BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University outscored the nation's eighth-ranked team, 17-14, in the second half of Thursday's season-opener, but it wasn't enough to overcome a slow start as Idaho defeated the Cardinals, 42-17.
 
The highest-ranked team the Cards have faced in a season-opener since bringing back the program, the Vandals lived up to the preseason hype in the first half jumping out to a 35-0 lead, but head coach Pete Rossomando and his staff made adjustments during the intermission and began pecking away at the lead in the second half.
 
For the game, the Cardinals finished with 190 yards of offense, with 71 of those coming on the ground. The Vandals had 497 yards with 273 rushing.
 
Junior Khalan Griffin led the Cardinals' ground attack with 12 carries for 42 yards and a touchdown. The Tyler, Texas native also had a game-high three receptions for 20 yards.
 
Transfer Robert Coleman got the start behind center and went the distance completing 15-of-24 (.625) passes for 119 yards and a touchdown.
 
Defensively, the Cardinals were led by Robert Bonar's seven tackles, including one for a loss. Transfer Kevin Anderson added four tackles and picked of his first pass in a Cardinal uniform.
 
Big Red got on the scoreboard midway through the third quarter on a 30-yard field goal from Chris Esqueda. The kick capped a 10-play drive that took 4:38 off the clock. The field goal was setup by Anderson's pick.
 
Idaho answered with a score six minutes into the fourth quarter, but Lamar would respond. With less than five minutes in the game, Griffin scored on a two-yard plunge to cap a seven-play, 75-yard drive that took more than four minutes off the clock. After forcing another turnover, the Cardinals got the ball back.
 
Big Red took advantage of the Idaho miscue when Coleman found Trae Hall in the front corner of the end zone from 12 yards out. Hall's first-career LU score came less than 90 seconds after its previous score.
 
The Cardinals will now hit the road for two straight before returning home. Lamar will be in Monroe, La., to face the UL Monroe Warhawks Saturday, Sept. 9. The game will kick off at 7 p.m. from Monroe.