BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University recorded nearly 500 yards of total offense – including 297 on the ground – to defeat Lincoln (Calif.) University, 38-0 Saturday evening at Provost Umphrey Stadium. The victory, Lamar's first since defeating Nicholls late last season, marked the first victory of the Pete Rossomando era. It was also the first Cardinal shutout since the 2014 campaign against Texas College (73-0).
 
Big Red's defense was just as impressive as the offense holding the Oaklanders to just 106 yards, with only 26 of that coming through the air.
 
Junior Robert Coleman was deliberate in how he picked apart the Lincoln defense completing 15-of-19 (.789) passes for 192 yards and two scores. He also carried the ball seven times for 34 yards.
 
Coleman connected with seven different receivers led by four catches for 60 yards from Major Bowden. The two touchdown passes were hauled in by Andre Dennis (four receptions for 25 yards and one TD) and Izaha Jones (two catches for 12 and score).
 
Junior Khalan Griffin led a ground attack that imposed its will on the Oaklanders' defense all night. Griffin had 12 carries for a season-high 117 yards and one touchdown. He averaged nearly 10 yards per carry on the night.
 
Killeen sophomore Damashja Harris provided LU with a strong one-two punch as he finished the night with 11 carries for 81 yards and a score.
 
Senior Foday Jalloh led the Cardinals with a team-high eight tackles, including one for a 15-yard sack. Blake Gotcher was second on the team with seven tackles and a sack.
 
The Cardinals jumped out to a 14-0 first quarter lead and never looked back. After the TD catches from Dennis and Jones in the opening 15 minutes of action, the Cardinals tacked on with a Harris seven-yard scamper toward the end of the first half. The Cardinals got the ball back late and managed to add a Chris Esqueda 25-yard field goal as time expired to give the Cardinals a 24-0 lead heading into the intermission.
 
The Red and White tacked on two more scores – one in the third and one in the fourth – for the shutout victory.
 
The game wasn't cleanly played on either end as the two teams finished the night with 19 penalties for nearly 210 yards, including included a handful of offsetting penalties.
 
Lamar (1-3) will look to clean things up and make it two in a row Saturday as they close the month of September with the Southland Conference opener at Houston Christian. The game against the Huskies will kick off at 6 p.m. from Husky Stadium.