2019 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team
The 2019 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team represented the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) in the 2019 NCAA Division I FCS football season as a member of the Southland Conference. The Cardinals played their home games at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium in San Antonio, Texas. They were led by second-year head coach Eric Morris. They finished the season 5–7, 4–5 in Southland play to finish in a tie for 6th place.
| 2019 Incarnate Word Cardinals football | |
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| Conference | Southland Conference | 
| 2019 record | 5–7 (4–5 Southland) | 
| Head coach | 
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| Offensive coordinator | Cody Crill (2nd season) | 
| Offensive scheme | Air raid | 
| Defensive coordinator | Justin Deason (2nd season) | 
| Base defense | Multiple[1] | 
| Home stadium | Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium (Capacity: 6,000)  | 
| 2019 Southland Conference football standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 14 Nicholls +^ | 7 | – | 2 | 8 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 11 Central Arkansas +^ | 7 | – | 2 | 9 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 19 Southeastern Louisiana ^ | 6 | – | 3 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sam Houston State | 6 | – | 3 | 7 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| McNeese State | 5 | – | 4 | 7 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Incarnate Word | 4 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abilene Christian | 4 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northwestern State | 3 | – | 6 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stephen F. Austin | 3 | – | 6 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Houston Baptist | 2 | – | 6 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lamar | 2 | – | 7 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Previous season
    
The Cardinals finished the 2018 season 6–5, 6–2 in Southland play to win a share of the Southland Conference championship. They received an at-large bid to the FCS Playoffs, where they lost in the first round to Montana State.
Preseason
    
    Preseason All-Conference Teams
    
On July 11, 2019, the Southland Conference announced their Preseason All-Conference Teams, with the Cardinals having five players selected.[2]
- OL Brandon Floores – Senior
 - OL Terence Hickman II – Senior
 
Offense Second Team
- QB Jon Copeland – Sophomore
 - OL Uzoma Okere – Junior
 - P David Balcomb – Senior
 
Preseason Poll
    
On July 18, 2019, the Southland announced their preseason poll, with the Cardinals predicted to finish in third place. UIW also received one first place vote.[3]
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) | 
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nicholls | 200 (20) | 
| 2 | Central Arkansas | 154 | 
| 3 | Incarnate Word | 150 (1) | 
| 4 | Sam Houston State | 146 | 
| 5 | Lamar | 123 | 
| 6 | McNeese | 114 | 
| 7 | Abilene Christian | 112 (1) | 
| 8 | Southeastern Louisiana | 71 | 
| 9 | Stephen F. Austin | 63 | 
| 10 | Northwestern State | 56 | 
| 11 | Houston Baptist | 21 | 
Schedule
    
UIW announced its 2019 football schedule on February 13, 2019. The schedule consists of 6 home games and 6 away games.
Source:  [4][5]
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 31 | 5:00 p.m. | at UTSA* | 
  | ESPN3 | L 7–35 | 26,787 | 
| September 7 | 6:00 p.m. | Texas Southern* | 
  | ESPN+ | W 63–44 | 3,637 | 
| September 21 | 6:00 p.m. | at Sam Houston State | ESPN3 | L 6–45 | 8,196 | |
| September 28 | 6:00 p.m. | Abilene Christian | 
  | UIWtv | W 31–24 | 2,989 | 
| October 5 | 6:00 p.m. | at Houston Baptist | ESPN3 | W 38–36 | 2,289 | |
| October 12 | 4:00 p.m. | at No. 23 Southeastern Louisiana | ESPN+ | W 27–21 | 6,345 | |
| October 19 | 4:00 p.m. | Lamar | 
  | ESPN3 | W 35–17 | 3,048 | 
| October 26 | 4:00 p.m. | Northwestern State | 
  | UIWtv | L 41–44 OT | 3,373 | 
| November 2 | 4:00 p.m. | No. 25 Nicholls | 
  | ESPN3 | L 23–27 | 3,928 | 
| November 9 | 3:00 p.m. | at Stephen F. Austin | ESPN3 | L 24–31 | 6,321 | |
| November 16 | 1:00 p.m. | at New Mexico State* | FloSports | L 28–41 | 25,804 | |
| November 22 | 6:30 p.m. | No. 11 Central Arkansas | 
  | ESPN+ | L 35–52 | 2,668 | 
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Personnel
    
    Coaching staff
    
Source: [6]
| Name | Position | Alma Mater | Joined Staff | 
| Eric Morris | Head Coach | Texas Tech (2008) | 2018 | 
| Josh Kirkland | Assistant Head Coach / Running Backs | West Texas A&M (2010) | 2018 | 
| Cody Crill | Offensive Coordinator | Angelo State (2002) | 2018 | 
| Justin Deason | Defensive Coordinator | Central Oklahoma (2003) | 2018 | 
| Brandon Lechtenberg | Linebackers / Special Teams Coordinator | Nebraska | 2018 | 
| Brett Watson | Interior Defensive Line / Academic Coordinator | West Texas A&M (2009) | 2018 | 
| Darren Garrigan | Defensive Backs / Pass Game Coordinator | West Texas A&M (2009) | 2018 | 
| Steve Foley | Defensive Ends | Louisiana-Monroe (1997) | 2018 | 
| Jordan Shoemaker | Offensive Line / Run Game Coordinator | Houston (2011) | 2018 | 
| Jordan Davis | Wide Receivers / Academic Coordinator | Texas Tech (2014) | 2018 | 
| Mack Leftwich | Quarterbacks | UTEP (2017) | 2018 | 
| Clint Killough | Quality Control / On Campus Recruiting Coordinator | Incarnate Word (2015) | 2018 | 
| Scotty Yates | Quality Control | Texas A&M University–Commerce (2015) | 2019 | 
| Beau Blair | Football Assistant – Offensive Line | Stephen F. Austin (2014) | 2019 | 
| Bret Huth | Director of Strength and Conditioning | John Carroll (2010) | 2018 | 
| Tad Blaylock | Assistant AD / Football Operations | Mississippi State (2012) | 2018 | 
| Miguel Rodriguez | Player Personnel | UTSA (2014) | 2017 | 
Roster
    
Source: [7]
| 2019 Incarnate Word Cardinals football | ||||||||||
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 Quarterback 
 Running Back 
 Wide Receiver 
 Kicker 
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 Offensive Line 
 Defensive Line 
 Punter 
 Long Snapper 
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 Linebacker 
 Defensive Back 
 Legend 
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Depth chart
    
  
 
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Postseason honors
    
The following Cardinals received postseason honors for the 2019 season:[8]
All–Southland Conference Third–Team
OL  Terence Hickman II – Senior
OL  Brandon Floores – Senior
LB  Kelechi Anyalebechi – Sophomore
DB  Jaylon Jimmerson – Freshman
Game summaries
    
    @ UTSA
    
Incarnate Word Cardinals at UTSA Roadrunners
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinals | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 
| Roadrunners | 7 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 35 | 
at Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
- Date: August 31, 2019
 - Game time: 5:00 p.m.
 - Game weather: Indoors
 - Game attendance: 26,787
 - Referee: Joe Lehring
 - TV announcers (ESPN3): Lincoln Rose (play-by-play), LaDarrin McLane (analyst)
 - Box Score
 
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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Texas Southern
    
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tigers | 7 | 10 | 20 | 7 | 44 | 
| Cardinals | 14 | 28 | 7 | 14 | 63 | 
at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium, San Antonio, Texas
- Date: September 7, 2019
 - Game time: 6:00 p.m.
 - Game weather: Temperature: 100 • Wind: SSE 8 mph • Weather: Sunny
 - Game attendance: 3,637
 - Referee: Michael Vanderv
 - TV announcers (ESPN+): Mike Lefko (play-by-play), Hector Ledesma (analyst), Jill Jelnick (sideline)
 - Box Score
 
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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@ Sam Houston State
    
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 
| Bearkats | 14 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 45 | 
at Bowers Stadium, Huntsville, Texas
- Date: September 21, 2019
 - Game time: 6:00 p.m.
 - Game weather: Temperature: 85 • Wind: SE 8 mph • Weather: Partly cloudy
 - Game attendance: 8,196
 - Referee: Kevin Hassell
 - TV announcers (ESPN3): Tom Franklin (play-by-play), Shea Walker (analyst)
 - Box Score
 
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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Abilene Christian
    
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildcats | 0 | 3 | 14 | 7 | 24 | 
| Cardinals | 7 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 31 | 
at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium, San Antonio, Texas
- Date: September 28, 2019
 - Game time: 6:00 p.m.
 - Game attendance: 2,989
 - Referee: Dan Lewis
 - TV announcers (UIWtv): Scott Mandziara (play-by-play), Jaime Valdes (analyst), Angela Mitchell (sideline)
 - Box Score
 
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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@ Houston Baptist
    
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinals | 14 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 38 | 
| Huskies | 7 | 13 | 10 | 6 | 36 | 
at Husky Stadium, Houston, Texas
- Date: October 5, 2019
 - Game time: 6:00 p.m.
 - Game weather: Temperature: 90 • Wind: SW 1 mph • Weather: Scattered clouds
 - Game attendance: 2,289
 - Referee: C. Watson
 - TV: ESPN3
 - Box Score
 
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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@ Southeastern Louisiana
    
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinals | 3 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 27 | 
| No. 23 Lions | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 | 
at Strawberry Stadium, Hammond, Louisiana
- Date: October 12, 2019
 - Game time: 4:00 p.m.
 - Game weather: Temperature: 72 • Wind: N 10 mph • Weather: Cloudy
 - Game attendance: 6,345
 - Referee: Vidal Jones
 - TV announcers (ESPN+): John Satori (play-by-play), Richie Solares (analyst)
 - Box Score
 
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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Lamar
    
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinals (LU) | 7 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 17 | 
| Cardinals (UIW) | 14 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 35 | 
at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium, San Antonio, Texas
- Date: October 19, 2019
 - Game time: 4:00 p.m.
 - Game weather: Temperature: 92 • Wind: 3 mph • Weather: Sunny
 - Game attendance: 3,048
 - Referee: Dan Lewis
 - TV announcers (ESPN3): Ted Emrich (play-by-play), Shea Walker (analyst), Taylor Verrico (sideline)
 - Box Score
 
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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Northwestern State
    
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demons | 7 | 9 | 7 | 15 | 6 | 44 | 
| Cardinals | 7 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 41 | 
at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium, San Antonio, Texas
- Date: October 26, 2019
 - Game time: 4:00 p.m.
 - Game weather: Temperature: 73 • Wind: SW 8 mph • Weather: Sunny
 - Game attendance: 3,373
 - Referee: Vidal Jones
 - TV announcers (UIWtv): Scott Mandziara (play-by-play), Jaime Valdes (analyst), Angela Mitchell (sideline)
 - Box Score
 
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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Nicholls
    
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 25 Colonels | 6 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 27 | 
| Cardinals | 6 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 23 | 
at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium, San Antonio, Texas
- Date: November 2, 2019
 - Game time: 4:00 p.m.
 - Game weather: Temperature: 69 • Wind: NE 7 mph • Weather: Mostly sunny
 - Game attendance: 3,928
 - Referee: Christian Watso
 - TV announcers (ESPN3): David Saltzman (play-by-play), Shea Walker (analyst), Taylor Verrico (sideline)
 - Box Score
 
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
  | 
@ Stephen F. Austin
    
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| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinals | 0 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 24 | 
| Lumberjacks | 14 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 31 | 
at Homer Bryce Stadium, Nacogdoches, Texas
- Date: November 9, 2019
 - Game time: 3:00 p.m.
 - Game attendance: 6,321
 - Referee: Dan Lewis
 - TV announcers (ESPN3): Luke Hamilton (play-by-play), John Wilkowski (analyst)
 - Box Score
 
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
  | 
@ New Mexico State
    
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinals | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 28 | 
| Aggies | 14 | 10 | 3 | 14 | 41 | 
at Aggie Memorial Stadium, Las Cruces, New Mexico
- Date: November 16, 2019
 - Game time: 1:00 p.m.
 - Game attendance: 25,804
 - Referee: Scott Campbell
 - TV announcers (FloSports): Adam Young (play-by-play), Danny Knee (analyst)
 - Box Score
 
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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Central Arkansas
    
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 11 Bears | 3 | 21 | 7 | 21 | 52 | 
| Cardinals | 0 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 35 | 
at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium, San Antonio, Texas
- Date: November 22, 2019
 - Game time: 6:30 p.m.
 - Game weather: Temperature: 61 • Wind: N 9 mph • Weather: Clear
 - Game attendance: 2,668
 - Referee: Christian Watso
 - TV announcers (ESPN+): David Saltzman (play-by-play), Taylor McHargue (analyst), Lainie Fritz (sideline)
 - Box Score
 
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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Rankings
    
| Week | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Final | 
| STATS FCS | RV | RV | — | RV | — | — | RV | RV | RV | RV | — | — | — | — | |
| Coaches | RV | RV | RV | — | — | — | — | 25 | 20 | RV | — | — | — | — | |
References
    
- "UIW Football Quick Facts" (PDF). University of the Incarnate Word. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
 - "SOUTHLAND ANNOUNCES 2019 PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE FOOTBALL TEAMS". Southland Conference. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
 - "Nicholls Voted to Top Spot in 2019 Football Preseason Poll".
 - "2019 Football Schedule". UIW Athletics. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
 - "SOUTHLAND TV SELECTIONS ANNOUNCED FOR FIRST FOUR WEEKS". Southland Conference. August 13, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
 - "Football Coaches". University of the Incarnate Word. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
 - "2019 Football Roster". University of the Incarnate Word. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
 - "4 Cardinals earn Southland Football All-Conference accolades". UIW Athletics. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
 
