Lamar football made its comeback in 2010, but it is attempting to use Saturday to mark its arrival.

The Cardinals (7-4, 4-3 Southland) have clinched their first winning season since 1979 but haven’t beaten anybody noteworthy.

Grambling State has evolved into a potential Southwestern Athletic Conference champion under former McNeese assistant Broderick Fobbs, but at the time of Lamar’s 42-27 season-opening win the Tigers were still trying to move forward from last year’s disastrous three-coach season.

A 24-21 road win at Abilene Christian was no joke, but the Wildcats are in their first year of transition into Division I and have experienced an equal number of ups and downs in that process.

So that leaves this week’s season finale at McNeese as Lamar’s first shot at a quality win over an established, successful Division I program — and one that is the Cardinals’ chief rival to boot.

“I think it is our biggest game (since our debut),” said Lamar coach Ray Woodard. “Since we’ve moved the game to the end of the year we haven’t both had this much to play for.

“We’re both sitting very close to each other in the conference standings. This is a big game from that standpoint. We have a lot to play for.”

The Cardinals have an explosive offense behind senior quarterback Caleb Berry, one of the few players to be around for all five years of the football program’s revival.

“Caleb’s done everything we’ve asked of him. He’s a guy you want to point to in how to develop a program,” Woodard said. “He started as a backup and worked his way up. He’s gotten better every week.”

Berry averages 307.5 yards per game and has thrown 31 touchdown passes.

Lamar has two receivers who have accounted for more yardage than the 18 players who have caught a pass for McNeese. Mark Roberts has 40 catches for 1,054 yards and Reggie Begelton has 60 grabs for 765 yards.

The Cardinals knew they would be explosive this year, but a young defense is playing better than expected. Lamar is a surprising third in the league in total defense.

However, there is a bit of deception in the numbers as the Cardinals have been exposed in games against top-flight programs.

Lamar surrendered 73 to Texas A&M, 42 to Sam Houston State, 61 to Southeastern Louisiana and 44 to Central Arkansas.

“Young players play hard, and sometimes when they play hard they make mistakes,” Woodard said. “We still make some mistakes defensively, but with only three senior starters a lot will be back. You can see the progress.”(Special to the American Press)