By J.T. Keith
The Incarnate Word Cardinals will be young when Eastern New Mexico University plays at 5 p.m. Saturday at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium in San Antonio.
Only four offensive and six defensive starters return from last year’s team. Second-year coach Larry Keenan must find a way to replace 25 seniors and their leadership.
Incarnate Word only has 12 seniors on the entire roster. The bulk of the team is made up of 43 freshmen, 24 sophomores, and 14 juniors.
In Keenan’s first year, he finished with a 2-9 (1-7 conference) record, finishing in last place in the Lone Star Conference.
Fans should look for plenty of offense and big plays in Saturday’s game.
During last year’s game in Dallas, the Greyhounds surrendered 449 yards of total offense, including 270 yards on the ground.
However, a big defensive play sealed the game for the Greyhounds. Trailing 28-24 with 30 seconds left and the ball on the Hounds 20-yard line, Cardinals quarterback Zach Rhodes took his time calling the play and getting out of the huddle.
As the play clock ran down, he hurried to get the play off to avoid a delay-of-game penalty. He rushed his throw, trying to hit an out pattern.
As he threw the pass, ENMU safety Jayson Serda stepped in front of the receiver, intercepted the ball, and raced 81 yards for a touchdown.
Rhodes threw a total of three interceptions in last year’s game.
Replacing Rhodes is sophomore quarterback Taylor Woods. Woods played in all 11 games, starting four, as a true freshman last year.
The Cardinals will have to replace running back Trent Rios, the all-time leading rusher in school history with 2,420 yards. Freshman Broderick Reeves will get the start against ENMU.
Starting at wide receiver will be sophomore Brandon Yates, who started six games last year. Opposite of him will be junior-college transfer Casey Jennings.
The offensive line will be young and inexperienced. Only all-conference honorable mention Devin Threat returns. Threat is a two-year starter at guard.
On the defense side of the ball, the Cardinals run a 3-4 defense.
Defensive tackle Robby Horton, a senior, is the returning tackler on a young defensive unit.
The Cardinals will be especially young in the secondary. Three freshmen will start with one junior.
Inside linebackers appear to be the strength of the defense with a junior and senior starting on the inside.
The Cardinals left the Lone Star Conference after last season, moving to play this year as a Division I, Football Championship Subdivision Independent. With the step up in competition to Division I, look for the physical grind of their schedule to take its toll on them.
The ‘Hounds will physically impose their will on the Cardinals late in the second half.
‘Hounds win 35-27.