The 2021 Lamar Cardinals football team represented Lamar University in the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season as a member of the Western Athletic Conference. The Cardinals were led by second-year head coach Blane Morgan and played their home games at Provost Umphrey Stadium. The game against North American University is not included in the Western Athletic Conference or AQ7 standings because it was classed as an exhibition game and was not countable due to NCAA policies.
The Western Athletic Conference and ASUN Conference announced the formation of the WAC-ASUN Challenge (AQ7) for the 2021 season on February 23, 2021. The Challenge included the four fully qualified Division I (FCS) members of the WAC (Abilene Christian, Lamar, Sam Houston, and Stephen F. Austin) and Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, and Jacksonville State of the ASUN Conference. The winner of the challenge received an auto-bid to the NCAA Division I FCS football playoffs.
The Cardinals finished the season with a 1–9 overall record. They were 0–6 in AQ7 Challenge play finishing in seventh place.
Preseason Recruiting Sources: BackBCenterCCornerbackCBDefensive backDBDefensive endDEDefensive linemanDLDefensive tackleDTEndEFullbackFBGuardGHalfbackHBKickerKKickoff returnerKROffensive tackleOTOffensive linemanOLLinebackerLBLong snapperLSPunterPPunt returnerPRQuarterbackQBRunning backRBSafetySTight endTEWide receiverWR
Preseason polls
WAC Poll The Western Athletic Conference coaches released their preseason poll on July 27, 2021. The Cardinals were picked to finish fifth in the conference. In addition, one Cardinal, Anthony Ruffin, was chosen to the Preseason All-WAC Defense Team.
1 Sam Houston 20 (5) 2 Stephen F. Austin 16 (1) 3 Tarleton State 11 4 Lamar 8 5 Abilene Christian 5 Note: Dixie State is not included since they are not playing a full WAC schedule due to previous non-conference game contracts. Dixie State players are eligible for individual rewards.
Preseason All–WAC Team
Defense
Anthony Ruffin – Defensive Back, SO
AQ7 Poll The AQ7 coaches also released their preseason poll on July 27, 2021. The Cardinals were picked to finish seventh in the ASUN-WAC Challenge.
1 Sam Houston 49 (7) 2 Central Arkansas 40 3 Jacksonville State 37 4 Stephen F. Austin 27 5 Eastern Kentucky 20 6 Abilene Christian 15 7 Lamar 8
Schedule
Game summaries
North American
Statistics Statistics North AmericanLamar First downs 8 19 Total yards 138 437 Rushing yards 10 243 Passing yards 128 194 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 23:21 36:39 Team Category Player Statistics North American Passing Randall Moore 11/30, 128 yards, long 22 yards Rushing Kierr Cazenave 7 carries, 36 yards, long 17 yards Receiving Dee Spivey 3 receptions, 44 yards, long 22 yardsLamar Passing Jalen Dummett 6/8, 124 yards, long 42 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Chaz Ward 15 carries, 59 yards, long 11 yards, 1 TDs Receiving Erik Pizarro 2 receptions, 63 yards, long 41 yards, 1 TDs
At UTSA
Statistics Statistics LamarUTSA First downs 10 20 Total yards 122 427 Rushing yards 89 106 Passing yards 33 321 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 30:27 29:33 Team Category Player StatisticsLamar Passing Jalen Dummett 6/11, 33 yards, long 14 yards Rushing James Jones 13 carries, 52 yards, long 11 yards Receiving Jeremy Davis 2 catches, 19 yards, long 11 yards UTSA Passing Josh Adkins 11/13; 134 yards, long 32 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Sincere McCormick 7 carries, 46 yards, long 18 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Cade Stoever 2 catches, 84 yards, long 60 yards
At Northern Colorado
Statistics Statistics LamarNorthern Colorado First downs 16 12 Total yards 301 236 Rushing yards 202 84 Passing yards 99 152 Turnovers 2, 1 lost 0 Time of possession 28:35 31:25 Team Category Player StatisticsLamar Passing Jalen Dummett 7/13, 86 yards, long 36 yards Rushing Chaz Ward 20 carries, 80 yards, long 10 yards Receiving Erik Pizarro 3 catches, 66 yards, long 36 yardsNorthern Colorado Passing Conner Martin 19/31, 152 yards, long 29 yards, 1 TD Rushing Gene Sledge, Jr 15 carries, 100 yards, long 25 yards Receiving Kassidy Woods 5 catches, 44 yards, long 29 yards
Abilene Christian
Statistics Statistics Abilene ChristianLamar First downs 22 10 Total yards 461 136 Rushing yards 274 98 Passing yards 187 38 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 29:13 30:47 Team Category Player StatisticsAbilene Christian Passing Stone Earl 13/18, 187 yards, long 32 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Peyton Mansell 6 carries, 107 yards, long 62 yards, 1 TD Receiving Kobe Clark 4 catches, 50 yards, long 16 yards, 1 TDLamar Passing Jalen Dummett 4/7, 38 yards, long 14 yards Rushing Hunter Batten 7 carries, 29 yards, long 11 yards Receiving Kirkland Banks 2 catches, 15 yards, long 10 yards
At No. 1 Sam Houston
Statistics Statistics LamarSam Houston First downs 10 24 Total yards 158 438 Rushing yards 23 267 Passing yards 135 171 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 31:39 28:21 Team Category Player StatisticsLamar Passing Mike Chandler 11/18, 135 yards Rushing Chaz Ward 11 carries, 23 yards, long 8 yards Receiving Jeremy Davis 2 catches, 52 yard, long 28 yardsSam Houston State Passing Eric Schmid 13/31, 159 yards, 2 TDS Rushing Noah Smith 14 carries 120 yards, long 49 yards Receiving Cody Chrest 4 catches, 81 yards, long 37 yards.
At Abilene Christian
Statistics Statistics LamarAbilene Christian First downs 14 21 Total yards 364 466 Rushing yards 158 208 Passing yards 206 258 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 29:35 30:25 Team Category Player StatisticsLamar Passing Mike Chandler 9/17, 206 yds, 1 TD Rushing James Jones 9 carries, 81 yds, 1 TD Receiving Nathan Gaskamp 1 reception, 80 yards, 1 TDAbilene Christian Passing Peyton Mansell 10/18, 135 yds Rushing Peyton Mansell 18 carries, 106 yds, 2 TD Receiving Davion Johnson 6 receptions, 82 yds
Central Arkansas
Statistics Statistics Central ArkansasLamar First downs 22 22 Total yards 541 441 Rushing yards 350 251 Passing yards 191 190 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 30:24 29:36 Team Category Player StatisticsCentral Arkansas Passing Breylin Smith 17/30; 149 yards; long 16; 1 TD Rushing Darius Hale 22 carries; 254 total yards; long 69; 4 TDS Receiving Tyler Hudson 6 catches; 98 total yards; long 42; 1 TDLamar Passing Mike Chandler 9/16; 154 yards; long 59; 2 TDS Rushing Jalen Dummitt 15 carries; 131 total yards; long 33; 1 TD Receiving Kirkland Banks 2 catches; 70 total yards; long 59; 1 TD
At No. 25 Eastern Kentucky
Statistics Statistics LamarEastern Kentucky First downs 12 20 Total yards 193 440 Rushing yards 116 217 Passing yards 77 223 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 31:34 28:26 Team Category Player StatisticsLamar Passing Jalen Dummett 5/7 - 55 yards; long 22 yards Rushing Jalen Jackson 11 carries; 49 total yards; long 14 Receiving Marcellus Johnson 2 catches; 33 total yards; long 28Eastern Kentucky Passing Parker McKinney 15/20 - 218 yards; long 39 yards Rushing Da'Joun Hewitt 20 carries; 101 total yards; long 22 yards; 2 TDS Receiving Dakota Allen 4 catches; 76 total yards; long 26; 2 TDS
At Tarleton State
Statistics Statistics LamarTarleton State First downs 16 20 Total yards 277 453 Rushing yards 193 134 Passing yards 84 319 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 31:46 29:20 Team Category Player StatisticsLamar Passing Daelyn Williams 9/18 - 84 yards; long 28 yards; 1 TD Rushing Jaylon Jackson 7 carries; 55 total yards; long 42; 1 TD Receiving Kirkland Banks 2 catches; 55 total yards; long 28; 2 TDSTarleton State Passing Steven Duncan 21/32; long 58 yards; 2 TDS Rushing Ryheem Skinner 7 carries; 34 total yards; long 12; 1 TD Receiving Marvin Landy 3 catches; 91 total yards; long 58
Jacksonville State
Statistics Statistics Jacksonville StateLamar First downs 26 12 Total yards 493 147 Rushing yards 237 94 Passing yards 256 53 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 33:28 26:32 Team Category Player StatisticsJacksonville State Passing Zerrick Cooper 16/26 - 244 yards; long 33 yards; 3 TDs Rushing Ron Wiggins 8 carries; 102 total yards; long 55; 2 TDs Receiving Ahmad Edwards 5 catches; 95 total yards; long 33; 1 TDLamar Passing Daelyn Williams 6/18 - 53 yards; long 24 yards Rushing Jaylon Jackson 22 carries; 89 total yards; long 19; 1 TD Receiving Marcel Johnson 2 catches; 31 total yards; long 24
No. 22 Stephen F. Austin
Statistics Statistics Stephen F. AustinLamar First downs 18 13 Total yards 398 200 Rushing yards 100 83 Passing yards 298 117 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 25:31 34:29 Team Category Player StatisticsStephen F. Austin Passing Trae Self 15/23 - 262 yards; long 68 yards; 2 TDs Rushing Miles Reed 8 carries; 44 total yards; long 12 Receiving Xavier Gipson 6 catches; 164 total yards; long 68Lamar Passing Daelyn Williams 7/19 - 116 yards; long 27 yards Rushing Jalen Dummett 7 carries; 26 total yards; long 11 Receiving Erik Pizarro 4 catches; 85 total yards; long 27
Roster
TV and radio media All Lamar games were broadcast on KLVI radio, also known as News Talk 560. Per a 2021 Western Athletic Conference agreement with ESPN, all home games were televised on one of the ESPN outlets.
References