LU rallies in a come-from-behind win
Lamar University faced off against the East Texas A&M Lions at Memorial Stadium in Commerce, Oct. 11. The name of the game was resiliency for the Cardinals.
LU’s offense was flat across the entire first half. An early first quarter scoop-and-score for the lions put them up 7-0, which was followed by an ETAMU 38-yard field goal, putting Big Red down 10-0 at the end of the first.
LU opened the second quarter with a 70-yard drive that ended in a 21-yard field goal by Ben Woodard, but the Lions would respond strongly. ETAMU would not give up any more points for the rest of the first half and would kick two more field goals, bringing the score to 16-3.
Lamar’s typical barrage of scoring started early in the third quarter. After a 5-minute drive ending in a 42-yard field goal, Big Red’s defense immediately set the tone. On the Lions first play from scrimmage, defensive lineman Peyton Christian, scooped up a fumble and returned it for a touchdown, reducing the Cards deficit to three, 16-13. The Lions responded by scoring a touchdown on the next drive, making it 23-13, but that would be the only lapse in the Cards' second-half defense.
Lamar would score 20 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, starting with a 4-yard rush by running back Joshua Robinson. The game clock nearly expired with the Cards down by 3 when quarterback Aiden McCown found receiver Kyndon Fuselier in the endzone for a go-ahead touchdown with 3 seconds left. The Cards put more salt in the Lions’ wounds when defensive back Ronnie Hamrick scooped up another Lions fumble for a touchdown as time expired, giving Lamar a 33-23 win.
The fifth consecutive win moved Lamar up to 17th in the national FCS top 25 poll while placing them in a three-way tie for the top spot in the Southland Conference. Lamar continues their season against UTRGV for the Homecoming game at Provost Umphrey Stadium at 3 p.m., Oct. 18.