.
 
Dekalon Taylor led the Cardinals with a record-setting night, rushing for a career-high 190 yards with two touchdowns. Of those 190 yards, 97 came from a single play where Taylor scored the longest rushing TD from scrimmage in program history. The record was previously held by head coach Clint Killough who set the record in 2013 scoring on a 90-yard pass.
 
On the opening drive of the game, the UIW defense came out swinging forcing a fumble and setting up the Cards in great field position. UIW was not able to make anything of the turnover, going four and out, giving the Lumberjacks the ball.
 
In a game full of explosive plays, Northern Arizona got things started on the following drive, scoring on a 47-yard rush to the endzone from Darvon Hubbard. The Cardinals were able to respond with a touchdown off their own when Zach Calzada found Mason Pierce for his first TD of the year.
 
Each team scored another touchdown in the second quarter. Tay Lanier caught a 37-yard pass from Ty Pennington and Taylor broke off for a 35-yard run to the endzone. The half was capped off with a 40-yard field goal from Brack Peacock, the longest of his UIW career, sending the Cards into the locker room up, 17-14.
 
In the second half, UIW was able to put NAU away. The Cardinal defense stepped up and didn't allow another score from NAU for the remainder of the game. UIW forced two more turnovers and the offense found the endzone three more times.
 
Two of those scores came from 30 yards or more. With only seven minutes remaining in the game Calzada scrambled in the backfield to buy time as Roy Alexander found an opening right on the goal line and the duo connected for a 32-yard TD.
 
Taylor made the highlight, not only of the game, but maybe of the season after lining up five yards deep in the endzone, he leaked out of the backfield for a record setting 97-yard touchdown rush.
 
UIW enters the bye week with a 2-2 record, set for three consecutive home games after the break.
 
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