BEAUMONT, Texas – With the football season just past the halfway point, each game now takes on even more importance. Teams at the top of the conference standings are fighting to stay there, while those just behind are looking to knock them off. That is the case for Saturday when Lamar University travels to Northwestern State.
 
The 15^th-ranked Cardinals enter the week off to their best start since 1974, riding a six-game win streak and sit in a three-way tie atop the Southland with a 3-0 record (Southeastern Louisiana and Stephen F. Austin), while the Demons are looking to jump start their season after a 1-6 start. Northwestern State is one of two league schools still looking for its first win of the year (UIW).
 
The Cardinals have won six straight but it has not been an easy ride for the Red and White.  Each of the past two games have come right down to the wire – a game-winning touchdown pass with three seconds remaining at East Texas A&M followed by a game-winning school-record 57-yard field goal against UT Rio Grande Valley last week. Lamar's last four contests have been decided by 10 points or less with the lone 10-point game coming at ETAMU where the Cardinals followed the game-winning touchdown with a forced fumble recovered and returned for a score on the final play of the game.
 
Unfortunately, history is not on Lamar's side in this series. The Demons lead the all-time series, 13-11-1 (.540), and that number drops to a 5-11 (.313) for Big Red in Natchitoches (with the fifth win coming last year). Lamar has started to flip the series winning three of the last four meetings. The Cardinals head to Natchitoches looking for consecutive road wins against NSU for the first time since the 1959 and 1960 seasons.
 
Saturday's contest, which was originally slated for 4 p.m., had to be moved to a 2 p.m. kick off (due to the threat of storms) from Turpin Stadium. It will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 and streamed live on ESPN+.
   
LU vs. the Demons
The Demons lead the all-time series over Lamar, 13-11-1, but the Cardinals have been closing ground. Lamar has won consecutive games and three of the last four, including a 42-10 decision last year in Natchitoches. Lamar is 5-11 (.313) all-time against the Demons in Natchitoches. The Cardinals enter the weekend looking for back-to-back road wins in the series for the first time since 1959 and 1960 and going in search of three consecutive series wins for the first time since 1959, 1960 and 1976.
 
Going Streaking
Saturday's win is LU's sixth consecutive, marking the Cardinals longest win streak since winning six in a row during the 2018 campaign. Lamar's 6-1 start equals its best since 1974. A win Saturday would equal the program's longest since the 1971 and 1972 seasons.
 
Best Start Since ...
A win Saturday at Northwestern State would give the Cardinals their best start to a season since 1967. It would also be the Cardinals' best start in conference play since 1960 (Lone Star Conference).
 
Records are Meant to be ... Tied
Senior kicker Ben Woodard added his name to the long list of Cardinals who have been named SLC and FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week for the Cardinals in 2025. Woodard converted kicks of 53 yards and a game-winning 57 yarder Saturday. The 57-yarder tied the school record for longest kick in program history (Mike Andrie vs. Arkansas State, 1987). Woodard's two 50-plus yard field goals Saturday equaled the longest combine kicks in a game this season.
 
Fast Track
LU head coach Pete Rossomando entered the 2025 season with the most wins of any Lamar head coach after two seasons. Despite being just past the midway point of his third season, he already has more wins (19) than any previous LU head coach after their first four seasons.