Brown, Ward pace UIW offense in victory

Incarnate Word senior Kevin Brown ran for a career-high 196 yards, propelling UIW to a 42-20 win against Lamar on Saturday in Beaumont.

Freshman Cam Ward completed 29 of 42 passes for 341 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions, adding 24 yards and a score on the ground.

Brown notched one rushing touchdown and one receiving touchdown, while Robert Ferrel, Darion Chafin and Jaelin Campbell also hauled in scores through the air.

UIW (2-0) picked up 626 yards of offense, eclipsing the 500-yard mark by the end of the third quarter. UIW gained 285 yards on the ground, averaging 11.4 yards per rush.

Kelechi Anyalebechi paced the UIW defense with 17 tackles, Jerick Pitre notched two sacks, and Elliot Davison and Shawn Holton snared interceptions.

UIW entered the game as a significant favorite, riding high after a 48-20 win at McNeese in last week’s opener.

Lamar, meanwhile, appeared to be reeling after suffering a 55-0 blowout at the hands of Nicholls last week, with Lamar gaining less than 100 yards of offense.

But Saturday’s matchup was

competitive most of the way, with Lamar (0-2) churning out 360 yards, including 196 on the ground.

Lamar struck first, as Jalen Dummett connected with Jeremy Davis for a 5-yard touchdown early in the first quarter.

UIW answered with a tying score less than a minute later, when Brown broke loose up the middle for a 66-yard touchdown.

UIW pulled ahead 14-7 late in the opening quarter, when Ward drifted to his right and threw back across his body to Brown in the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown.

Lamar poked in front 17-14 behind a 2-yard touchdown run from Chaz Ward and a 49-yard field goal from Bailey Griffin.

UIW responded with a 4-yard touchdown pass from Ward to Chafin just before halftime and began to open up a lead after the break.

Ward capped an 84-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown on UIW’s first possession of the second half, then extended the advantage to 35-20 with a 17-yard strike down the middle to Ferrel in the closing seconds of the third quarter.

UIW iced the game when Ward connected with an uncovered Campbell in the left side of the end zone for a 21-yard score.

UIW has an open date next weekend before playing its first home date of the six-game Southland season March 20 against Southeastern Louisiana.