WGNO

Northwestern State unable to overcome slow start in Southland opener against UIW

NATCHITOCHES, La. (AP) — Cameron Ward threw for 348 yards and three touchdowns, and Incarnate Word held off a late rally to earn its fourth straight win, 38-27 over Northwestern State in a Southland Conference game on Saturday night.

Ward tossed a short pass to C.J. Hardy less than a minute into the game, and Marcus Cooper raced 60 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-0 after one quarter. Ward added a 17-yard touchdown pass to Hardy and a 54-yard strike to Kevin Brown that put the Cardinals (4-1, 2-0) up 28-13 at intermission.

Ward was 25-of-37 passing but was picked off twice. Brown carried 15 times for 81 yards, and he caught three passes for 59 yards and a touchdown. Cooper carried eight times for 64 yards and two scores.

Kaleb Fletcher was 36-of-48 passing for 319 yards and two touchdowns to lead Northwestern State (0-4, 0-1).