Cards Score 28 in 1st Quarter, Roll to Southland Opening Win
THIBODAUX, La. – Lamar University scored 28 first-quarter points, took a 42-10 lead into halftime and never looked back recording their first win at Nicholls since 2014, and just the third road win in series history. LU defeated Nicholls, 49-18.
The Cardinals (3-1/1-0 SLC) racked up 439 yards of total offense while limiting Nicholls to 329 yards. The Cardinals averaged 7.5 yards per play and scored touchdowns via the pass, run and one on a kickoff return.
Junior quarterback Aiden McCown was 13-of-19 (.684) for 232 yards and three touchdowns. He also carried the ball six times for 80 yards with a score. McCown connected with eight different receivers led by four receptions from Davin Driskell for 110 yards and a touchdown – his first 100-yard receiving game of his career, and four catches from sophomore Blake Thomas for 57 yards (with a score).
Lamar defense was led by nine tackles from junior Mar Mar Evans with six of those being solos, while Bryce McDonald added five (all solo stops).
LU took the opening kickoff and marched the ball 78 yards down the field on four plays for the game’s first score. McCown rolled out to his right and found Blake Thomas on a perfectly thrown 41-yard pass into the right corner of the end zone for the early lead. The score was set up by a 33-yard completion to Davin Driskell on a 3rd-and-6 play. After the LU defense got a stop on its first series, LU was back on the attack less than four minutes later. This time McCown hit Driskell from 49 yards out for the score to give Big Red a 14-0 lead just over five minutes into the contest.
Nicholls appeared to steal some of the momentum back when they scored on their second possession of the day but Lamar answered immediately. Sophomore Caleb Holmes returned the ensuing kick 86 yards for a touchdown (his first career return for a score) to make it 21-7 advantage in the first. LU would tack on another score to take a 28-7 lead into the second quarter.
The Cardinals finished the quarter with 151 yards of offense on 10 plays with 127 coming through the air. LU kept the pressure on Nicholls in the second quarter tacking on TD runs from Parker Jenkins (1 yard) and LaDamion McDowell (11 yards) to build a 42-7 lead and take a 42-10 lead into the locker room
Lamar finished the opening half with 287 yards of total offense, with 186 of those coming through the air, while holding the Colonels to 165 yards. McCown was a near perfect in the opening 30 minutes completing 7-of-9 (.778) for 186 yards and two scores. McCown’s top target was Driskell who hauled in four passes for 110 yards (27.5 ypr) with a touchdown (49 yards).
The only second half points came from Nicholls early in the fourth quarter as Lamar never allowed their hosts to rally.
The Cardinals return to action Saturday when they will host Northwestern State. The contest against the Demons will kick off at 6 p.m. from Provost Umphrey Stadium. It will also be broadcast on Newstalk 560 KLVI and streamed live on ESPN+.
(photo by Daniel Bowden)
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