NATCHITOCHES, La. (Interstat) — The Incarnate Word Cardinals delivered a dominant performance on both sides of the ball, routing the Northwestern State Demons 38-3 in a Southland Conference matchup on Saturday at Turpin Stadium.

The game was never in doubt as the Cardinals scored on their opening drive and never looked back, building a 28-3 lead by halftime and cruising to a victory that improved their record to 4-6. The Demons, meanwhile, were held to a single first-quarter field goal, dropping their season mark to 1-9.

Incarnate Word quarterback EJ Colson was the catalyst for the offensive explosion. The junior from Byron, Georgia, picked apart the Northwestern State secondary, completing 22 of 28 passes for 263 yards and two touchdowns. His primary target was Jalen Walthall, who hauled in nine catches for 178 yards and both of Colson’s scoring throws.

The Cardinals’ ground game was equally potent, led by Timothy Carter. The running back from Miami Gardens, Florida, gashed the Demons’ defense for 141 yards on just 11 carries, including a 68-yard touchdown dash in the third quarter. He also added a second rushing score. Kobe Dillon supplemented the attack with 70 rushing yards and a touchdown.

The Cardinals set the tone immediately, marching 85 yards on their first possession. The drive was capped by a 6-yard touchdown pass from Colson to Walthall. After Northwestern State responded with a 28-yard field goal from Grayson Lytton, Incarnate Word answered with another sustained drive, finished by a 5-yard touchdown run from Carter to end the first quarter up 14-3.

The second quarter was more of the same. Colson connected with Walthall again, this time on a 46-yard deep ball for a score. Just before halftime, Dillon plunged in from 13 yards out to extend the lead to 28-3.

Any hope of a Northwestern State comeback was extinguished early in the second half when Carter broke his long touchdown run, making it 35-3. The Cardinals added a 48-yard field goal from Will Faris in the fourth quarter to complete the scoring.

The Demons’ offense struggled throughout the day. Quarterback Abram Johnston completed 12 of 19 passes for 99 yards and was sacked five times for a total loss of 31 yards. The running game managed only 126 yards, with Jeremiah James leading the way with 45 yards on nine carries. Wide receiver Ty Moore provided one of the few bright spots, catching two passes for 71 yards, including a 56-yard reception that set up the team’s only points.

The game defied pregame projections, as Incarnate Word easily covered the spread after being installed as a 24.5-point underdog. The combined score of 41 points fell well under the over/under line of 54.5. The Cardinals’ defense, which had been a question mark, held a Demons team that had been shut out three times this season to just a field goal.

Incarnate Word will look to build on the decisive win when they host Southeastern Louisiana next Saturday. Northwestern State will try to regroup on the road against Nicholls State, also next Saturday.