BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University football team returns to action Saturday when they travel to Commerce, Texas for the first time since 1962 to take on the Texas A&M-Commerce Lions. The game takes on added importance for both teams. The Cardinals (3-3/0-1 SLC) are looking to get in the win column in conference play after a disappointing start to the season last week against Stephen F. Austin. The Lions, on the other hand, have only one win on the season but fortunately for them it came last week in conference play, and they are looking to build off that momentum.
 
The Cardinals bring the league's third-best scoring defense into the game (23.7 ppg) and will be facing an A&M-Commerce squad that has had some difficulty at times this season finding the end zone. The Lions are seventh in the SLC averaging 19.2 points per game but they have faced a daunting non-conference schedule that included games against two nationally ranked FCS opponents and a trip to San Diego State. The offense showed signs of breaking out last week in the win over Northwestern State as Commerce hung 42 points on the Demons.
 
Lamar remains one of three schools still looking for their first conference win but Lamar started league play later than most schools. Only Lamar and Nicholls enter the week having played just one conference game so far this season.
 
Saturday's kick off is slated for 3:30 p.m. from Commerce Memorial Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 KLVI and streamed live on ESPN+.
  LU vs. the Lions
Saturday's contest will mark the 15th meeting between the two schools in a series that dates back to the 1951 season but just the second contest since 1963 (the two teams met last season in Beaumont). The Cardinals trail the all-time series, 6-8 (.429), a record that includes a 2-3 (.400) mark in Commerce. The Lions won the first five games in series history before LU got in the win column, but Big Red has won six of the last nine including a 20-point decision in Beaumont last season.
 
A Rhea of Light
Senior receiver Sevonne Rhea had a career day against Stephen F. Austin. The Houston native tied a career high with six receptions for a career-high 166 yards and a touchdown. It also marked the fifth 100-yard receiving game of his career and the first of 2024. His TD reception against the Lumberjacks came on the first play of a drive in the second half and went for 80 yards. It was the longest reception of the season for Lamar and the second of more than 70 yards.
 
Beaumont Block Party
Lamar University has blocked three kicks on the season. The Cardinals are currently tied for fifth nationally in blocked kicks (and tied for 12th nationally in blocked punts).
 
Lowering the Flags
After being accessed double-figure penalties in three of their first four games, the Cardinals have seen a drastic reduction in penalties in each of the past two games. Lamar has been charged with just six penalties in each of its last two contests.