BEAUMONT (Interstat) — Lamar will look to build on its strong start when it hosts winless Northwestern State on Saturday in an NCAA Football Championship Division game at Provost Umphrey Stadium in Beaumont, Texas. Northwestern State will be the visiting team, and Lamar will be the home team.

The Cardinals are 3-1 and coming off a 49-18 win at Nicholls State. Quarterback Aiden McCown completed 13 of 19 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns and carried six times for 80 yards and another score in that victory. He also completed 15 of 26 passes for 126 yards and ran four times for 11 yards in a loss to Louisiana. Lamar’s other results include a 23-17 win at Idaho and a 21-14 home win over Abilene Christian. The Cardinals’ lone loss was a 38-7 setback at Louisiana. Lamar is scheduled to host Incarnate Word next, then play at Southeastern Louisiana, host Houston Christian, visit UT Rio Grande Valley, host Stephen F. Austin, host Texas A&M-Commerce and visit McNeese State.

Northwestern State is 0-5. The Demons fell 52-21 to Southeastern Louisiana in their most recent game. Zach Wilcke completed 23 of 33 passes for 254 yards, ran 13 times for 38 yards and accounted for three touchdowns. He also threw for 291 yards and ran for 49 yards with three touchdowns at Weber State, and ran for 43 yards at Louisiana Tech. Zay Davis added six carries for 23 yards, two receptions for 54 yards and two kickoff returns for 42 yards against Southeastern Louisiana. Northwestern State has also lost at Texas A&M-Commerce 38-14, at Louisiana Tech 80-6 and at home to Louisiana Christian 42-37. Its loss at Weber State was 49-20. The Demons are scheduled to host McNeese State next, then host Nicholls State, visit Incarnate Word, host UT Rio Grande Valley, host Houston Christian and visit Stephen F. Austin.

Lamar has won two of its past three games and is unbeaten at home. Northwestern State is seeking its first victory and its first road win. Northwestern State has allowed at least 38 points in each of its five losses. Lamar has scored at least 21 points in three of its four games. The Cardinals have used McCown and a running game that produced 80 yards from McCown and 31 yards from Jameer Muhammad in the win over Nicholls State. Muhammad carried five times for 31 yards in that game. Evan Bullock also completed one of two passes for 14 yards for Lamar.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Lamar 54, Northwestern State 14.