2021 Incarnate Word Cardinals football
Southland champion
ConferenceSouthland Conference
Ranking
STATSNo. 12
FCS CoachesNo. 13
Record10–3 (7–1 Southland)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorCody Crill (4th season)
Offensive schemeAir raid
Defensive coordinatorJustin Deason (4th season)
Base defenseMultiple
Home stadiumGayle and Tom Benson Stadium
Seasons
← 2020
2022 →
2021 Southland Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 12 Incarnate Word $^   7 – 1     10 – 3  
No. 15 Southeastern Louisiana ^   6 – 2     9 – 4  
Nicholls   5 – 3     6 – 5  
McNeese State *   3 – 5     4 – 7  
Northwestern State   3 – 5     3 – 8  
Houston Baptist   0 – 8     0 – 11  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
  • * – Ineligible for FCS postseason play due to NCAA sanctions
Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2021 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team represented the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) in the 2021 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 fourth-year head coach Eric Morris.

On November 12, 2021, Incarnate Word announced that this will be the last season for the team in the Southland and will then join the Western Athletic Conference on July 1, 2022. However, UIW announced they would remain in the Southland in late June and would not join the WAC.

Preseason

Preseason poll

The Southland Conference released their preseason poll in July 2021. The Cardinals were picked to finish third in the conference.[1] In addition, fifteen Cardinals were chosen to the Preseason All-Southland Team.[2]

Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Southeastern Louisiana 48 (8)
2 Nicholls 43 (4)
3 Incarnate Word 32
4 McNeese State 26
5 Northwestern State 21
6 Houston Baptist 10

Preseason All–Southland Teams

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 26:00 p.m.at Youngstown State*
ESPN+L 41–44 OT8,637
September 117:00 p.m.Prairie View A&M*
ESPN+W 40–92,517
September 186:00 p.m.at Texas State*
ESPN3W 42–3416,107
September 2511:00 a.m.McNeese State
  • Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium
  • San Antonio, TX
ESPN+W 31–01,633
October 26:00 p.m.at Northwestern StateNo. 24
ESPN+W 38–276,125
October 1611:00 a.m.NichollsNo. 18
  • Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium
  • San Antonio, TX
ESPN+W 38–211,369
October 2312:00 p.m.at McNeese StateNo. 16
ESPN+L 20–287,498
October 303:00 p.m.Houston BaptistdaggerNo. 22
  • Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium
  • San Antonio, TX
ESPN+W 49–212,711
November 62:00 p.m.No. 6 Southeastern LouisianaNo. 22
  • Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium
  • San Antonio, TX
ESPN+W 55–523,220
November 133:00 p.m.at NichollsNo. 17
ESPN+W 27–236,392
November 202:00 p.m.at Houston BaptistNo. 18
ESPN+W 55–141,931
November 272:00 p.m.No. 20 Stephen F. Austin*No. 13
ESPN+W 35–28 OT3,448
December 42:00 p.m.at No. 1 Sam Houston*No. 13
ESPN+L 42–496,722
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

[3][4]

Personnel

Coaching staff

Source: [5]

Name Position Alma mater Joined staff
Eric Morris Head Coach Texas Tech (2008) 2018
Jordan Davis Assistant Head Coach / Wide Receivers Texas Tech (2014) 2018
Justin Deason Defensive Coordinator Central Oklahoma (2003) 2018
Cody Crill Offensive Coordinator Angelo State (2002) 2018
Brandon Lechtenberg Linebackers / Special Teams Coordinator Nebraska 2018
Clint Killough Inside Receivers / Academic Coordinator Incarnate Word (2015) 2018
Darren Garrigan Defensive Backs / Pass Game Coordinator West Texas A&M (2009) 2018
Matthew Gregg Outside Linebackers Southern Nazarene 2019
Mack Leftwich Quarterbacks UTEP (2017) 2018
Jordan Shoemaker Offensive Line / Run Game Coordinator Houston (2011) 2018
Brett Watson Interior Defensive Line / Academic Coordinator West Texas A&M (2009) 2018
Scotty Yates Quality Control / Defensive Backs Texas A&M University–Commerce (2015) 2019
Rolando Surita III Chief of Staff 2020
Bret Huth Director of Strength and Conditioning John Carroll (2010) 2018
Jimmy Fowler Director of Football Operations 2021

Roster

Source: [6]

2021 Incarnate Word Cardinals football

Quarterback

  •  7 Cameron Ward (C) – sophomore (6'3, 220)
  •  8 Kevin Yeager – junior (6'1, 195)
  •  9 Kannon Williams – freshman (6'2, 220)

Running back

  •  4 Kevin Brown – Redshirt senior (5'9, 205)
  •  5 Marcus Cooper – Redshirt senior (5'8, 185)
  • 22 Jarrell Wiley – freshman (5'10, 190)
  • 26 Kaleb Ducros – junior (5'11, 190)
  • 38 Tyrese Brown – sophomore (5'10, 185)

Wide receiver

  •  0 Darion Chafin – senior (6'2, 195)
  •  1 Ce'Cori Tolds – senior (5'10, 155)
  •  2 CJ Hardy – junior (5'11, 195)
  •  6 Jayden Jones – sophomore (6'2, 200)
  • 10 Kailan Noseff – senior (6'3, 195)
  • 11 Jaelin Campbell – senior (6'1, 195)
  • 12 Robert Ferrel – senior (5'9, 170)
  • 13 Marquez Perez – Redshirt sophomore (5'11, 190)
  • 14 Emerson Haywood – sophomore (6'1, 165)
  • 16 Taylor Grimes – junior (5'11, 190)
  • 19 Baron Bradley – sophomore (6'1, 195)
  • 80 Devin Morrison – junior (6'1, 205)
  • 83 Trevor Begue – Redshirt senior (5'11, 195)
  • 84 Jalen Smothers – sophomore (5'10, 190)
  • 86 Stayton Ankrom – freshman (6'2, 205)
  • 88 Liam Capobianco – junior (6'3, 180)
  • 89 Marcus Harmon – junior (5'10, 170)

Tight end

  •  3 Roger McCuller – Redshirt senior (6'1, 210)
  • 40 Coby Walker – sophomore (6'2, 255)
  • 44 Brandon Zapata – junior (5'11, 210)
  • 81 Parker Floyd – junior (6'4, 240)
  • 85 Christian Smith – freshman (6'4, 220)
  

Offensive line

  • 55 Aaron Martinez – sophomore (6'2, 295)
  • 61 Jimeto Obigbo – freshman (6'4, 325)
  • 62 Dawson Kier (C) – Redshirt senior (6'3, 285)
  • 63 Stanley Mark – junior (6'3, 285)
  • 64 Dorion Strawn – freshman (6'5, 320)
  • 65 Dayton Robinson – freshman (6'5, 325)
  • 68 Jhase Edwards – junior (6'3, 290)
  • 70 Cesar Moreno – Redshirt senior (6'3, 310)
  • 72 Reid Francis – junior (6'4, 300)
  • 73 Jeremiah Williams – senior (6'1, 295)
  • 74 Caleb Johnson – senior (6'6, 330)
  • 75 Michael Vargas – sophomore (6'5, 295)
  • 76 Nash Jones – sophomore (6'3, 300)
  • 77 Jayden Borjas – junior (6'5, 300)
  • 78 Uzoma Okere – Redshirt senior (6'2, 290)
  • 79 Joseph Kimmey – junior (6'6, 310)

Defensive line

  • 10 Terrell Lucas – DL – Redshirt senior (6'3, 250)
  • 11 Blaine Hoover – DE – Redshirt senior (6'5, 265)
  • 14 Brandon Bowen – DL – Redshirt senior (6'4, 275)
  • 41 Darius Richmond – DT – junior (6'2, 270)
  • 43 Mason Meyer – DE – junior (6'3, 270)
  • 45 Jared Soyring – DT – senior (6'2, 290)
  • 47 Seth Jaquess – DE – junior (6'4, 250)
  • 90 Sam Latham – DE – junior (6'4, 265)
  • 92 Darien Townsend – DE – Redshirt senior (6'3, 260)
  • 93 Cameron Preston (C) – DT – senior (6'1, 325)
  • 96 Josh Gonzalez – DL – freshman (6'3, 305)
  • 97 Josh Jackson – DT – senior (6'0, 310)
  • 99 Royce Wellington – DT – senior (6'1, 330)

Kicker

  • 37 John Scifers – sophomore (6'0, 180)
  • 50 Carson Mohr – junior (5'8, 150)

Punter

  • 30 Keven Nguyen – senior (5'10, 185)
  

Linebacker

  •  8 Kelechi Anyalebechi (C) – senior (6'0, 240)
  •  9 Gerald Bowie III (C) – senior (6'1, 235)
  • 21 Isaiah Paul – Redshirt sophomore (6'2, 235)
  • 27 Akil Jones – Redshirt senior (6'0, 240)
  • 32 Darius Sanders – freshman (6'2, 205)
  • 33 Tylan George – sophomore (5'10, 215)
  • 42 Tah Mac Bright – sophomore (6'2, 225)
  • 46 Ricky Rich – junior (6'1, 210)
  • 52 Gage Maples – freshman (6'0, 220)

Defensive back

  •  2 Micahh Smith – DB – Redshirt senior (6'0, 205)
  •  4 Kylan Thomas – DB – sophomore (5'11, 195)
  •  5 Tiji Paul – CB – junior (5'10, 195)
  •  6 Shawn Holton – S – junior (5'10, 165)
  •  7 Rashon Davis – DB – Redshirt senior (6'0, 175)
  • 13 Tre Richardson – CB – junior (6'1, 175)
  • 16 Dante Heaggans – ATH – junior (6'0, 185)
  • 17 Brandon Richard – CB – junior (5'11, 185)
  • 18 Reese Watson – DB – junior (6'0, 185)
  • 19 Reggie Branch – DB – freshman (6'1, 185)
  • 20 Kaleb Culp – DB – sophomore (5'10, 185)
  • 23 Moses Reynolds – DB – Redshirt senior (6'2, 190)
  • 24 Elliott Davison – DB – sophomore (6'0, 180)
  • 25 Donovan Dreighton – S – freshman (6'2, 200)
  • 28 Jalen Mann – DB – freshman (6'1, 180)
  • 29 Brian Mayes – DB – freshman (6'1, 180)
  • 31 Christian Jackson – DB – freshman (6'0, 180)
  • 34 Rayden Campbell – DB – freshman (5'11, 180)

Long snapper

  • 35 Chance Trentman–Rosas – junior (6'2, 215)
  • 56 Joe Giordano – Redshirt senior (5'11, 225)

Legend

  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Depth chart

Postseason honors

The following Cardinals received postseason honors for the 2021 season:[7]

Associated Press FCS All-American Second–Team
WR Taylor Grimes – Junior

Associated Press FCS All-American Third–Team
LB Kelechi Anyalebechi – Senior

Stats Perform FCS All-American Second–Team
QB Cameron Ward – Sophomore
WR Taylor Grimes – Junior

Stats Perform FCS All-American Third–Team
LB Kelechi Anyalebechi – Senior

HERO Sports FCS All-American Second–Team
WR Taylor Grimes – Junior

Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Year
QB Cameron Ward – Sophomore

Southland Conference Coach of the Year
Eric Morris

All–Southland Conference First–Team
RB Kevin Brown – Graduate Senior
WR Taylor Grimes – Junior
OL Nash Jones – Sophomore
DL Cameron Preston – Senior
LB Kelechi Anyalebechi – Senior
DB Kaleb Culp – Sophomore
PR Robert Ferrel – Senior

All–Southland Conference Second–Team
QB Cameron Ward – Sophomore
WR Robert Ferrel – Senior
P Keven Nguyen – Senior
DL Brandon Bowen – Graduate Senior
LB Isaiah Paul – Sophomore
DB Rashon Davis – Graduate Senior

All–Southland Conference Third–Team
RB Marcus Cooper – Graduate Senior
WR Darion Chafin – Senior
OL Reid Francis – Junior
OL Caleb Johnson – Senior
OL Dawson Kier – Senior
DL Blaine Hoover – Senior
DB Elliott Davison – Sophomore
DB Moses Reynolds – Senior
DB Brandon Richard – Junior

Game summaries

@ Youngstown State

See also: 2021 Youngstown State Penguins football team
Incarnate Word Cardinals at Youngstown State Penguins
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Cardinals 7 14 137041
Penguins 14 10 710344

at Stambaugh Stadium, Youngstown, OH

  • Date: September 2
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 69 • Wind: E 7 mph • Weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 8,637
  • Referee: Art Brown
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Drae Smith (play-by-play), Chris Sammarone (analyst)
  • Box Score
Game information

Prairie View A&M

See also: 2021 Prairie View A&M Panthers football team
Prairie View A&M Panthers at Incarnate Word Cardinals
Period 1 2 34Total
Panthers 0 0 099
Cardinals 17 13 10040

at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium, San Antonio, TX

  • Date: September 11
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 88 • Wind: E 10 mph • Weather: Clear
  • Game attendance: 2,517
  • Referee: Ed Bourgeois
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): David Saltzman (play-by-play), Taylor McHargue (analyst)
  • Box Score
Game information

@ Texas State

See also: 2021 Texas State Bobcats football team
Incarnate Word Cardinals at Texas State Bobcats
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 14 0 141442
Bobcats 7 10 71034

at Bobcat Stadium, San Marcos, TX

  • Date: September 18
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 95 • Wind: NE 9 mph • Weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 16,107
  • Referee: Jeremy Parker
  • TV announcers (ESPN3): Brant Freeman (play-by-play), Keith Moreland (analyst) & Koral Riggs (sideline)
  • Box Score
Game information

McNeese State

See also: 2021 McNeese State Cowboys football team
McNeese State Cowboys at Incarnate Word Cardinals
Period 1 2 34Total
Cowboys 0 0 000
Cardinals 14 7 7331

at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium, San Antonio, TX

  • Date: September 25
  • Game time: 11:00 a.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 81 • Wind: SE 4 mph • Weather: Sunny and clear
  • Game attendance: 1,633
  • Referee: Ed Bourgeois
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Randy McIlvoy (play-by-play), Shea Walker (analyst), & Lainie Fritz (sideline)
  • Box Score
Game information

@ Northwestern State

See also: 2021 Northwestern State Demons football team
Incarnate Word Cardinals at Northwestern State Demons
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 24 Cardinals 14 14 7338
Demons 0 13 7727

at Harry Turpin Stadium, Natchitoches, LA

  • Date: October 2
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 80 • Wind: SSE 4 mph • Weather: Scattered storms
  • Game attendance: 6,125
  • Referee: Gary Leeper
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Jeff Palermo (play-by-play), Rene Nadeau (analyst) & Laura Sadler (sideline)
  • Box Score
Game information

Nicholls

See also: 2021 Nicholls Colonels football team
Nicholls Colonels at Incarnate Word Cardinals
Period 1 2 34Total
Colonels 7 14 0021
No. 18 Cardinals 0 14 71738

at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium, San Antonio, TX

  • Date: October 16
  • Game time: 11:00 a.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 69 • Wind: SSW 14 mph • Weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 1,369
  • Referee: Ed Bourgeois
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): David Saltzman (play-by-play), Taylor McHargue (analyst), & Lainie Fritz (sideline)
  • Box Score
Game information

@ McNeese State

See also: 2021 McNeese State Cowboys football team
Incarnate Word Cardinals at McNeese State Cowboys
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 16 Cardinals 0 6 6820
Cowboys 14 7 0728

at Cowboy Stadium, Lake Charles, LA

  • Date: October 23
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 83 • Wind: SE 10 mph • Weather: Mostly cloudy
  • Game attendance: 7,498
  • Referee: Nolan Dumas
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): John Liddle (play-by-play, LaDarrin McLane (analyst), Shavonne Herndon (sideline)
  • Box Score
Game information

Houston Baptist

See also: 2021 Houston Baptist Huskies football team
Houston Baptist Huskies at Incarnate Word Cardinals
Period 1 2 34Total
Huskies 0 7 7721
No. 22 Cardinals 14 14 14749

at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium, San Antonio, TX

  • Date: October 30
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 79 • Wind: SW 7 mph • Weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 2,711
  • Referee: Gary Leeper
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): David Saltzman (play-by-play, Shea Walker (analyst), Laura Sadler (sideline)
  • Box Score
Game information

No. 6 Southeastern Louisiana

See also: 2021 Southeastern Louisiana Lions football team
Southeastern Louisiana Lions at Incarnate Word Cardinals
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 6 Lions 7 10 211452
No. 22 Cardinals 7 21 141355

at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium, San Antonio, TX

  • Date: November 6
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 68 • Wind: SE 2 mph • Weather: Clear, sunny
  • Game attendance: 3,220
  • Referee: Ed Bourgeois
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): David Saltzman (play-by-play), Taylor McHargue (analyst), Lainie Fritz (sideline)
  • Box Score
Game information

@ Nicholls

See also: 2021 Nicholls Colonels football team
Incarnate Word Cardinals at Nicholls Colonels
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 17 Cardinals 0 13 14027
Colonels 10 10 0323

at Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium, Thibodaux, LA

  • Date: November 13
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 60 • Wind: NNW 11 mph • Weather: Clear
  • Game attendance: 6,392
  • Referee: Craig Helser
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): John Liddle (play-by-play), Gary Reasons (analyst), Lainie Fritz (sideline)
  • Box Score
Game information

@ Houston Baptist

See also: 2021 Houston Baptist Huskies football team
Incarnate Word Cardinals at Houston Baptist Huskies
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 18 Cardinals 35 7 10355
Huskies 0 14 0014

at Husky Stadium, Houston, TX

  • Date: November 20
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 78 • Wind: NW 9 mph • Weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 1,931
  • Referee: Craig Helser
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Randy McIlvoy (play-by-play), Shea Walker (analyst), Laura Sadler (sideline)
  • Box Score
Game information

FCS playoffs

Stephen F. Austin – first round

See also: 2021 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks football team
FCS playoffs first round
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
No. 20 Lumberjacks 0 14 014028
No. 13 Cardinals 7 7 77735

at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium, San Antonio, TX

  • Date: November 27, 2021
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 51 • Wind: Calm • Weather: Cloudy & overcast
  • Game attendance: 3,448
  • Referee: Jason Soistman
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): David Saltzman (play-by-play) & Taylor McHargue (analyst)
  • Box Score
Game information

@ Sam Houston – second round

See also: 2021 Sam Houston Bearkats football team
FCS playoffs second round
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 13 Cardinals 7 14 71442
No. 1 Bearkats 10 21 31549

at Bowers Stadium, Huntsville, TX

  • Date: December 4, 2021
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 76 • Wind: S 5 mph • Weather: Overcast
  • Game attendance: 6,722
  • Referee: Matt Gallagher
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): David Saltzman (play-by-play), Forrest Conoly (analyst)
  • Box Score
Game information

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre12345678910111213Final
STATS FCSRV——RV2420181622171813131312
Coaches————RVRVRVRVRV211915151513

References

  1. ^ "Southeastern Voted to Top Spot in 2021 Football Preseason Poll". www.southland.org. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  2. ^ "Southland Announces 2021 Preseason All-Conference Football Teams". www.southland.org. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  3. ^ "2021 Incarnate Word Cardinals Football Schedule".
  4. ^ "2021 Incarnate Word Cardinals Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com.
  5. ^ "Football Coaches". University of the Incarnate Word. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  6. ^ "2021 Football Roster". University of the Incarnate Word. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  7. ^ "Southland Announces 2021 All-Conference Football Teams". Southland Conference. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
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