BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University football team hit the turf at Provost Umphrey Stadium Saturday morning for the second closed scrimmage as the Cardinals put the finishing touches on the second week of camp. The scrimmage had the first-team offense squaring off against the first-team defense and a similar scenario with the second and third teamers. The Cardinals also covered several in-game scenarios.
 
"I thought the scrimmage was good," said head coach Pete Rossomando who is entering his third year with the program. "I thought we had a better operation today. We did a good job of getting guys in and out, got lined up correctly, special teams were better, we kicked the ball well, made a couple of long field goals and we hit some situations where we were backed up – it's always good to hit those. I thought our guys have really responded well to the last four or five days of practice and getting ready to go. You can see us getting better each day."
 
The Cardinals' ground attack carried the ball 40 times for 282 yards (7.1 ypc) and four touchdowns, but two of those scores came during red zone work. Lamar's ground game was led by redshirt freshman Jameer Muhammad. The Fort Worth Texas native carried the ball seven times for 45 yards, while Illinois State transfer Joshua Robinson added five carries for 45 yards and two scores.
 
The Cardinal quarterbacks finished the day completing 29-of-55 passes for 356 yards and three touchdowns but were also picked off twice. Third year returning starter Robert Coleman led the way completing 15-of-22 (.682) passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns, with one of his scores coming during red zone drills. Coleman connected with Nederland native Kyndon Fuselier on both touchdown strikes.
 
Fuselier led all receivers with five catches for 38 yards and the two scores while senior Major Bowden added four grabs for 66 yards.
 
The numbers above give the description that it was a one-sided victory for the offense but it's hard to provide an accurate description of a scrimmage since it didn't consist of actual teams. The defense also had its moments in the very hot sun Saturday.
 
Big Red's defense ended the day producing seven tackles behind the line – including three sacks, six pass breakups, four quarterback hurries, two interceptions and forced a fumble (Kristian Pugh) but the offense recovered the loose ball.
 
The defense was led by three stops from redshirt freshman Dillon Dixon and senior Brayden Faulkner, while redshirt freshman IyiolaOluwa Solomi added two tackles and a quarterback hurry. Transfers Jaden Maronen and Sean Connor recorded the two interceptions.