BEAUMONT, Texas – For the first time in more than a month the Lamar University football team will be playing a game in the friendly confines of Provost Umphrey Stadium. The Cardinals (2-2/1-1 Southland) return home from arguably one of the toughest road stretches for any FCS team in the nation to welcome the Abilene Christian Wildcats.
 
Big Red's three-game road swing put the team on a rollercoaster ride of emotions sending it from one end of the spectrum to the other. The Cardinals battled the No. 4 Baylor Bears tough in Waco before BU pulled away late in the contest only to find out that three starters were hurt in the game. The Cards then traveled to No. 3 Sam Houston State and stunned the Bearkats, 49-46. It was a game that saw LU running back Kade Harrington earn Southland Conference and National Offensive Player of the Week honors.
 
The Cardinals entered their off week on a high, but that roller coaster decided to take a downward turn in Hammond. LU's tough three-game stretch ended at No. 22 Southeastern Louisiana last week – a game that saw the Cards fall behind early, 13-0, only to watch LU take a 14-13 lead into the locker room. Big Red held that lead until the final two minutes of the contest when Southeastern reclaimed the advantage with a one-yard plunge over the goal line with 1:19 on the clock. The touchdown would be the difference in the game.
 
Now LU returns home to host an ACU team that has been on a roller coaster ride of its own this season. After an impressive showing at Fresno State that saw the 'Cats hang tough with the Bulldogs, ACU returned home to knock off conference foes Houston Baptist and Stephen F. Austin. Similar to LU, that roller coaster took a different turn last week for ACU in Conway. The Wildcats dropped a 42-14 decision to Central Arkansas to fall into a tie for fourth in the league standings just a game up in the win column over LU.
 
"Obviously, the loss at Southeastern (Louisiana) was tough," said Woodard. "We put a lot of work into that game and I'm proud of how we fought, but our guys understand for this team to move forward we can't look back but we have to focus on this week. That focus is on a very talented Abilene Christian team which is coming in here this week.
 
"This is going to be another tough football game. They return a talented quarterback from last season, their running backs are back and they return the majority of their offensive line. Offensively, they are running and throwing the ball well. Defensively, they have more new faces than they do on the offensive side of the ball, guys that we are trying to get familiar with. We knew back before we played Sam this was going to be a tough game," added Woodard.
 
Two key areas to look for in Saturday's contest will be ACU's ability to throw the football against the Cardinals ability to run. The Wildcats enter the week ranked third in the league averaging better than 220 passing yards per game, while LU is eighth in the Southland in pass defense (262.3). The Cardinals enter the game with one of that nation's top running backs in Harrington. The Kingwood, Texas native is averaging better than 120 rushing yards per game, which leads the league and ranks among the nation's top 10, while the Wildcats have struggled at times to stop the run (9^th in SLC/251 ypg).
 
"ACU brings one of the league's top offenses in here," said Woodard. "(Quarterback) Parker McKenzie played really well against us last year, and he has some very talented receivers to get the ball to. In addition to that, these guys can run the ball well too. This game is going to be a challenge for us on both sides."
 
In addition to a strong running game, the Cardinals have two of the better return men in the league as well. Freshman Rodney Randle leads the Southland averaging better than 27 yards per kick return, with a touchdown, while senior Jayce Nelson is currently third in the conference averaging 12 yards per punt return.
 
The Cardinals will honor our nation's veterans throughout the day Saturday. Echo Maintenance has purchased 5,000 tickets for the game which will be handed out to members of the military and their families. Free parking has been provided to wounded veterans with shuttle service to the game. Prior to the game, Kimberly Dunn and Jamie Talbert and the Band of Demons will be performing in the Echo Maintenance and Gulf Coast Fabricators tailgate area (A-1 Lot). Prior to kickoff, there will be parachutists coming into the stadium. Throughout the contest, LU will recognize each branch of the military, and at halftime there will be a fireworks display.
 
The game is slated to kickoff at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on Newstalk 560 KLVI, and on ESPN3 – the network's online platform.
 
-LU CARDINALS-