BEAUMONT — Finally, Lamar’s football team scored a victory over the weather.

Lightning in the area shortened or altered practices four times this week, so coach Ray Woodard put in a game plan for Saturday’s intrasquad scrimmage: Practice early.

“I have a sign in my office: ‘Patience is overrated.’ We’ve had to have some patience, and patience is not my strong suit,” Woodard said. “You just get to where you wait it out and get your work in. That’s made for some long nights, but that’s fine.”

The players were up for the controlled workout. They began before 11 a.m., a day after it was announced the scrimmage was rescheduled from 7 to 6 p.m.

“I think the guys adjusted well,” senior Carson Earp said. “The guys competed and played hard. I think it was a good start.”

Earp, Lamar’s returning starting quarterback, was among the lucky few who came up with big plays.

He completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to Navy transfer and Port Arthur Memorial graduate Trenton Swinton, one of his 12 completions on 22 attempts for 104 yards. Earp also scored on a quarterback draw of about 20 inches, seeming to gain an extra step from a junior season marred by a hand injury.

“I feel like I’m in good shape, ready to go,” he said. “But, you know, that’s for other people to determine.”

The Cardinals had their ups and downs in all three phases of the game Saturday.

Redshirt freshman Derrion Randle broke a 63-yard run for a touchdown on the second play of the scrimmage. He finished with 82 yards on eight carries.

Sophomore DeWan Thompson, a transfer from Washington State, took a pass from New Mexico State import Andrew Allen and went 51 yards just inside the red zone, but the offense settled for a field goal.

Rodney Randle returned an interception from Earp 20 yards for a TD.

“I like the competition,” Woodard said. “I think we got after it pretty good. I think there were too many mistakes on both sides. We have to correct some things. We’ve got a lot to clean up this week.

“I like our schemes. I like our people. We’ve got between now and Sept. 3 [the season opener against Coastal Carolina] to get closer to playing mistake-free.”

If only that was all Woodard had to worry about.

Kickers Alex Ball, Josh Davis and Juan Carranco combined to convert only 3 of 6 field goals Saturday.

“It is a concern,” Woodard said. “All three of those guys are experienced and we should be further along in that. That was disappointing today. I wasn’t going to bring that up.”

HOLDOUTS

Senior All-American running back Kade Harrington was held out of scrimmage for precautionary reasons, as was the case for much of spring drills. He is not injured, however.

The injury bug did strike two defensive linemen. Senior Omar Tebo suffered a concussion earlier this week, and Woodard is waiting on him to pass protocol before he can return.

“I don’t think it’s a severe one,” Woodard said. “I don’t think it’s one that will keep him out all year for anything.”

Junior Manasseh Miles, who tore an ACL against Baylor last season, sustained a high right-ankle sprain after a player rolled on it in practice, but is not expected to miss any game time.

LOCAL FLAIR

Freshmen Adam Morse of Port Neches-Groves and Austin Krautz of Nederland teamed up for third- and fourth-string work in the offensive backfield. Morse, one of five quarterbacks on the Cardinals’ roster, didn’t record many stats, but running back Krautz was sprung for a 15-yard gain on one play. …

Swinton made a touchdown catch, but he also coughed the ball up once. Texas Tech transfer Jalen Barnes, also a Memorial grad, forced the fumble.

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I.C. Murrell: 721-2435. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews