BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University running back Kade Harrington rushed for a single-game school and Southland Conference record 347 yards as the Cardinals defeated Abilene Christian (2-3/2-2 SLC), 44-28, Saturday night at Provost Umphrey Stadium. The Cardinals rolled up 521 yards of total offense – including 391 on the ground – as they moved to 3-2 (.600) on the season, and 2-1 (.667) in conference play.
Harrington recorded his 347 yards on 28 carries, and finished the night with two touchdown runs. Almost lost in the shuffle of his record-setting performance was that fact that his second touchdown run of the night made him the school’s all-time leading scorer passing Sammy Carpenter who had held the record since 1954.
Just for good measure, Harrington also caught three passes for 18 yards, which gave him 365 all-purpose yards on the night. That mark set an LU single-game record for all-purpose yards which Harrington originally set in the victory at Sam Houston State earlier this season.
LU’s defense was able to minimize the damage from the Wildcats’ high-powered offense holding ACU to 349 yards of total offense, and allowed only 24 rushing yards. Senior Seth Ellis led the defense with nine tackles, including two for losses. He was one of eight players to finish the night with a tackle behind the line of scrimmage. Junior Larance Hale added eight tackles and a game-high three tackles for losses.
The revolving door at quarterback due to injuries this season had senior Joe Minden back on the field starting for the Cardinals. The Coppell, Texas native was 16-for-26 for 130 yards and three touchdowns. Minden connected with seniors Devonn Brown and Begelton and junior Michael Handy for the touchdown passes. Begelton’s TD reception was the 20th of his career, just one shy of tying the LU all-time record set by former Cardinals’ All-American Mark Roberts last season.
The Cardinals took the first lead of the game with just over four minutes remaining in the opening quarter. Minden guided the Cardinals on a 13-play, 77-yard drive that ended with a 10-yard pass to Begelton. The drive took 4:47 off the clock, and was the team’s longest drive of the night.
LU added its second score early in the second quarter when Harrington took a handoff from the Cards’ 20 on the first play of the drive and carried it 80 yards untouched for the score. Big Red added a 21-yard field goal from Alex Ball and a 13-yard touchdown pass from Minden to Handy with seconds remaining in the opening half to take a 24-0 lead into the locker room.
The Wildcats were the first to score in the second half when Cedric Gilbert caught a 19-yard pass from ACU quarterback Parker McKenzie. The ACU signal caller ended the night completing 24-of-36 passes for 316 yards and three touchdowns. He was also picked off once by LU freshman Rodney Randle.
The Cardinals answered the ACU touchdown by tacking on another Ball field goal (38 yards) and an eight-yard touchdown pass from Minden to Brown to build their advantage to 34-7 with 2:37 remaining in the third. The Wildcats answered back 48 seconds later with Jonathan Epps caught a 58-yard pass from McKenzie. The visitors were back on the march early in the four quarter when Herschel Sims added a two-yard TD run to cut the lead to 34-14, but that would be as close as the Wildcats would get.
Harrington added a 62-yard scamper for a score with 11:05 remaining in the game, and Ball connected on the third of his three field goals (41 yards) to give the Red and White a 23-point advantage with just under three minutes remaining.
ACU closed out the scoring with touchdown with less than a minute on the clock.
The Cardinals return to action Saturday, Oct. 17 when they travel to Natchitoches, La., to take on Northwestern State. The game against the Demons is slated to begin at 6 p.m. from Turpin Stadium.
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