The Spring 2021 season is beginning to look oddly familiar to Cardinals fans.

No. 22 UIW scored 28 unanswered points in the middle of the game to secure a 56-45 win at home over No. 16 Southeastern La.

The Cardinals earned a share of their first Southland Conference title in 2018 after winning their first three conference games of the season.

The 2021 spring version of UIW has won its first three conference games, and the Cardinals control their destiny to possibly winning their first outright Southland title.

Another similarity between the 2018 Cardinals and this spring’s team is a potent offensive attack.

UIW averaged 483 total yards of offense in 2018 while scoring 32.5 points per game. This season’s team has averaged 596 total yards of offense while putting an incredible 48.7 points per game on the scoreboard.

Last Saturday’s offensive attack was once again led by freshman quarterback Cameron Ward, who set a program record with seven touchdowns against SLU. Ward passed for 407 yards and six touchdowns while adding a touchdown on the ground.

Tre Wolf was on the receiving end of seven passes from Ward. Wolf gained 183 yards and caught a 26-yard touchdown pass with three seconds left in the first half to send UIW to the locker room with a 35-16 lead.

Running back Kevin Brown had another impressive performance rushing for 190 yards, and a touchdown on 13 carries for a 14.6 yards per carry average.

UIW will now play two of the top teams in the Southland over its final three games, beginning with a trip to Thibodaux, La. to meet Nicholls next week in the Cardinals last road game of the regular season.

If the Cardinals defeat the Colonels next week and Northwestern State at home on April 10, it will set up a possible winner-take the Southland title showdown with Sam Houston on April 17.