In an exciting nonconference game on Saturday night, Incarnate Word secured a convincing 56-28 victory over Prairie View A&M with a standout performance by quarterback Zach Calzada. Calzada displayed his skill by throwing for 244 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Cardinals to a commanding win in the second half.
Prairie View A&M initially took the lead in the game with Jaden Johnson connecting on two long touchdown passes in the first quarter. However, Calzada responded with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Roy Alexander, shifting the momentum in favor of Incarnate Word, who never looked back from there.
Calzada continued to excel in the second half, throwing a 42-yard touchdown pass and adding a 2-point conversion on Timothy Carter’s five-yard touchdown run. Additionally, Dekalon Taylor contributed significantly to the Cardinals’ victory with a rushing touchdown and a punt return for a touchdown in the third and fourth quarters, respectively.
The Cardinals’ defense was also essential in sealing the win, as Eric Zachery intercepted a pass from Prairie View’s Richard Torres and returned it for a 50-yard touchdown late in the game. Calzada finished the game with an impressive 23 of 30 pass completions, with Jalen Walthall leading the receiving corps with 170 yards from 12 catches. Taylor added 84 rushing yards on 17 carries to bolster the offense.
On the other side, Johnson put up a solid performance for Prairie View A&M, completing 12 of 14 passes for 140 yards. Prairie View A&M’s effort was notable, but Incarnate Word’s strong second-half performance ultimately secured the win for the Cardinals, who improved to a 3-2 record while Prairie View A&M fell to 2-4.
Overall, the game showcased the offensive prowess and resilience of Incarnate Word, highlighting Calzada’s standout performance and the team’s ability to dominate in the second half en route to a well-deserved victory.
