HOUSTON, Texas – Lamar University rushed for 211 yards including a 96-yard effort from freshman quarterback Marcellus Johnson and 91 from classmate Chaz Ward, but the Cardinals fell just short to Houston Baptist, 31-26, Saturday afternoon at Husky Stadium. The loss drops LU to 4-7 on the season and 2-6 in Southland Conference play.
 
The Cardinals finished day with 325 yards of total offense, while HBU recorded 405. The Huskies did the majority of their damage through the air passing for 289 yards.
 
"Our guys never quit fighting today and I'm proud of them for that," said LU head coach Mike Schultz. "We had to play so many new guys this week because we're so banged up but they never used that as an excuse and just continued to battle. We knew this was going to be a tough game."
 
The hometown Huskies wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. Bailey Zappe hit Coleman Robinson for a 57-yard strike down the middle to set up a one-yard touchdown run from Dreshawn Minnieweather. Big Red answered on the ensuing possession with an eight-play, 57-yard drive to set up a career-long 51-yard field goal from Bailey Giffen.
 
After forcing HBU to punt the ball away, the Cardinals went back on the attack. After a personal foul facemask against the Huskies on fourth down, Big Red had the ball down inside the HBU 20 but the drive stalled after a sack and an incompletion and the coaching staff again called on Giffen. The Bryan, Texas native booted his second field goal of the day this time from 36 yards out.
 
HBU answered with a field goal of their own but Big Red had an answer on their next possession, but it was a score that almost never happened. After converting on third and short, the Cardinals were called for a hold. On third and nine, Johnson dropped back in the pocket and hit Jack Roe over the middle for 16 yards, followed by a 19-yard pass to Erik Pizarro. Two plays later the Cardinals hit pay dirt with a four-yard run from Johnson to claim their first lead of the game, 13-10, with 9:04 remaining.
 
It appeared the Cards' defense had HBU stopped on its next possession. Facing third and 16 from their own 46, Zappe completed a 53-yard pass to Minnieweather who carried the ball down to the one. The Huskies fumbled the ball on the next play but recovered and completed a pass for a touchdown after that to reclaim a four-point lead, 17-13, with just under six minutes remaining. The Huskies added to their lead moments later after picking off a pass and then scoring on the very next play.
 
The Cardinals trimmed the deficit down to eight after another 50-plus yard field goal from Giffen. After setting a career long of 51 yards in the first quarter, Giffen stepped back on the field to set a new career-long of 53 yards to pull LU within eight, 24-16.
 
The eight-point lead would be the margin heading into the locker room as the Cardinals recorded 199 yards in the opening 30 minutes – 117 on the ground. HBU finished the half with 275 yards of offense including 233 through the air.
 
It was the Cardinals' defense that came up with the first big play of the second half. On their first drive of the half, HBU was facing fourth and long from deep in their own territory when Blake Patterson was dropped near the goal line to set up LU with first-and-goal. Two plays later Johnson punched it in for the score pulling the Cards back within a point, 24-23. The Huskies pushed the lead back to eight points with another TD late in the third but LU responded with a Giffen field goal (his fourth of the day) from 24 yards out.
 
The Huskies moved the ball into LU territory on their next possession but forced HBU to attempt a 46-yard field goal. The Gino Garcia kick was pushed wide right giving the Cardinals the ball back with 8:10 remaining trailing by only five. Unfortunately, LU was able to move the ball and was forced to punt it away.
 
The Cardinals got the ball back one final time after blocking an HBU field goal and moved it down to the Husky 33 before turning it over downs.
 
"We now have to turn our attention to McNeese," said Schultz. "Our guys want to win that game for our seniors. These guys have worked really hard during their careers and we want to send them out as winners on senior day."
 
The Cardinals return to action Saturday when they host rival McNeese on Senior Day. The game will kick off at 3 p.m. from Provost Umphrey Stadium. The Cardinals will honor 2019 senior class before kickoff.
 
#WeAreLU