COMMERCE – For the second year in a row, the Lamar Cardinals picked up a last-minute win over the East Texas A&M University football team on Ernest Hawkins Field at Memorial Stadium as the No. 20/24 ranked Cardinals took down the Lions, 33-23, on Saturday night.
 
The Cardinals trailed 23-20 on their final offensive drive of the game and Aiden McCowan found Kyndon Fuselier for a five-yard touchdown with three seconds left in the game. On the ensuing kickoff, the Lions attempted to toss the ball around, but Ronnie Hamrick II picked up a fumble and recovered for a nine-yard touchdown.
 
Lamar came into the game being ranked No. 20 in the Stats FCS Perform Top 25 and No. 24 in the AFCA poll. With the win, the Cardinals move to 5-1 overall, 2-0 in Southland Conference play, 5-0 against FCS teams this season, and 3-0 over East Texas A&M over the last three seasons. The Cardinals scored the final 20 points of the game.
 
The Lions had a lead as big 13 in the game, leading for all but three seconds in the game as they fall to 1-5 overall and 1-1 Southland play.
 
Kyree Anderson (Cy-Lakes) forced a fumble and scooped it up for a 29-yard touchdown to put the Lions ahead 7-0. With 11 seconds left in the first quarter, Ozlo Rigby (Panama City, Fla.) kicked in a 38-yard field to put the Lions ahead 10-0 after the first quarter.
 
The first points of the game for the Cardinals came in the second quarter on a 21-yard field goal by Ben Woodard. Rigby added a 20-yard field goal and then a 26-yard field with three seconds left in the first half. He went a perfect 3 for 3 in the game.
 
On their first drive in the third quarter, the Cardinals added a 42-yard field goal from Woodard. The first play from scrimmage on the ensuing drive was a fumble by the Lions, forced by Hamrick II, which was picked up by Christian Peyton and returned back for a 12-yard touchdown.
 
An eight-play 83-yard drive followed for the Lions as Ron Peace (Malakoff) rushed in a six-yard touchdown and put the Lions back ahead by 10.
 
Entering the fourth quarter with a 10-point deficit, the Cardinals started their rally with Josh Robinson scoring a four-yard rushing touchdown with nine minutes remaining.
 
The Cardinals had to settle for a game-tying field goal attempt on their final drive of the game, but a Lion penalty allowed two more offensive plays, with Fuselier scoring the receiving touchdown on the second play.
 
The two teams combined for 16 penalties for 142 yards in the game. The Lions had a total offense of 329 yards on 65 plays, while the Cardinals gained 348 yards on 67 plays.
 
Peace went 20 for 31 with 214 yards, while McCown was 24 for 33 with 285 touchdowns and the game-winning touchdown pass to Fuselier.
 
Both Lavon Williams (San Antonio – Roosevelt) and Koby-Sebasyen King (Houston – Summer Creek) had nine tackles each for the Lions.
 

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The Lions head on the road to face defending champion UIW next Saturday at 4:30 p.m.