# 2022 Lamar Cardinals football team

The 2022 Lamar Cardinals football team represented Lamar University in the 2022 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Cardinals played their home games at Provost Umphrey Stadium in Beaumont, Texas, United States, and competed in the Southland Conference following an early return from the Western Athletic Conference. On July 11, 2022, Lamar announced that they would take an early transition back to the Southland Conference after the athletic department announced back in April 2022 a transition back to the conference for the 2023 season.
The Cardinals finished the season with a 1–10 overall record, and were 1–5 in Southland Conference play. They were led by third-year head coach Blane Morgan. Their October 29 conference victory over the Nicholls Colonels ended a 15-game losing streak dating back to September 25, 2021.

## Preseason
### Recruiting

Sources:
| Back | B | Center | C | Cornerback | CB | Defensive back | DB |
| Defensive end | DE | Defensive lineman | DL | Defensive tackle | DT | End | E |
| Fullback | FB | Guard | G | Halfback | HB | Kicker | K |
| Kickoff returner | KR | Offensive tackle | OT | Offensive lineman | OL | Linebacker | LB |
| Long snapper | LS | Punter | P | Punt returner | PR | Quarterback | QB |
| Running back | RB | Safety | S | Tight end | TE | Wide receiver | WR |

#### Incoming transfers

The Cardinals added 4 transfer players.
| Name | Pos. | Height | Weight | Hometown | Year | Prev school |
| Alfonso Deleon | P | 5’11 | 190 | Shreveport, LA | Junior | Hutchinson CC |
| Khalan Griffin | RB | 5’10 | 215 | Tyler, TX | Sophomore | Rice |
| Jakolby Longino | QB | 6’3 | 195 | Missouri City, TX | Freshman | UTEP |
| Pius Njenge | DE | 6’4 | 250 | Stratford, TX | Sophomore | Southern Nazarene |

#### Incoming high school recruits

Lamar signed 25 high school recruits with 16 signed on Early Signing Day and 9 added on National Signing Day.
College recruiting information :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40$^‡$ |
| Bo Baker ATH | Ravenna, TX | Bells High School | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 174 lb (79 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| James Major Bowden RB | Waco, TX | China Spring High School | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Ian Box OLB | Seguin, TX | Seguin High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 235 lb (107 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Jayden Boyd WR | Tatum, TX | Tatum High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: |||||||
| Reginald Burks OL | Lake Charles, LA | Lake Charles College Prep | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Sabastian Carter OL | Teague, TX | Teague High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 255 lb (116 kg) | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Zyon Clark DB | Anahuac, TX | Anahuac High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Andre Dennis WR | Beaumont, TX | West Brook High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Brayden Faulkner LB | Waco, TX | China Spring High School | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 208 lb (94 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Jacob Ferree DE | League City, TX | Clear Springs High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 227 lb (103 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Ryan Harris OLB | Beckville, TX | Beckville High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Spencer Henslee TE | Humble, TX | Atascocita High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 222 lb (101 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| John Hester OL | Hawkins, TX | Hawkins High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 287 lb (130 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Izaha Jones WR | Normangee, TX | Normangee High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Donovan Jordan OL | Flint, TX | Tyler Legacy High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Aaron King CB | Garland, TX | Garland High School | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: |||||||
| Jayden Madkins DL | Pearland, TX | Shadow Creek High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 297 lb (135 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Du'Wayne Paulhill, Jr. S | Bryan, TX | Bryan High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 197 lb (89 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Khristian Pugh S | Beaumont, TX | West Brook High School | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 160 lb (73 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Sharmon Rester QB | El Dorado, AR | El Dorado High School | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Jayden Slater WR | Keller, TX | Boys Ranch High School | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Michael Thomas CB | Texarkana, TX | Texas High School | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Blaise Tita OLB | Houston, TX | Alief Taylor High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Darion White OLB | Waco, TX | La Vega High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 202 lb (92 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Preston Yarber OL | Canton, TX | Canton High School | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 270 lb (120 kg) | – |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: 247Sports: #40 FCS, #179 FBS and FCS combined |||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2020 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. |||||||

### Preseason poll

The Southland Conference released their preseason poll on July 20, 2022. The Cardinals were picked to finish seventh in the conference.
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Southeastern | 90 (7) |
| 2 | UIW | 86 (7) |
| 3 | Nicholls | 79 (2) |
| 4 | McNeese | 61 |
| 5 | Northwestern State | 44 |
| 6 | Texas A&M–Commerce | 39 |
| 7 | Lamar | 25 |
| 8 | HCU | 24 |

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 1 | 7:00 p.m. | at Abilene Christian* | Anthony Field at Wildcat StadiumAbilene, TX | ESPN+ | L 14–28 | 5,413 |
| September 10 | 6:00 p.m. | at SMU* | Gerald J. Ford StadiumDallas, TX | ESPN+ | L 16–4 | 26,509 |
| September 17 | 6:00 p.m. | Northern Colorado* | Provost Umphrey StadiumBeaumont, TX | ESPN+ | L 14–21 | 4,933 |
| September 24 | 3:30 p.m. | at Northwestern State | Harry Turpin StadiumNatchitoches, LA | ESPN+ | L 27–3 | 4,371 |
| October 1 | 3:00 p.m. | Houston Christian | Provost Umphrey StadiumBeaumont, TX | ESPN+ | L 34–3 | 5,473 |
| October 8 | 4:00 p.m. | at No. 10 Incarnate Word | Gayle and Tom Benson StadiumSan Antonio, TX | ESPN3 | L 17–56 | 1,937 |
| October 22 | 4:00 p.m. | Prairie View A&M* | Provost Umphrey StadiumBeaumont, TX | ESPN3 | L 21–5 | 6,627 |
| October 29 | 3:00 p.m. | Nicholls | Provost Umphrey StadiumBeaumont, TX | ESPN3 | W 24–17 | 2,916 |
| November 5 | 3:00 p.m. | Southeastern Louisiana | Provost Umphrey StadiumBeaumont, TX | ESPN3 | L 31–47 | 5,396 |
| November 12 | 3:00 p.m. | at New Mexico State* | Aggie Memorial StadiumLas Cruces, NM | FloSports | L 14–51 | 8,367 |
| November 19 | 7:00 p.m. | at McNeese | Cowboy StadiumLake Charles, LA (Battle of the Border) | ESPN+ | L 20–24 | 6,901 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from STATS Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time |||||||

## Game summaries
### Abilene Christian

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Wildcats | 7 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
Statistics
| Statistics | Lamar | Abilene Christian |
| First downs | 7 | 25 |
| Total yards | 272 | 444 |
| Rushing yards | 68 | 186 |
| Passing yards | 204 | 258 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 19:40 | 40:20 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Lamar | Passing | Mike Chandler | 8-24; 204 yards; long 75 yards |
| Lamar | Rushing | Khalan Griffin | 8 attempts; 39 yards; long 21 yards |
| Lamar | Receiving | Sevonne Rhea | 3 receptions; 113 yards; long 70 yards |
| Abilene Christian | Passing | Maverick McIvor | 22–38; 258 yards; long 30 yards |
| Abilene Christian | Rushing | Rovaughn Banks Jr. | 18 attempts; 78 yards; long 20 yards |
| Abilene Christian | Receiving | Kendall Catalon | 7 receptions; 119 yards; long 30 yards |

### SMU

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals | 0 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 16 |
| Mustangs | 14 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 45 |
Statistics
| Statistics | Lamar | SMU |
| First downs | 16 | 23 |
| Total yards | 252 | 453 |
| Rushing yards | 104 | 208 |
| Passing yards | 148 | 245 |
| Turnovers | (2) 19 yards | (1) 1 yard |
| Time of possession | 35:45 | 24:15 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Lamar | Passing | Mike Chandler | 10–25; 127 yards; long 21 yards |
| Lamar | Rushing | Khalan Griffin | 13 attempts; 32 yards; long 8 yards |
| Lamar | Receiving | Jalen Dummett | 5 receptions; 58 yards; long 20 yards |
| SMU | Passing | Tanner Mordecai | 18–31; 212 yards; long 33 yards |
| SMU | Rushing | Velton Gardner | 11 attempts; 100 yards; long 40 yards |
| SMU | Receiving | Rashee Rice | 9 receptions; 132 yards; long 33 yards |

### Northern Colorado

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bears | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| Cardinals | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
Statistics
| Statistics | Northern Colorado | Lamar |
| First downs | 19 | 21 |
| Total yards | 270 | 299 |
| Rushing yards | 52 | 217 |
| Passing yards | 218 | 82 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 27:39 | 32:21 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Northern Colorado | Passing | Jacob Sirmon | 16/28; 218 total yards; 43 long |
| Northern Colorado | Rushing | David Afari | 7 attempts; 41 yards; 11 long |
| Northern Colorado | Receiving | Trevis Graham | 5 receptions; 97 total yards; 43 long |
| Lamar | Passing | Nick Yockey | 10/11; 71 total yards; 16 long |
| Lamar | Rushing | Khalan Griffin | 10 attempts; 66 total yards; 10 yards long |
| Lamar | Receiving | Sevonne Rhea | 3 receptions; 36 yards; 16 yards long |

### Northwestern State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals | 10 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 27 |
| Demons | 0 | 21 | 14 | 0 | 35 |
Statistics
| Statistics | Lamar | Northwestern State |
| First downs | 24 | 20 |
| Total yards | 394 | 545 |
| Rushing yards | 92 | 179 |
| Passing yards | 302 | 366 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | | |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Lamar | Passing | Nick Yockney | 19/39-1; 255 total yards; longest - 49 yards |
| Lamar | Rushing | Damashja Harris | 11 attempts; 41 total yards; 13 long |
| Lamar | Receiving | Sevonne Rhea | 2 receptions; 64 total yards; 41 long |
| Northwestern State | Passing | Zachary Clement | 28/49-1; 366 total yards; 80 long |
| Northwestern State | Rushing | Kenneth Lacy | 4 attempts; 83 yards; 55 long; 1 TD |
| Northwestern State | Receiving | Javon Antonio | 9 receptions; 127 total yards; 49 long; 2 TDs |

### Houston Christian

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Huskies | 0 | 24 | 13 | 0 | 37 |
| Cardinals | 0 | 7 | 7 | 20 | 34 |
Statistics
| Statistics | Houston Christian | Lamar |
| First downs | 17 | 18 |
| Total yards | 323 | 376 |
| Rushing yards | 66 | 119 |
| Passing yards | 257 | 257 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 29:05 | 30:55 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Houston Christian | Passing | Justin Fomby | 31/45; 249 yards total; 40 long |
| Houston Christian | Rushing | Nate Livingston | 6 attempts; 33 yards total; 11 long |
| Houston Christian | Receiving | Karl Reynolds | 9 receptions; 109 yards total; 40 long |
| Lamar | Passing | Mike Chandler | 11/27; 239 total yards; 52 yards long |
| Lamar | Rushing | Mike Chandler | 13 attempts; 59 yards total; 13 long |
| Lamar | Receiving | Kyndon Fuselier | 3 receptions; 104 yards total; 44 long |

### No. 10 Incarnate Word

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals (LU) | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
| No. 10 Cardinals (UIW) | 35 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 56 |
Statistics
| Statistics | Lamar | Incarnate Word |
| First downs | 19 | 26 |
| Total yards | 446 | 609 |
| Rushing yards | 200 | 148 |
| Passing yards | 246 | 461 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 37:12 | 22:48 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Lamar | Passing | Mike Chandler | 14/28; 182 yards; long 66 |
| Lamar | Rushing | R.J. Carver | 9 attempts; 52 yards; long 22 |
| Lamar | Receiving | Andre Dennis | 1 reception; 66 yards |
| Incarnate Word | Passing | Lindsey Scott | 23/26; 401 yards; long 83 |
| Incarnate Word | Rushing | Isaiah Robinson | 11 attempts; 66 yards; long 24 |
| Incarnate Word | Receiving | Darian Chaffin | 4 receptions; 115 yards; long 69 |

### Prairie View A&M

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Panthers | 13 | 21 | 14 | 6 | 54 |
| Cardinals | 7 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
Statistics
| Statistics | Prairie View A&M | Lamar |
| First downs | 25 | 24 |
| Total yards | 580 | 430 |
| Rushing yards | 401 | 358 |
| Passing yards | 179 | 72 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 23:41 | 36:19 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Prairie View A&M | Passing | Trazon Connley | 15/21; 179 yards; long 28 |
| Prairie View A&M | Rushing | Jaden Stewart | 9 attempts; 141 total yards; longest 56 yards |
| Prairie View A&M | Receiving | Chris Herron | 6 receptions; 94 total yards; longest 28 |
| Lamar | Passing | Michael Chandler | 7/16; 43 total yards; longest 11 yards; 1 interception |
| Lamar | Rushing | Khalan Griffin | 17 attempts; 119 total yards; longest 31 yards |
| Lamar | Receiving | Andre Dennis | 2 receptions; 29 yards total; longest 22 yards |

### Nicholls

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Colonels | 0 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 17 |
| Cardinals | 0 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 24 |
Statistics
| Statistics | Nicholls | Lamar |
| First downs | 23 | 16 |
| Total yards | 365 | 344 |
| Rushing yards | 170 | 267 |
| Passing yards | 195 | 77 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 19:24 | 30:36 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Nicholls | Passing | Kohen Granier | 18/29; 148 total yards; long 67 yards |
| Nicholls | Rushing | Julien Gums | 21 attempts; 100 total yards; long 10 yards |
| Nicholls | Receiving | David Robinson | 3 receptions; 80 yards; long 67 yards |
| Lamar | Passing | Michael Chandler | 6/13; 77 yards total; long 25 yards |
| Lamar | Rushing | Khalan Griffin | 17 attempts; 134 total yards; long 35 yards |
| Lamar | Receiving | Sevonne Rhea | 3 receptions; 31 total yards; long 15 yards |

### Southeastern Louisiana

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Lions | 14 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 47 |
| Cardinals | 0 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
Statistics
| Statistics | Southeastern Louisiana | Lamar |
| First downs | 28 | 16 |
| Total yards | 527 | 415 |
| Rushing yards | 204 | 164 |
| Passing yards | 323 | 251 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 28:52 | 31:08 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Southeastern Louisiana | Passing | Cephus Johnson, III | 19–27; 179 yards; long 38 yards |
| Southeastern Louisiana | Rushing | Carlos Washington Jr. | 18 attempts; 68 yards total; long 15 yards |
| Southeastern Louisiana | Receiving | Maurice Massey | 10 receptions; 158 yards total; long 38 yards |
| Lamar | Passing | Michael Chandler | 16–34; 251 yards; long 62 yards |
| Lamar | Rushing | Khalan Griffin | 11 attempts; 84 yards total; long 40 yards |
| Lamar | Receiving | Andre Dennis | 4 receptions; 108 yards total; long 62 yards |

### New Mexico State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| Aggies | 17 | 20 | 14 | 0 | 51 |
Statistics
| Statistics | Lamar | New Mexico State |
| First downs | 14 | 22 |
| Total yards | 247 | 433 |
| Rushing yards | 125 | 187 |
| Passing yards | 122 | 246 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 25:22 | 29:37 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Lamar | Passing | Nick Yockey | 7–13; 89 yards; long 35 yards |
| Lamar | Rushing | Hunter Batten | 3 attempts; 44 total yards; long 38 yards |
| Lamar | Receiving | Devyn Gibbs | 3 receptions; 47 total yards; long 23 yards |
| New Mexico State | Passing | Diego Pavia | 14–19; 154 yards; long 30 yards |
| New Mexico State | Rushing | Diego Pavia | 8 attempts; 81 total yards; long 27 yards |
| New Mexico State | Receiving | Ta'ir Brooks | 2 receptions; 70 total yards; long 62 yards |

### McNeese

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals | 0 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 20 |
| Cowboys | 0 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 24 |
Statistics
| Statistics | Lamar | McNeese |
| First downs | 19 | 13 |
| Total yards | 369 | 314 |
| Rushing yards | 219 | 268 |
| Passing yards | 150 | 46 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 35:47 | 24:13 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Lamar | Passing | Nick Yockey | 19–27; 150 total yards; long 18 yards |
| Lamar | Rushing | Major Bowden | 11 attempts; 92 total yards; long 30 yards |
| Lamar | Receiving | Major Bowden | 2 receptions; 35 total yards; long 18 yards |
| McNeese | Passing | Ryan Roberts | 6–14; 46 yards total; long 14 yards |
| McNeese | Rushing | Deonata McMahon | 20 attempts; 241 total yards; long 79 yards |
| McNeese | Receiving | Jon McCall | 2 receptions; 22 total yards; long 14 yards |