It was a scripted scrimmage under the lights at Benson Stadium Saturday night and overall the Cardinals football team left some good impressions on its coaches.
The general plan called for some 90 plays, offense against defense, and Coach Mike Santiago said he gave most of the play calling duties to Offensive Coordinator Tony Marciano. "It is tough to call that many plays without a break," Santiago said afterwards. "Of course I called the touchdowns," Santiago said with a chuckle, but I thought we handled the clock well. That was an area we wanted to watch."
The evening began with the first offense against the first defense, then the twos against twos and threes against threes. One play in particular got a rise out of the crowd of some two hundred Cardinals diehards. About halfway through the session Kansas City, Mo., freshman running back Josh Eatman broke off left tackle and went 65 yards to the end zone in a hurry.
"I thought our young running backs turned out good," Santiago said. He cited Eatman along with freshman Tahje Canyon and senior Al Furlow.
The competition between the first teams drew Santiago's attention also. "It was a battle out there between our ones. They exchanged some blows."
With two weeks remaining before the season opener, the Cardinals will get a Sunday morning of rest then they return to the turf for an evening session to work on their kicking games.
UIW opens its second season on Saturday, August 28, when Langston University comes to Benson Stadium for a 7 p.m. kickoff. An off week ensues before Incarnate Word gets its Lone Star Conference baptism with 10 consecutive conference tilts.