(STATS) – The UIW season began it in what first-year coach Eric Morris called “stealth mode,” and it’s the mind-set that has fueled the surprising Cardinals to at least a share of the Southland Conference.
“It meant we were going to work hard where others were talking. We weren’t going to pay attention to that,” Morris said. “We were just going to keep our heads down and work towards something.”
UIW allowed an FCS-worst 47.7 points per game and finished 1-10 overall and 1-7 in conference last year, so nobody saw the title coming. This season, the STATS FCS Team of the Week is 6-4 and 6-2 in the Southland following a 40-27 road win over defending champ Central Arkansas, which clinched their first conference championship.
Senior Ra’Quanne led the win with 213 rushing yards and three second-half touchdowns. He has 1,054 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground this season – both school records.
UIW racked up 656 yards with quarterback Sean Brophy coming off the bench and combining with starter Jon Copeland for 431 passing yards. Phillip Baptiste (158) and Kody Edwards (140) both had over 100 receiving yards.
The Cardinals earned their stripes on Central Arkansas’ gray and purple field, overcoming a 14-3 second-quarter deficit. They went ahead for good 17-14 on Brophy’s 26-yard touchdown pass to Baptiste with 35 seconds left in the half.
The defense had four interceptions, including cornerback Malick Phillips with a pair.
UIW will claim an outright title and the Southland’s automatic bid to the FCS playoffs if Nicholls (7-3, 6-2) loses to Southeastern Louisiana Thursday night. Nicholls beat the Cardinals, so it owns the tiebreaker if they share the title. UIW is playing one fewer conference game than the Colonels and the rest of the teams.
“We told them they’d have a great product if they worked hard for it,” said Morris, who arrived from Texas Tech, where he was offensive coordinator. “They are a testament to what pure heart, determination and courage can do.”
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