The October 18, 2025 matchup between UIW and East Texas A&M was a thrilling showcase of offensive firepower and momentum shifts, ending in a 52–45 comeback win for the Lions. UIW came out firing, building a commanding 28–7 lead early behind running back Jaylon Spears, who scored three rushing touchdowns in the first half. Their aggressive start was backed by opportunistic defense, including a key strip-sack and fumble recovery. At halftime, the Cardinals seemed in control, leading 35–21, with their offense clicking and their defense generating stops.

However, East Texas A&M showed resilience, slowly chipping away at the deficit in the third quarter before completely flipping the script in the fourth. Quarterback Eric Rodriguez led a composed and efficient offense, including a go-ahead touchdown pass to Devin Matthews and a clutch, game-winning 24-yard touchdown run by EJ Oakmon with just 27 seconds left. UIW briefly tied the game with a record-breaking 57-yard field goal by Will Faris, but their defense couldn’t hold off ETAM’s final drive. The Lions scored 31 points in the second half, capitalizing on UIW’s defensive breakdowns and stagnant offensive adjustments.

The game’s turning point was UIW’s inability to adapt their strategy in the second half. While ETAM made key tactical changes and executed under pressure, UIW appeared to coast on their early success and lost control when it mattered most. This marks ETAM’s first-ever win over UIW, improving to 2–1 in Southland Conference play, while UIW fell to 0–3. More than just a shootout, this game highlighted the importance of in-game adjustments, late-game execution, and the mental toughness to finish strong.