Big Red Looks to Bounce Back on Homecoming
Coming off one of its most disappointing weeks of the season, the Lamar University Cardinals (5-2/3-1 SLC) will look to get back in the win column Saturday when they host Houston Christian for Homecoming. The Cardinals fell into a tie for second in the conference standings after dropping a heartbreaking three-point decision at Southeastern Louisiana, 34-31, last week in Hammond. The loss also snapped Lamar’s four-game win streak. LU now prepares to face the team that picked up a key win Saturday to move into that tie with LU, Houston Christian. The Huskies enter the week riding the momentum of one of their best starts in program history (4-3/3-1 SLC) and have won consecutive Southland games to move into a two-way tie for second. Over the course of the past two games, the Huskies have allowed just 13 points per game and are coming off their biggest offensive output (against an NCAA Divisioin I program) this season. Saturday’s game is set for a 3 p.m. kick from Provost Umphrey Stadium. It will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 KLVI and streamed live on ESPN+.
LU vs. the Huskies
The Cardinals hold a 5-3 (.625) overall record in the series with Houston Christian, but are 2-2 (.500) all-time at home against the Huskies. The first meeting between the two schools came during the 2014 season, but Saturday will be the first since 2023. Lamar is going in search of consecutive wins in the series, and its first win in Beaumont since 2018.
LU on Homecoming
Historically, Homecoming has not been a good day on the gridiron for Lamar University. The Cardinals are just 24-29-1 (.454) all-time on Homecoming. The Cardinals had lost seven-straight Homecoming games prior to head coach Pete Rossomando’s arrival but has won two of the past three. LU has faced Houston Christian (formerly Houston Baptist) three times on Homecoming posting a 1-2 (.333) record in those games.
Century Mark
Sophomore receiver Blake Thomas had a career night Saturday at Southeastern Louisiana. The Houston native hauled in eight catches for 119 yards and two touchdowns against the Lions. It marks the second time this season that Lamar has had a receiver record 100 receiving yards with two touchdown receptions (Davin Driskel at Nicholls). Thomas’ career night missed one of the top
25 single-game performances in school history, in terms of receiving yards, by just seven yards.
The Rossomando Effect
Since the arrival of head coach Pete Rossomando, Lamar has made historic strides. LU is coming off an NCAA FCS Playoff appearance and is currently in the midst of its best run of success (in terms of consecutive winning seasons) since the mid 1960s. Just four games into his fourth season, Rossomando had already won more games at LU than any previous coach after four years.
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