Lamar tight end Dawud Shorts (85) breaks a tackle Saturday at Provost Umphrey Stadium in Beaumont, TX. Photo taken September 25, 2021 Jarrod Brown for Beaumont Enterprise
Jarrod Brown
The Lamar University football team suffered its worst loss under second-year coach Blane Morgan on Saturday night. The Cardinals were blown out by Abilene Christian, 56-0, and it could have been worse.
In a game so lopsided, it was hard to find any positives for Lamar. The Cardinals offense was stagnant while their defense was in its worst form, allowing a season-high 461 total yards in the loss.
If you’re a Cardinals fan and a glutton for punishment, here are five takeaways from Lamar’s latest loss to ACU:
Lamar's Jalen Dummett (5) stays on his feet to avoid a safety Saturday at Provost Umphrey Stadium in Beaumont, TX. Photo taken September 25, 2021 Jarrod Brown for Beaumont Enterprise
Jarrod BrownOffense in shambles
Continuing a troubling trend, the Cardinals couldn’t get anything going offensively on Saturday. Lamar gained just 138 total yards, including only 40 in the entire second half.
Quarterback Jalen Dummett only attempted seven passes, completing just four and throwing a pick-six at the end of the first half. He struggled with simple handoffs out of the shotgun, and was replaced by freshman Mike Chandler with Lamar getting blown out in the second half.
After a dismal showing on Saturday, Lamar’s offense has scored just two touchdowns in its last three games. Lamar is trying to run a bully-ball offense with a roster full of underclassmen. The formula might work long term, but it’s been a complete failure so far this season.
Lamar running back Jaylon Jackson (20) carries the ball Saturday at Provost Umphrey Stadium in Beaumont, TX. Photo taken September 25, 2021 Jarrod Brown for Beaumont Enterprise
Jarrod BrownJackson now healthy, but not producing
Redshirt freshman running back Jaylon Jackson was supposed to be Lamar’s best returning ball carrier from the spring. However, he started the year by missing the opener with a “nagging” injury and hasn’t been the same since. He carried the ball 11 times for only 29 yards on Saturday. The first priortity for this struggling Cardinals offense should be to find a way to get Jackson going.
Lamar lineman Jack McCarthy (94) stops ACU just past the line of scrimmage Saturday at Provost Umphrey Stadium in Beaumont, TX. Photo taken September 25, 2021 Jarrod Brown for Beaumont Enterprise
Jarrod BrownSecondary gets torched early
Lamar’s defense was coming off its best performance of the season last week at Northern Colorado, but looked lost for most of Saturday’s game. The Cardinals’ secondary was particularly bad in the first half, allowing three touchdown passes to ACU quarterback Stone Earle.
With multiple upperclassman in the secondary, including All-WAC preseason selection Anthony Ruffin, the strength of Lamar’s defense was supposed to be on the back end. That certainly wasn’t the case on Saturday night.
Lamar running back Chaz Ward (7) escapes a tackle Saturday at Provost Umphrey Stadium in Beaumont, TX. Photo taken September 25, 2021 Jarrod Brown for Beaumont Enterprise
Jarrod BrownOver by halftime
Maybe the most disheartening part of Lamar’s loss was the lack of fight in the second half. The Cardinals trailed 28-0 to start the third quarter, but showed no resistance on ACU’s first drive. The Wildcats went 81 yards in three plays on the opening possession of the second half to completely halt any thoughts of a comeback.
H-F grad hurts Lamar
A local product got the best of Lamar’s defense on Saturday. Running back Tyrese White, a 2018 Hamshire-Fannett graduate, led the Wildcats in carries during their win. He finished with 82 yards and a second-half touchdown to help put the Cardinals away.
White was ACU’s leading rusher entering the game. The Cardinals will have to adjust if they want to slow him down during the team’s next meeting on Oct. 16 in Abilene.
Matt Faye is a Sports Reporter and Columnist for the Beaumont Enterprise. Contact him at MFaye@BeaumontEnterprise.com or on Twitter by clicking here.
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