Box Score BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University recorded 438 yards of total offense and overcame 18 penalties totaling 157 yards to defeat Mississippi Valley State, 28-14, Saturday evening at Provost Umphrey Stadium. It was the most rushing yards by a Cardinal since quarterback Jordan Hoy rushed for 225 at Stephen F. Austin in 2018.
 
Lamar's offense was sparked by a career effort from senior running back Khalan Griffin who carried the ball 23 times for a career-high 197 yards and two touchdowns. The Tyler, Texas native, averaged nearly 8.6 yards per carry on the night.
 
The Cardinals recorded a balanced attack rushing for 222 yards and passing for 216 (with two touchdowns). Senior quarterback Robert Coleman got the start and completed 12-of-30 passes for 216 and two scores but was picked off once. Coleman's favorite target was tight end JaCorey Hyder who hauled in four passes for 117 yards and a score. His touchdown reception went for 63 yards. Hyder was one six Cardinals to haul in a pass on Saturday.
 
Senior Sevonne Rhea hauled in the Cards' other TD reception on a 10-yard pass in the first quarter to open the scoring.
 
Defensively, the Cardinals held MVSU to fewer than 300 yards of offense (280). Mississippi Valley managed just 72 yards on the ground. The defense also picked off two passes and blocked a kick.
 
Junior linebacker Brayden Faulkner led Lamar with nine tackles including one for a loss. Ramond Stevens and Dejuan Lewis each ended the night with seven tackles (including one TFL) and an interception.
 
"Tonight was a penalty-riddled game on our side for sure," said LU head coach Pete Rossomando. "I didn't think we did a good job in terms of discipline, but in the end we needed to run the ball to run the clock out. We did a really good job on that final drive and put the ball in the end zone to win the game. I was proud of our guys to get a stop on defense."
 
Lamar built a 21-7 advantage with less than two minutes remaining in the opening half following Hyder's touchdown catch. Unfortunately, the Cardinals were unable to carry the momentum into the second half of action as MVSU was the only team to get on the scoreboard in the third quarter with a pass from Jaydyn Sisk to Kerrick Ross with 6:13 remaining.
 
Neither team would dent the scoreboard again until late in the fourth and fortunately for the hometown fans it would be Lamar. The score coming on a one-yard plunge up the middle from Griffin to cap a nine-play, 84-yard drive that took more than five minutes off the clock.
 
The Cardinals return to action Saturday, Sept. 14 when they take on Weber State out of the Big Sky Conference. The game against the Wildcats will kick off at 6 p.m. from Provost Umphrey Stadium and be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 and streamed live on ESPN+.