BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University's football team cleared its first hurdle of the season with pinpoint precision, and now turns its focus to week two. After an overwhelming 70-7 victory over Kentucky Christian in the season opener, the Cardinals will now step up in competition to face Texas Tech.
 
The Cardinals enter the second week following an opener that saw them score 10 touchdowns by eight different players. Big Red closed out week one with more than 602 yards of total offense, including 409 rushing yards. While the offense was busy moving the ball at will, the LU defense did a great job of not allowing KCU's offense to get into any type of a rhythm. The Knights were held to 211 yards, including 52 yards on the ground.
 
Texas Tech had a heartbreaking start to its 2018 campaign. The Red Raiders dropped a 47-27 decision to Mississippi in Houston, and in addition to the setback Texas Tech also lost starting quarterback McLane Carter.
 
"Texas Tech is a very talented football team," said LU head coach Mike Schultz. "We know they will be ready to play Saturday. I know our guys are excited to make this trip. Texas Tech is always known for its high-powered offense with an explosive passing game. The one change now is they put a little more focus on the run game. They will have good players on both sides of the ball."
 
Despite the loss of Carter early in the game, the Red Raiders' still managed to record nearly 500 yards of total offense against a talented Ole Miss defense. Texas Tech racked up 322 passing yards against the Rebels. Alan Bowman came on in relief of Carter following the injury and finished the day with 29 completions for 273 yards and a touchdown. Tech's Da'Leon Ward led the ground attack with 17 carries for 90 yards and two touchdowns.
 
Texas Tech enters the 2018 season looking to improve upon a 6-7 (.462) campaign that ended with a loss in the Birmingham Bowl last year. The Cardinals are also looking to improve from a 2017 season that saw them end with a 2-9 (.182) overall record. After a season-opening victory, the Cardinals now head to Lubbock looking to start the season 2-0 for the first time since the 1985 season. The Red and White also head west looking to win consecutive games for the first time since 2016.
 
Saturday's contest will be the third time the two teams have met on the gridiron in program history, and the first since the 1988 season. The Red Raiders won the first two contests by scores of 43-14 (1987) and 59-28 (1988).
 
Saturday's game is set to kick off at 3 p.m. from Jones AT&T Stadium. It can be heard live on Newstalk 560 KLVI and can be see live on Fox Sports. The game can be found on Dish Network Ch. 441 (standard definition) and 9579 (high definition), DirecTV Ch. 676-2 and Uverse Ch. 754 (standard definition) and 1754 (high definition).
 
Following the game against Texas Tech, the Cardinals will return home for two straight and four of the next five. The Cardinals will be back in action at Provost Umphrey Stadium Saturday, Sept. 15, to open Southland play against Northwestern State.