2021 Lamar Cardinals football team explained
| Year: | 2021 |
| Team: | Lamar Cardinals |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | AQ7 |
| Short Conf: | AQ7 |
| Record: | 1–9 |
| Conf Record: | 0–6 |
| Head Coach: | Blane Morgan |
| Hc Year: | 2nd |
| Cooff Coach1: | Patrick Covington |
| Cooc1 Year: | 2nd |
| Cooff Coach2: | Ron Antoine |
| Cooc2 Year: | 2nd |
| Def Coach: | Matt Weikert |
| Dc Year: | 2nd |
| Stadium: | Provost Umphrey Stadium |
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.[1]
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.[2]
The Cardinals finished the season with a 1–9 overall record. They were 0–6 in AQ7 Challenge play finishing in seventh place.
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.[3]
Preseason
Recruiting
Sources:[4] [5]
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.[6]
| 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.[7]
| 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 |
|
Coaching staff and roster
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Schedule
[8] [9]
Game summaries
North American
Statistics
| Statistics | North American | Lamar |
|---|
| 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 yards |
| Lamar | 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
See also: 2021 UTSA Roadrunners football team. Statistics
| Statistics | Lamar | UTSA |
|---|
| 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 | Statistics |
|---|
| Lamar | 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
See also: 2021 Northern Colorado Bears football team. Statistics
| Statistics | Lamar | Northern 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 | Statistics |
|---|
| Lamar | 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 yards |
| Northern 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
See also: 2021 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team. Statistics
| Statistics | Abilene Christian | Lamar |
|---|
| 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 | Statistics |
|---|
| Abilene 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 TD |
| Lamar | 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
See also: 2021 Sam Houston Bearkats football team. Statistics
| Statistics | Lamar | Sam 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 | Statistics |
|---|
| Lamar | 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 yards |
| Sam 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
See also: 2021 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team. Statistics
| Statistics | Lamar | Abilene 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 | Statistics |
|---|
| Lamar | 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 TD |
| Abilene 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
See also: 2021 Central Arkansas Bears football team. Statistics
| Statistics | Central Arkansas | Lamar |
|---|
| 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 | Statistics |
|---|
| Central 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 TD |
| Lamar | 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
See also: 2021 Eastern Kentucky Colonels football team. Statistics
| Statistics | Lamar | Eastern 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 | Statistics |
|---|
| Lamar | 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 28 |
| Eastern 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
See also: 2021 Tarleton State Texans football team.
Statistics
| Statistics | Lamar | Tarleton 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 | Statistics |
|---|
| Lamar | 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 TDS |
| Tarleton 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
See also: 2021 Jacksonville State Gamecocks football team. Statistics
| Statistics | Jacksonville State | Lamar |
|---|
| 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 | Statistics |
|---|
| Jacksonville 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 TD |
| Lamar | 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
See also: 2021 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks football team. Statistics
| Statistics | Stephen F. Austin | Lamar |
|---|
| 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 | Statistics |
|---|
| Stephen 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 68 |
| Lamar | 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 |
|
Notes and References
- Web site: 2021 WAC Football Standings . Western Athletic Conference . September 27, 2021 . NOTE: Lamar defeated North American University, 47-3, on 9/2 in a game not countable due to NCAA policies.
- Web site: ASUN, WAC form 2021 alliance, seek FCS playoff bid . Verizon Media . August 31, 2021 . February 23, 2021.
- Web site: WAC Reaches New, Expanded Media Rights Agreement with ESPN . Western Athletic Conference . September 1, 2021 . August 24, 2021.
- Web site: James Dixon . Cardinals Add Five on National Signing Day . Lamar University Athletics . October 13, 2021 . February 3, 2021.
- Web site: James Dixon . Cardinals Add 23 Players to Roster . Lamar University Athletics . October 13, 2021 . December 16, 2020.
- Web site: WAC Coaches Select Sam Houston, Schmid, Kay as Preseason Favorites . Western Athletic Conference . September 19, 2021 . July 27, 2021.
- Web site: AQ7 Coaches Select Sam Houston as Preseason Favorite . Western Athletic Conference . September 19, 2021 . July 27, 2021.
- Web site: 2021 Lamar Cardinals Football Schedule. LamarCardinals.com.
- Web site: 2021 Football Lamar Cardinals Schedule. FBSchedules.com.
