SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word football team narrowly fell to the East Texas A&M Lions, 52-45, on Saturday night.
 
Jaylon Spears led the way on the ground with 92 yards and three touchdowns. John Mathis had three total tackles and two sacks to go along with two forced fumbles. Will Faris set a new UIW record with a 57-yard field goal to tie the game at 45 late in the fourth.
 
The Cardinals started strong with an opening drive that went for nine plays and 67 yards and ended with a Jaylon Spears touchdown. Just four plays later East Texas knotted things up at seven a piece.
 
On the second UIW offensive drive of the day Spears carried the load. The first four snaps went to number one, and he finished off the drive breaking tackles and rumbling down for a 10-yard touchdown.  
 
The Cardinal defense made a key fourth-down stand to give UIW the ball on the 33. EJ Colson found Jalen Walthall twice, the second time wide open in the endzone putting the Cardinals up 21-7. UIW had scored a total of 21 through each of their first six first quarters and tied that total today.
 
With 33 seconds remaining in the first, John Mathis forced a fumble that was recovered by Declan Williams giving the Cardinal offense great field position once again. This time Austin Samaha punched it in from the 1-yard line for his first score of the season. UIW led 28-7 early in the second quarter.
 
Momentum was flipped in the second as East Texas was able to score two unanswered touchdowns and had the ball with 2:06 to go in the half. Once again, the UIW defense stood tough and forced a three and out giving the UIW offense time to work. Colson connected with Walt more than 30 yards down field. This set up an easy third touchdown for Spears, sending UIW into the locker room with a 35-21 lead.  
 
The Lions would not go quietly and scored the opening touchdown of the second half to bring the deficient to one score. UIW responded when Colson found Josh Lorick in the back of the endzone for an amazing catch to keep the Cardinals at in charge of the game in the third quarter.
 
East Texas went on to score 17 straight points, taking their first lead of the game 45-42. With two minutes remaining Will Faris stepped up to a 57-yard field goal and knocked it down to tie the game.
 
The Lions marched down the field and scored, leaving UIW with 27 seconds to respond. The Cardinals were unable to find the endzone and fell by a final score of 45-52.
 
UIW will be back in action next week in the programs first match up with UTRGV.
 
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