Southland’s Top-Two Teams Square Off in Beaumont
Lamar University jumped out to an early lead at UT Rio Grande Valley Saturday and never looked back posting a 52-23 victory over the Vaqueros to improve to 7-2 (.778) on the season and 5-1 (.833) in Southland Conference play. The 12th-ranked Cardinals have now won six of their past seven contests. The LU win, combined with Stephen F. Austin’s win over Houston Christian, has set the stage for a No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown in Beaumont. The second-ranked Lumberjacks enter the week 9-0 on the season and sit atop the Southland standings with a 6-0 record. Lamar’s victory, combined with SFA’s win, sets up the second top-25 contest in Beaumont this season. Saturday’s contest is set for a 3 p.m. kick off from Provost Umphrey Stadium. It will be broadcast on Newstalk 560 KLVI and streamed in ESPN+.
LU vs. the Lumberjacks
The series between Lamar and Stephen F. Austin dates back to the 1951 season and is split right down the middle with both teams holding a 16-16 (.500) overall record, which includes a 9-9 (.500) mark in Beaumont. The recent history has swung in SFA’s favor with the Lumberjacks winning eight of the previous 10 meetings including a 26-15 decision in Nacogdoches last season. The Cardinals are going in search of the first series win since 2018.
On the Verge Of …
With Saturday’s victory at UT Rio Grande Valley, the Cardinals are the verge of some key wins. LU’s win Saturday secured the program’s fourth consecutive winning season (first time since 1964-67). With just one more win, LU would tie the single-season mark for wins (as a four-year school) for a second-straight year as well as tie the single-season record for SLC wins (6 in 2018).
The Cardinals need two more wins to keep a unique run in place for head coach Pete Rossomando. Since his first year with the team, the Cardinals have increased their win total from the year before culminating in last season’s eight-win campaign that led to the playoffs.
Speed Limit 52
Lamar scored a season-high 52 points Saturday at UT Rio Grande Valley, which marks the first 50-point outing for the Cardinals since scoring 52 against McNeese in the 2023 season. It also marks the third time this season that Lamar has scored at least 42 points in a game.
A First Time for Everything
LU’s win Saturday marked the first time an opponent had defeated the Vaqueros on their home field. It also marked first time an opponent has led at halftime and it was the most points surrendered by a UTRGV squad at Vackar Stadium.
Returning a Pick/Kick 6
Junior Bryce McDonald picked off a pass and returned it for a score and sophomore Blake Thomas returned a kick for a touchdown Saturday. It marks the second time this season that LU has returned either a pick or a kick for a touchdown.
Social Media