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One name missing on the roster that surprises me a little is the second big man from Montenegro. Overall, Lamar is a little shorter in height than last year. I lost track but did Catt time-out or did he transfer?

Doesn't look like the Southland will get more than one bid to the playoffs.

With two non-conference games left for the Southland this season, one versus the SWAC (Commerce vs Prairie View) and UAC (SFA vs ACU), of the direct head-to-head between conferences the Southland is currently 0-4 against the UAC with one chance left and ended 6-4 against the Big Sky. It does matter exactly who played who, but it would appear overall that the UAC might be about even with the Big Sky.

SELA comes back to score a touchdown and extra point with 2 seconds left in the game to defeat SFA by one.

Commerce makes two Lamar like plays, first they try to return the kickoff to waste about seven seconds and then trying to make a desperation play wind up fumbling the ball at the one where Lamar recovers and falls into the end zone for a touchdown to win by nine 29-20.

Lamar has a good two minute drive to get a field goal with 11 seconds left in the game to take the lead back.

Commerce gets a field goal to tie the game with 1:55 left in the game to tie it up at 20.

Still determined to lose. A personal foul when you have the ball in the red zone. How undisciplined can you be. Andre Dennis may make some big plays but their is no excuse for that.

Maybe it's coaching, but Lamar players definitely fail to execute. Cards had a fourth and two that they failed to convert that allowed Commerce to make the drive for their touchdown. Then following the Commerce touchdown Lamar makes some good plays but again fail to execute and make a couple of poor decisions that cost them a chance for a score at the very end of the half.

Something must have changed in the second half as Nicholls only score three to win 20-0 over NWST after being up 17-0 at the half.

Lamar travels to Commerce this Saturday at 3:30 PM for what is probably a must win game in regard to the Cards success for the rest of the season. Commerce comes into the game with a 1-1 conference record, both games were on the road with a two-score loss at SELA and a three score win over NWST. SELA is currently at the top of the conference standings with wins over Commerce and HCU.

Like last week this week is conference only games with Lamar at Commerce the one we care most about. Two other games are significant to looking forward for what to expect the rest of the season for the Cards and conference standings. First SFA travels to current conference leader SELA. Next McNeese travels to UIW with both future opponents for Lamar. UIW has only played one conference game and McNeese's conference win is over SFA. Last NWST is at Nicholls.

UIW up 28-10 over Nicholls at the half.

Good competitive game, but a game that Lamar missed the opportunity to show they belonged. Question, what is Lamar missing? Offensive scheme / play calling, defensive scheme (didn't appear ready to start either half), execution, talent level. My opinion it may be a little of all, but I do wander about the quarterback talent. Is Lamar in a similar place that it was in 2012 when their best quarterback was the third stringer Berry on the bench? I have no idea but either Coleman wasn't healthy enough to do everything he needed to today or Lamar coaches aren't sure of the quarterback situation either.

Lamar comes back with some SFA penalty help for a Longino touchdown to bring it back to a seven-point game with nine minutes left.

But SFA comes right back with a long drive for another touchdown.

NWST scores two late touchdowns but still fall 42-21 to Commerce. SELA defeats HCU 37-7.

Fourth quarter in the two early games finds Commerce up by twenty-eight points at NWST and SELA up by thirty points at HCU.

Halftime, the good news is that the defense appears to have settled in and are containing SFA. Bad news is that the offense continues it inconsistent play from possession to possession.

Poor start for Lamar, win the toss, take the ball, three and out on three passes. Penalty on the punt. SFA first possession five plays, 74 yards and a touchdown.

Cards open Southland Conference competition this year against SFA. Game time is 3 PM October 12th.

Conference games only this week. I suppose for each school their game is the top game of the week, but for me it's a toss up between UIW versus Nicholls and Lamar versus SFA. Using the rankings UIW/Nicholls is the game of the week, but Lamar gets their shot at both of them later and the results of that game gives indication of what is to come. For me Lamar is the key game this week as SFA has a conference loss to McNeese on the books, so they need the win to stay relevant and Lamar needs the win to maintain the preseason expectations. HCU has a chance to prove last week's win at McNeese wasn't a fluke if they can take down SELA and NWST has what might be their best chance for a win this year playing Commerce.

With this weeks Massey Ratings should Lamar be the underdog at home versus SFA this weekend? I expect a close game.

That's just great, six weeks and he should be ready for the last game against us. That might have slowed McNeese offense but HCU still scored a bunch of points.

October 5th Final Scores McNeese 22 - HCU 43 Commerce 9 - SELA 21 NWST 17 - SFA 59 Prairie View 28 - UIW 56 Southern 7 - Nicholls 51