Today your Incarnate Word Cardinals take on Southland Conference foe and FBS #23 McNeese St. The Cardinals were in a tough defensive battle last week that led to an 18-16 triumph on a botched extra point conversion that led to a run for 2 pts. UIW takes on McNeese St. who finished 6-5 last season and 6th in the Southland conference, compared to the Cardinals who finished 2-9 last and 9th respectively. McNeese St. is led by QB Daniel Sams who was also the teams leading rusher last season with 711 yds. The Cowboys themselves have a tough defense that allowed an average of 23.2 pts in 2014. The Cardinals last week accumulated 219 yds. on the ground led by QB Trent Brittain and played the Javelinas tough on defense. Last season the Cardinals lost to the Cowboys 41-21 and the Preseason Polls ranked the Cowboys 3rd while Incarnate Word 9th. As much as you and I do not want to see our Cardinals lose, I believe they’ll be handed their first loss of the season, 45-21. Hopefully the Cardinals prove me wrong tonight. Tune in to Game Central to stream the game at the link below. The game starts at 6pm. Go Cardinals! Swoop’Em!
Edit: The game can be watched here on the Southland Conference link below:
The Cardinals are off to a good start after edging out a close game against Texas A&M-Kingsville last Saturday. The Cardinals were led to victory by their tough 3-4 defense, and some key plays from QB Trent Brittain and WR Jordan Hicks. The Cardinals were down 9-3 in the first half before a huge 66 yard-punt return from Hicks that went for a touchdown. The Cardinals were up 10-9 in the 3rd Quarter before the Javelinas scored to go up 16-10. The Cardinals would be stopped on 2 of their offensive drives on 4th and short. Then Brittain scrambled out of the pocket to run 57 yards to set up an amazing 14 yd. catch by Jordan Hicks for a touchdown. To add even more excitement to the game, Kicker Cody Seidel’s extra point kick was blocked only to be recovered by him and ran for a 2-point conversion. This was a very tough defensive victory which led to the Cardinals first triumph not only this season but all time against the Javelinas. Tune in to my post later today on the pregame analysis against conference foe McNeese St. St. Let’s Go Cardinals!
Hello fellow Cardinals fans. Now that we’ve evaluated each new Cardinal, who will make the greatest impact? I believe it will be Da’Shawn Brown-Key, I feel that his mobility and ability to stay calm under pressure will make him the Quarterback of the future for the Cardinals. Since he’s a 3-sport athlete I think Da’Shawn will also contribute to UIW as a talent in track. Please feel free to vote below and comment on who you think will make the greatest impact.
This past Wednesday was a key day for everyone who follows College Football, National Signing Day. Where High School Football recruits from all around the nation decide which schools they will be joining to play football next fall. Our Cardinals wouldn’t be any different as they had their own Signing Day, with a total of 12 recruits and 1 transfer for the Class of 2015 as posted by uiwcardinals.com. Below is a list of the players along with a short description on each one. I will provide a more detailed post later in Part 2 on each player and their potential.
Da’Shawn Brown-Key
Da’Shawn is a local impressive athlete who plays 3-sports. Football, Track, and Basketball in Brennan High School in San Antonio. Coach Keenan has described him as the best athlete in San Antionio. I look forward to watching him make some big plays.
McLane Carter
I like his name, reminds me of an Old Western character. He led Gilmer High School to a 16-0 record winning the Texas 4A State Title. McLane is known as a great competitor who with some development can help the Cardinals become a threat in the Southland Conference.
Jawun Jiles
Jawun comes from Shreveport, Louisiana as a stand-out Safety. Being a 2014 Louisiana West All-Star, leading Byrd High School to a 2nd place in the District 1 5A State Title. Jawun is known as a Hard-Hitting, athletic Centerfielder.
Lamont Johnson
Lamont is a great wide receiver from South Oak Cliff High School in Dallas. He’s a very flexible wide receiver that was dropped by an FBS program as stated by Coach Keenan. Lamont paid a visit to Alamo Heights and liked what he saw, a promising young program that has the potential to be great. He’s a good route runner and an aggressive blocker. We are glad to have you on board Lamont.
Jeremy Jones
The Cardinals are a physical offense based heavily in time of possession and the run game. In order to run this offense you need big men. What a better option then to go out and get a 6’5 287 lb. Offensive Tackle from Roosevelt High School in San Antonio. Jeremy Jones is the epitome of what the Cardinals want to become on offense.
Dillon Manz
Dillon is a unique athlete in that he played TE for Boerne High School but is the size of a physical-possession based WR. Though when it comes to the football, he is a go-getter who beats the opposition by making great leaps and can run right over and around defenses.
Edit: My apologies, Dillon played WR with some plays at H-Back.
Noah McMeans
Noah comes in with an impressive resume, recording 63 tackles, 14 for loss, and 11 sacks as posted on uiwcardinals.com. At 6’3 210 lbs., he has the potential to be a physical presence at outside linebacker and the ability to pass rush in what will be an aggressive Cardinal defense as described by Coach Keenan. It will be neat watching Noah develop into a monster.
John Myers
John Myers is a talented athlete who played TE for Foster High School. Coach Keenan sees him transitioning from Tight End into a physical Tackle who can beat defenders off the ball. As he bulks up it will be interesting watching him develop. Did I also mention he’s a star at Shooty Hoops? John is an impressive athlete.
Cody Seidel
No photo posted
As mentioned by uiwcardinal.com, Cody was 2nd team All District 5-6A Kicker and Wide Receiver, did I mention he’s able to average 53.2 per kickoff? Kid’s got a leg to him. I look forward to watching him kick a couple of game-winning field goals in the future.
Damon Weaver
Incarnate Word recruited another Star Safety in Damon Weaver. Damon played for one of the top programs in Texas football, DeSoto High School which finished 10-2. Damon is a big hitter who hustles around the field and is always looking to make big plays. As we have been discussing the theme of the Cardinals defense has been to be a physical, hard-hitting unit looking for the football.
John Williams
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome your new Star at Defensive line John Williams. The Cardinals are looking to become a big-time program with big-time players. This man is a monster at 6’5 309 lbs. He’d be a perfect 2-gap Nose Tackle for the Cardinals 3-4 scheme.
Cameron Wilson
The Cardinals have done a great job shoring up the Offensive Line this recruiting class. They have a clear vision of what they want to become on offense, Physical. Cameron is another big man at 6’4 279 lbs. He is a standout from Dawson High School where he led them to 6A title as posted on uiwcardinals.com. He’s very versatile as he was a tackle but can play guard as told by Coach Keenan.
Mid Year Transfer
Kyle Brown
Brown is a transfer from Independence Community College as an Outside Linebacker. He’s a stud who finished 2nd in team tackles, and even more impressive 15th in the nation. With some time in the weight room he can become a fierce linebacker and a big-time contributor on defense.
Let’s Congratulate Coach Jonathan Patke and Coach Ephraim Banda for being selected to be on staff at Mississippi St. under Head Coach Dan Mullen. If you’re a big college football fan, you know as well as I do that the Bulldogs had a successful season in the toughest division of College Football, the SEC West. Finishing 2nd in their division with a 10-3(6-2 Conference) record and a berth in the Orange Bowl.
Coach Patke was on staff with UIW from 2011-2012, as a Graduate Assistant on Defense coaching defensive line then in 2012 was moved to coaching Linebackers.
Coach Banda was on staff with UIW in 2011 as a Student Coach coaching Strong Safeties. The story was reported on January 31st via UIW Football’s Twitter Account.
Let’s wish these fine gentlemen the best at Mississippi St. and in their future endeavors.
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