Box Score STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Lamar University put up a tough fight Saturday evening but dropped a 42-21 decision at Tarleton State. The Cardinals trailed by only seven at halftime, but Tarleton outscored LU, 21-7 in the second half to pull away late.
 
Starting a true freshman at quarterback, the Cardinals (2-7/0-5 WAC-ASUN) put up 277 yards of total offense, including 193 on the ground. Daelyn Williams got the start and went the whole game at quarterback completing 9-of-18 (.500) passes for 84 yards and a touchdown. He also tacked on 17 rushing yards.
 
Williams' lone touchdown pass went to Kirkland Banks (27 yards) early in the second quarter to give the Red and White a seven-point lead. Banks finished the day with two catches for 55 yards.
 
True freshman Jaylon Jackson led the Cardinals ground attack with seven rushes for 54 yards, which included a 42-yard run for a score. Jackson averaged nearly eight yards per carry. Tarleton transfer Hunter Batten added eight carries for 46 yards.
 
The Texans finished the night with 453 yards of offense, the majority of that coming through the air (319).
 
Freshman linebacker Adrian Owens led the Cardinals defense with a game-high 16 tackles, including four solo stops, and 1.5 for losses. Sophomore Anthony Ruffin and freshman Ramond Stevens added eight tackles, while Damian Alexander picked off a pass to go along with his two tackles.
 
The Cardinals will be back action when the return home to host Jacksonville State. The game against the Gamecocks will kick off at 4 p.m. from Provost Umphrey Stadium.