ULM Warhawks

By Paul Letlow, ULMWarhawks.com Online Columnist

ULM quarterback Caleb Evans answers to several nicknames.

Call him "C-Love." Call him "6 for 6." Call him "6."

One could also call him "Clutch."

Through six collegiate starts, Evans is now 2-0 in overtime games.

In his debut as ULM's starter last season, Evans passed for 279 yards and three touchdowns, including a game-winning strike in the bonus period to Marcus Green as the Warhawks defeated South Alabama, 42-35.

Evans came up even bigger Saturday in Lafayette in ULM's unforgettable 56-50 double-overtime win over the Ragin' Cajuns, as he completed 28-of-34 passes for 343 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 129 yards and tying a school record with five ground touchdowns.

"You want to get that win in a rivalry game," Evans said. "But we're also 1-0 in conference. We're number one in conference right now, so that's a great feeling."

ULM saw a 21-point lead disappear in the fourth quarter, but Evans helped the Warhawks keep pace in the first overtime opportunity with a touchdown pass to RJ Turner. Derrick Gore pierced the UL Lafayette defense for an 8-yard touchdown run in the second overtime to finish the high-scoring affair.

ULM improved to 2-0 in overtime games against the Ragin' Cajuns. The Warhawks won 28-21 in overtime on Oct. 25, 1997.

With 472 yards of total offense and a hand in six touchdowns, Evans earned national attention for the program as ESPN awarded him a helmet sticker.

Evans joked that he'd be hard pressed to post those same numbers playing a football video game.

"I play a little Madden," Evans said. "Maybe if I put it on rookie (playing level), I could have a good game like that."

The Mansfield, Texas, product owns a history of dual-threat heroics at Bishop Dunne High School, where he threw for a school-record 3,256 yards and 47 touchdowns and ran for another 17 scores and 1,201 yards as a senior. His 64 total touchdowns as a senior were also a school record.

In last week's home loss to Southern Miss, Evans flashed his running skills with two touchdowns, including a 67-yard scoring dash.

"We thought he was a good runner," UL Lafayette coach Mark Hudspeth said.  "And we knew that he was, and is, a good quarterback.  He threw some good balls tonight and he did a nice job."

Evans played in seven of 12 games as a freshman and started ULM's final four games after Garrett Smith's season-ending injury. In 2016, Evans completed 76-of -144 passes for 834 yards and four scores. He ran for 163 yards and one touchdown on 51 attempts.

After a strong fall camp, Evans started ULM's opener at Memphis and came off the bench when Smith started against Southern Miss. Evans played the entire game at UL Lafayette.

ULM (1-2, 1-0 in the Sun Belt) plays host to Coastal Carolina on Sept. 30 in another conference game – and an opportunity to see what Evans and the Warhawks can do next.  Kickoff is 6 p.m.

"We got that first dub (win) in conference," Evans said. "We look forward to getting out there again next week."  

Hall of Fame Weekend: As if right on cue, ULM will welcome another team with a history of winning exciting, high-scoring games back to campus this week.

The ULM L Club is playing host to a Hall of Fame Reunion on campus in conjunction with the home game against Coastal Carolina. The 1987 National Championship football team entered the Hall of Fame as a unit in 2012 and many of those former players are expected to return to celebrate the 30th anniversary of that season.

ULM will take the field at Malone Stadium wearing special tribute uniforms to honor the 1987 "Team of Destiny."

ULM will honor all returning Hall of Famers with a reception at the L Club House, beginning at 2 p.m.

Scouting report: Coastal Carolina fell to 1-2 on Saturday with a 52-10 loss to Western Illinois. … The Chanticleers gave up 510 yards in defeat and committed four turnovers. … The upcoming game against ULM will be the first Sun Belt contest for Coastal Carolina.