BEAUMONT, Texas – As alumni for previous years ascend onto the Lamar University campus this weekend for Homecoming, the Lamar University football team prepares to face Houston Christian for the annual Homecoming game. The Cardinals enter the week looking for their first conference win since returning to the Southland, while Saturday is the conference opener for HCU.
 
The Cardinals (0-4/0-1 SLC) are coming off a disappointing setback in their conference opener last week at Northwestern State. After jumping out to a 10-0 lead and getting the ball back and moving it down to the NSU one yard line, the Cardinals were stopped on downs and Northwestern State rallied to score 28 unanswered points and held on late for the win.
 
Big Red started junior quarterback Nick Yockey behind center and the Gig Harbor, Wash., native went on to complete 19 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns. He guided an offense that recorded a season-best 394 total yards. 
 
After opening the season with a victory at Northern Colorado, that saw the Huskies score 46 points, HCU has dropped their last two games. Among the consecutive losses was a one-point setback that saw HCU get a punt blocked and return it for a touchdown inside the final minute of the game.
 
The Huskies enter Saturday's contest averaging 22 points per game and more than 345 yards of offense (with nearly 250 of that coming through the air). Defensively, the Huskies are giving up nearly 30 points per contest. On the flip side of that coin, Big Red is scoring nearly 18 points per contest and averaging more than 300 yards of offense. 
 
The Cardinals lead the all-time series between the two schools, 4-2 (.667), including a 2-1 record in Beaumont. LU won four of the first five meetings but dropped a five-point decision in Beaumont in 2019 which was the last time the two schools met on the field.
 
Saturday's contest will kick off at 3 p.m. from Provost Umphrey Stadium. It will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 KLVI and streamed live on ESPN+.