2018 Lamar Cardinals football team

2018 Lamar Cardinals football
FCS Playoffs First Round, L 13–16 vs. Northern Iowa
Conference	Southland Conference
2018 record	7–5 (6–3 Southland)
Head coach	Mike Schultz (2nd season)
Offensive coordinator	Dan Dodd (2nd season)
Co-defensive coordinator	Troy Douglas (2nd season)
Co-defensive coordinator	Cam Clark (1st season)
Home stadium	Provost Umphrey Stadium (Capacity: 16,000)
Seasons ← 2017 2019 →

2018 Southland Conference football standings
v t	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 14 Nicholls +^		7	–	2					9	–	4
Incarnate Word +^		6	–	2					6	–	5
Lamar ^		6	–	3					7	–	5
Abilene Christian		5	–	4					6	–	5
Central Arkansas		5	–	4					6	–	5
McNeese State		5	–	4					6	–	5
Sam Houston State		5	–	4					6	–	5
Northwestern State		4	–	5					5	–	6
Southeastern Louisiana		4	–	5					4	–	7
Stephen F. Austin		2	–	7					2	–	8
Houston Baptist		0	–	9					1	–	10
+ – Conference co-champions ^ – FCS playoff participant Rankings from STATS poll

The 2018 Lamar Cardinals football team represented Lamar University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Cardinals were led by second-year head coach Mike Schultz and played their home games at Provost Umphrey Stadium. They played as a member of the Southland Conference. They finished the season 7–5, 6–3 in Southland play to finish in third place. They received an at-large berth to the FCS Playoffs, where they lost in the first round to Northern Iowa.

TV and radio media[]

All Lamar games will be broadcast on KLVI, also known as News Talk 560.

In fourth year of an agreement (third year for football) with ESPN, live video of all home games (except those picked up by Southland Conference TV agreements) will be streamed on ESPN3.^[1]

Previous season[]

The Cardinals finished the 2017 season 2–9, 1–8 in Southland play to finish in tenth place.

Preseason[]

Preseason All-Conference Teams[]

On July 12, 2018, the Southland announced their Preseason All-Conference Teams, with the Cardinals placing one player on the second team.^[2]

Preseason Poll[]

On July 19, 2018, the Southland announced their preseason poll, with the Cardinals predicted to finish in tenth place.^[3]

Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
1	Sam Houston State	187 (10)
2	Nicholls State	173 (6)
3	Central Arkansas	170 (5)
4	McNeese State	159 (1)
5	Southeastern Louisiana	119
6	Stephen F. Austin	90
7	Abilene Christian	89
8	Northwestern State	86
9	Incarnate Word	53
10	Lamar	52
11	Houston Baptist	32

Schedule[]

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 1	6:00 p.m.	Kentucky Christian*	Provost Umphrey Stadium Beaumont, TX	ESPN3	W 70–7	7,056
September 8	3:00 p.m.	at Texas Tech*	Jones AT&T Stadium Lubbock, TX	FSN	L 0–77	52,126
September 15	6:00 p.m.	Northwestern State	Provost Umphrey Stadium Beaumont, TX	ESPN+	L 48–49	6,021
September 22	6:00 p.m.	Southeastern Louisiana	Provost Umphrey Stadium Beaumont, TX	ESPN3	L 24–30	8,017
September 29	2:30 p.m.	at No. 15 Nicholls State	John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA	ELVN/CST/SLC Digital	L 27–50	8,044
October 13	3:00 p.m.	Incarnate Word	Provost Umphrey Stadium Beaumont, TX	ESPN+/MYTX	W 27–21	6,113
October 20	3:00 p.m.	No. 14 Sam Houston State	Provost Umphrey Stadium Beaumont, TX	ESPN+/MYTX	W 41–23	7,227
October 27	3:00 p.m.	at Stephen F. Austin	Homer Bryce Stadium Nacogdoches, TX	ESPN+	W 24–17	6,321
November 3	6:00 p.m.	at No. 19 Central Arkansas	Estes Stadium Conway, AR	ELVN/CST/SLC Digital	W 38–24	10,874
November 10	3:00 p.m.	Houston Baptist	Provost Umphrey Stadium Beaumont, TX	ESPN+/MYTX	W 38–9	8,028
November 17	3:00 p.m.	at No. 22 McNeese State	Cowboy Stadium Lake Charles, LA (Battle of the Border)	ESPN3	W 21–17	11,532
November 24	4:00 p.m.	at Northern Iowa*	UNI-Dome Cedar Rapids, IA (FCS Playoffs First Round)	ESPN3	L 13–16	4,082
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

Source: ^{[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]}

Game summaries[]

Kentucky Christian[]

Kentucky Christian at Lamar

1 2 3 4 Total Knights 0 0 0 7 7 • Cardinals 21 28 7 14 70 Date: September 1 Location: Provost Umphrey Stadium Beaumont, TX Game start: 6:00 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3:21 Game attendance: 7,056 Game weather: Overcast, 25% rain Temp: 85 Wind: E 6mph Referee: Ed Bourgeouis TV announcers (ESPN3): Dan Gresham, play by play; Lemont Williams, analyst Sources:[12][13][14]

at Texas Tech[]

Lamar at Texas Tech

1 2 3 4 Total Cardinals 0 0 0 0 0 • Red Raiders 14 28 14 21 77 Date: September 8 Location: Jones AT&T Stadium Lubbock, TX Game start: 3:05 pm CDT Elapsed time: : 3:39 Game attendance: 52,126 Game weather: Cloudy Temp: 77 Wind: NNE 10mph Referee: Eddy Shelton TV announcers (FSN): Brendan Burke, play by play; David Anderson, analyst; Christian Steckel, reporter Sources:[15][16]

Northwestern State[]

Northwestern State at Lamar

1 2 3 4 Total • Demons 14 14 7 14 49 Cardinals 0 14 14 20 48 Date: September 15 Location: Provost Umphrey Stadium Beaumont, TX Game start: 6:00 pm CDT Elapsed time: 4:13 Game attendance:   Game weather: Scattered T-storms Temp: 87 Wind: SSW 5mph Referee: Dan Lewis TV announcers (ESPN+): Butch Alsandor, play by play; Lemont Williams, analyst Sources:[17][18]

Southeastern Louisiana[]

Southeastern Louisiana at Lamar

1 2 3 4 Total • Lions 7 3 7 13 30 Cardinals 6 11 0 7 24 Date: September 22 Location: Provost Umphrey Stadium Beaumont, TX Game start: 6:00 pm CDT Elapsed time: 3:37 Game attendance: 8,017 Game weather: Cloudy and rainy Temp: 80 Wind: S 6mph Referee: Vidal Jones TV announcers (ESPN3): Sam Levitt, play by play; Lemont Williams, analyst Sources:[19][20]

at Nicholls State[]

Lamar at Nicholls

1 2 3 4 Total Cardinals 10 7 3 7 27 • No. 15 Colonels 13 14 14 9 50 Date: September 29 Location: John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA Game start: 2:30 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3:02 Game attendance: 8,044 Game weather: Cloudy, rainy Temp: 82 Wind: ENE 5mph Referee: Dan Lewis TV announcers (ELVN/CST/SLC Digital): David Salzman, play by play; Butch Alsandor, analyst Sources:[21][22]

Incarnate Word[]

Incarnate Word at Lamar

1 2 3 4 Total Cardinals (UIW) 7 0 7 7 21 • Cardinals (LU) 0 7 7 13 27 Date: October 13 Location: Provost Umphrey Stadium Beaumont, TX Game start: 3:00 pm CDT Elapsed time: 3:35 Game attendance: 6,113 Game weather: Mostly cloudy Temp: 87 Wind: S 10mph Referee: C. Watson Television network: ESPN+/MYTX Sources:[23]

Sam Houston State[]

Sam Houston State at Lamar

1 2 3 4 Total No. 14 Bearkats 13 0 10 0 23 • Cardinals 10 7 17 7 41 Date: October 20 Location: Provost Umphrey Stadium Beaumont, TX Game start: 3:00 pm CDT Elapsed time: 3:14 Game attendance: 7,227 Game weather: Overcast Temp: 74 Wind: S 9mph Referee: Ed Bourgeois Television network: ESPN+/MYTX Sources:[24][25]

at Stephen F. Austin[]

Lamar at Stephen F. Austin

1 2 3 4 Total • Cardinals 7 10 7 0 24 Lumberjacks 0 0 7 10 17 Date: October 27 Location: Homer Bryce Stadium Nacogdoches, TX Game start: 3:00 pm CDT Elapsed time: 3:15 Game attendance: 6,321 Game weather: Clear Temp: 79 Wind: WSW 5mph Referee: Vidal Jones TV announcers (ESPN+): Rob Meyers, play by play; Kevin Langford, analyst Sources:[26]

at Central Arkansas[]

Lamar at Central Arkansas

1 2 3 4 Total • Cardinals 21 14 3 0 38 No. 19 Bears 10 6 0 8 24 Date: November 3 Location: Estes Stadium Conway, AR Game start: 6:00 pm CDT Elapsed time: 3:23 Game attendance: 10,874 Referee: Dan Lewis Television network: ELVN/CST/SLC Digital Sources:

Houston Baptist[]

Houston Baptist at Lamar

1 2 3 4 Total Huskies 0 9 0 0 9 • Cardinals 14 7 7 10 38 Date: November 10 Location: Provost Umphrey Stadium Beaumont, TX Game start: 3:00 pm CST Elapsed time: 3:05 Game attendance: 8,028 Game weather: Cloudy Temp: 55 Referee: C. Watson Television network: ESPN+/MYTX Sources:

at McNeese State[]

Lamar at McNeese

1 2 3 4 Total • Cardinals 7 0 7 7 21 No. 22 Cowboys 0 3 6 8 17 Date: November 17 Location: Cowboy Stadium Lake Charles, LA Game start: 3:00 p.m. CST Elapsed time: 3:10 Game attendance: 11,532 Game weather: Partly Cloudy Temp: 70 Wind: ESE 6mph Referee: C. Watson TV announcers (ESPN3): Lyn Rollins, play by play; Rene Nadeau, analyst; Carley McCord, reporter Sources:

FCS Playoffs[]

at Northern Iowa–First Round[]

Lamar at Northern Iowa

1 2 3 4 Total Cardinals 13 0 0 0 13 • Panthers 3 10 0 3 16 Date: November 24 Location: UNI-Dome Cedar Rapids, IA Game start: 4:00 p.m. CST Elapsed time: : Game attendance: 4,082 Television network: ESPN3 Sources:

Personnel[]

Roster[]

Source:^[27]

2018 Lamar Cardinals football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class WR 1 Jawun Ruffin Jr RB 2 James Jones Fr QB 3 Jack Dallas  Fr WR 4 Dewan Thompson, Jr. Sr RB 5 Derrion Randle Jr QB 7 Darrell Colbert, Jr Sr QB 8 Jordan Hoy Jr WR 9 Kendrick King Jr WR 11 Zae Giles Jr QB 12 Marcellus Johnson Fr WR 14 Caisen Sullivan So QB 15 Shane Johnson Jr QB 17 Adam Morse So WR 19 Dorian Gaston Sr RB 22 Myles Wanza So WR 23 Kirkland Banks So WR 24 Tanner Douglas  Fr RB 27 A.J. Walker Jr WR 29 Taylor Givens Jr RB 39 Cole Starnes Jr WR 41 Deonte Bradford Fr OL 51 Stephon Cooper Jr OL 54 Bless Harris Fr OL 58 Chaise Bridgeman So OL 62 John Ryder Moorman Fr OL 64 Humberto Lopez  Fr OL 66 Jesse Brewster So OL 70 Colton Peterson So OL 71 Jason Hessler Jr OL 72 Tamatoa Neher Jr OL 74 Micah McComb  Fr OL 75 Corey Nance Jr OL 76 Garrett Bowery Jr OL 77 Hayden Kaaiohelo Jr OL 78 Julio Cuello Fr OL 79 Aires Gilmore-Gardner Jr WR 80 Blake Robinson Fr WR 81 Erik Pizarro Fr TE 82 Mason Sikes So WR 86 Garrison Spring Jr TE 87 Cameron Sir Lewis Fr WR 88 Martell Hawthorne Sr TE 89 Case Robinson Jr	Defense Pos. # Name Class DB 1 Stanley Norman Jr DT 2 Darien Wilson Jr DB 3 Garrison Mitchell Jr DB 4 Steven Jones Fr DB 6 Willie Sykes Jr DB 7 Brandon Dabney Sr LB 8 Desmond Veals So DB 10 Davon Jernigan Sr LB 11 Chaston Brooks Sr DB 12 Tyler Rios Sr DB 13 Caleb Abrom Jr LB 15 Mark Meynisse Jr LB 16 Isaiah Spencer Jr LB 17 Josh Jinning So DB 18 Andre Mulinax So DB 20 Rodney Randle, Jr. Sr DB 21 Lane Taylor Sr DB 25 Michale Fox Fr DB 26 Tariq Gordan Jr DB 28 Darius Guillory So DE 30 Dedrick Garner Sr DB 31 JaRod Bedford Fr DB 33 Casden Brooks  Fr LB 34 Abel Daley  Fr LB 35 Keshawn Mayers Fr LB 36 Cameron Minger Jr DB 38 Dominique Morris Fr DB 40 Milton Holmes  Jr DE 42 Reggie Boseman So DT 43 James Jeffrey Jr LB 44 Titus Hunt Jr DB 47 Camron Davis Fr DB 48 Kevin O'Neill Jr LB 49 David Crosley So LB 52 Caleb Oden  Fr LB 53 Kyle Krutchen So LB 55 Luke Wallis Fr LB 56 John Garza  Fr Jr 90 Daniel Crosley Jr DL 91 Ezekiel Olavarrietta Fr DE 92 Anthony Palmer Fr DL 93 Trajan Williams Fr DE 94 Cameron Houston So DL 97 Hunter Adams Fr DL 98 Tron Rideaux Fr DE 99 Brandon Arnold So	Special teams Pos. # Name Class K 31 Elvin Martinez So K/P 32 Enrique Carmona Fr K/P 45 Keyonne Hawkins Fr P 46 Tyler Slaydon Jr DS 50 Christian Langston So	Head coach Mike Schultz Coordinators/assistant coaches Dan Dodd – Offensive Coordinator/QBs Troy Douglas – Co–Defensive Coordinator/CBs Todd Ivicic – Special Teams Coordinator/DL Cam Clark – Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Eric Buchanen – Safeties Bill Bleil – Offensive Line Bobby Dodd – Tight Ends Adrian Madise – Wide Receivers Carson Earp – Quality Control Coach (Offense) Jordan Hopkins – Quality Control Coach (Defense) Chad Reininiger – Quality Control Coach (Special Teams) Cameron DeBesse – Quality Control Coach (Offense) Matt Oubre – Quality Control Coach (Offense) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt

Depth chart[]

Source:^[28]

Coaching staff[]

Name	Position	Season at Lamar
Mike Schultz	Head coach	2nd
Dan Dodd	Offensive coordinator and Quarterbacks coach	2nd
Troy Douglas	Co-Defensive Coordinator and Cornerbacks coach	2nd
Todd Ivicic	Special Teams and Defensive Line coach	2nd
Cam Clark	Co-Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers coach	2nd
Eric Buchanan	Safeties coach	2nd
Bill Bleil	Offensive Line coach	1st
Bobby Dodd	Tight ends coach	2nd
Adrian Madise	Wide receivers coach	1st
Bret Grant	Quality Control coach - Defense/Football Operations	1st
Carson Earp	Quality Control coach - Offense	1st
Jordan Hopkins	Quality Control Coach - Defense	1st
Chad Reiniger	Quality Control Coach - Special Teams	1st
Matt Oubre	Quality Control Coach - Offense	1st
Craig McGallion	Director of Operations	1st
Daniel Darcy	Strength and Conditioning coordinator	3rd
Reference:[27]

Honors and awards[]

All Conference Honors[]

Source:^[29]

• Co–Newcomer of the Year: Jordan Hoy
• Offensive Lineman of the Year: Garrett Bowery
• First Team All–Conference Offense: Garrett Bowery
• First Team All–Conference Defense: Davon Jernigan
• Second Team All–Conference Defense: Daniel Crosley

Player of the Week[]

• Caleb Abrom – October 13 – Southland Conference Special Teams Player of the Week – Returned blocked field goal for game winning touchdown against Incarnate Word.^[30]
• Tyler Slayton – October 20 – Southland Conference Special Teams Player of the Week – Averaged 45 yards on 6 punts in upset of No. 14 Sam Houston State.^[31]
• Jordan Hoy – October 27 – Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week – In first Lamar start, Hoy for 225 yards, program best for a quarterback and 7th best overall for the program in win against Stephen F. Austin.^[32]
• Jordan Hoy – November 3 – Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week – Guided Lamar offense to five touchdowns and 512 yards offense in win over No. 19 Central Arkansas. The win was the first over Central Arkansas in program history.^[33]
• Darrel Colbert, Jr. – November 19 – Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week – Colbert guided the Cardinals to their third win over a nationally ranked team this season with their come-from-behind victory on the road against McNeese.^[34]

Ranking movements[]

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	Final
STATS FCS	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV
Coaches	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	RV	RV

References[]