East Texas A&M Completes Stunning Comeback To Beat UIW In Thriller
After jumping out to a 21-point lead, the Cardinals watched a potential statement win unravel.
SAN ANTONIO – The night began like a statement win for the Incarnate Word Cardinals, but it ended as a gut punch.
UIW raced out to a 21-point lead in front of the home crowd at Benson Stadium, but East Texas A&M’s offense flipped the script, erasing a three-touchdown deficit to stun the Cardinals, 52–45.
For much of the first quarter, UIW looked like a team ready to reassert itself in the Southland Conference race. Quarterback EJ Colson was sharp out of the gate, leading his team on four scoring drives in five possessions as the Cardinals racked up nearly 200 total yards in the opening 15 minutes. Running back Jaylon Spears ran through the Lions for two early scores, and the Cardinals led 28–7 early in the second quarter.
But then, momentum shifted. East Texas A&M, down 21, mounted a steady comeback thanks to a balanced running and passing attack. Running back E.J. Oakmon punched in a 1-yard run, and quarterback Ron Peace found Devin Matthews on a 39-yard touchdown strike, shrinking the deficit to 28-21.
Despite UIW responding just before halftime with a score from Jaylon Spears to make it 35-21, the Lions refused to go down quietly. They tied things up at 42-42 in the fourth quarter when backup quarterback Eric Rodriguez—who entered the game for Peace—connected on a 17-yard touchdown strike to Matthews with 12:55 remaining.
Then East Texas A&M took its first lead of the night when Ozlo Rigby drilled a 49-yard field goal with 6:45 left, putting the visitors up 45-42. UIW responded with a school-record 57-yard field goal from Will Faris to knot things up at 45-45 with under two minutes to play.
The Lions would then march 75 yards in just nine plays in under 90 seconds, and Oakmon finished it off with a 24-yard touchdown run with 1:28 left — the eventual game-winner. UIW had one last chance, but Colson’s Hail Mary fell incomplete inside the 5-yard line.
UIW head coach Clint Killough didn’t mince words after the game.
“We didn’t finish,” he said. “That’s the story right now. We play hard — but until we learn how to close, these are the results we’ll keep getting.”
The Cardinals won’t have long to dwell. They hit the road next weekend to face UTRGV, looking to steady a season that’s teetering on the edge.
“We came out firing, but we got comfortable,” said UIW offensive lineman Caleb Flores. “Leaders have to step up now — we’ve still got football left to play.”
