ULM Warhawks

CLEMSON, S.C.?In a game that previewed Clemson's one-two punch in the backfield, it was the ULM running backs who stole the show on the ground. Senior Calvin Dawson ran for 121 yards on 28 carries and freshman Frank Goodin rushed for 102 yards on just 10 carries; each scored a touchdown.

However, Clemson junior quarterback Cullen Harper threw a school record five touchdown passes lifting the No. 25 Tigers to a 49-26 victory over the visiting Warhawks in front of 77,000 fans in Memorial Stadium.

The Tigers' backs James Davis and C.J. Spiller ran for 68 and 38 yards, respectively, but Spiller caught four passes for 87 yards and a touchdown.

Dawson has rushed for over 100 yards against four-consecutive BCS conference schools (Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky and Clemson). He also has seven-consecutive 100-yard rushing good for second in the nation behind Georgia Tech's Tashard Choice, who extended his streak to a NCAA-best nine games against Samford this afternoon.  Boise State's Ian Johnson streak of seven-straight games ended today in a 24-10 loss to Washington rushing for just  78 yards.

Goodin did most of his work in the second half picking up 93 of his yards after halftime including a 48-yard touchdown; the first of his career.

ULM rushed for 271 yards on 53 carries averaging 5.1 yards per carry.

Harper finished the day 20-of-26 for 270 yards also setting a Clemson (2-0) school record with four touchdown passes in the first half.

ULM (0-2) senior place kicker Cole Wilson set the school record with two field goals in the game. Wilson has now made 14-consecutive field goals dating back to last season to establish the new Warhawk record and has made 18 of his last 19 attempts with the only miss a 50-yard attempt against Troy last year.

Dawson moved into a tie for third all-time in ULM history with his 19^th-career touchdown run with a one-yard plunge at the 5:46 mark of the opening quarter. Dawson ran for 45 yards on just five carries on the drive giving the Warhawks a 7-0 lead.

Clemson answered the ULM touchdown with a quick scoring drive taking just over a minute off the clock capped off by a 14-yard touchdown pass by Harper to Tyler Grisham.

The Tigers next scoring drive was even quicker taking just one play and eight seconds as Harper found Jacoby Ford from 52-yards out for a touchdown and a 14-7 lead with 2:38 to play in the quarter.

Wilson, a Lou Groza award candidate, tied the school record hitting his 13^th-consecutive field goal capping a 15-play 54-yard drive pulling the Warhawks within 14-10 with 11:34 to play in the half.

Clemson extended its lead to 21-10 with a six-play 64-yard drive. Harper threw his third touchdown of the opening half connecting with Brian Linthicum from eight-yards out on third-and-six with 4:46 to play.

Harper threw his fourth touchdown of the first half finding Aaron Kelly in the back of the end zone on a six-yard strike.

The junior quarterback set the record on the Tigers first play of the second half connecting with C.J. Spiller for a 68-yard touchdown pushing the lead to 35-10.

Wilson pulled the Warhawks within 35-13 with a 23-yard strike making him a perfect 9-of-9 for his career from 20-29 yards.

Davis pushed the Clemson lead to 42-13 with a 16-yard touchdown run with 4:24 to play in the third quarter. Backup quarterback Willy Korn plunged in from one-yard out extending the lead to 49-13 with 12:16 to play.

Sophomore Aaron Stringfellow grabbed his first career touchdown as a Warhawk on a 16-yard strike from Kinsmon Lancaster with 9:14 to play in the game closing the gap to 49-19. Lancaster finished the game 11-for-26 for 139 yards and a touchdown.

The ULM defense kept the Warhawks in the game early with two big stops deep in their own territory. Following an unsuccessful onside kick attempt to open the game, ULM forced a three-and-out and a punt.

The Tigers had another chance on their next possession with a first down on the ULM 41-yard line after a personal foul by the Warhawks. ULM forced a fourth-and-two and stuffed Clemson for a loss on the play to regain possession.

The Warhawks continue their three-game road swing with a trip to Texas A&M next Saturday. Kickoff in College Station, Texas is set for 6:00 pm in the second meeting between the two schools. The Aggies (1-0) defeated ULM 31-17 on September 21, 1985 when the Warhawks were still in Division I-AA.

Scoring Summary

ULM ? Dawson 1 run (Wilson kick), 5:46, 1st
CU ? Grisham 14 pass from Harper (Buchholz kick), 4:37, 1st
CU ? Ford 52 pass from Harper (Buchholz kick), 2:38, 1^st
ULM ? Wilson 41 FG, 11:34, 2^nd
CU ? Linthicum 8 pass from Harper (Buchholz kick), 4:46, 2^nd
CU ? Kelly 6 pass from Harper (Buchholz kick), 1:54, 2^nd
CU ? Spiller 68 pass from Harper (Buchholz kick), 13:44, 3^rd
ULM ? Wilson 23 FG, 6:26, 3^rd
CU ? Davis 16 run (Buchholz kick), 4:24, 3^rd
CU ? Korn 1 run (Buchholz kick), 12:16, 4^th
ULM ? Stringfellow 16 pass from Lancaster (Wilson kick failed), 9:14, 4^th
ULM ? Goodin 48 run (Wilson kick), 2:04, 4^th

ULM Notes:

* Calvin Dawson moved into a tie for third place all-time in ULM history with 19 career touchdowns with his one-yard touchdown in the first quarter

* Dawson went over 100 yards in the second quarter for the seventh-consecutive game tying him for second in the nation with Ian Johnson from Boise State

* Dawson has now gone over 100 yards in four-consecutive games against BCS conference schools (Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Clemson)

* Cole Wilson tied a school record with his 13^th-consecutive field goal in the second quarter; he is now 8-10 in his career from 40-49 yards after hitting the 42-yard kick

* Wilson set the ULM school record with his 14^th-consecutive field goal hitting a 23-yard attempt in the third quarter breaking the old record of 13 by Roger Miller set in 1993; his is now 9-of-9 in his career from 20-29 yards

* Wilson has made 18 of his last 19 field goals; his only miss was a 50-yard attempt against Troy last year

* Freshman running back Frank Goodin caught his first career pass in the first quarter

* With a reception in the second quarter wide receiver LaGregory Sapp has now caught a pass in 14-consecutive games

* The ULM starting offensive line of Kyle Cunningham, Aaron Schutz, Adam Hill, Patrick Avinger and Larry Shappley have now started a combined 138 games between the group

* Offensive tackle Kyle Cunningham extended his games started streak to 36 games; he has started every game of his career

* Aaron Stringfellow caught his first career touchdown on a 16 yard pass from Kinsmon Lancaster

* Freshman running back Frank Goodin scored his first career touchdown in the fourth quarter; the game also marked his first career 100-yard rushing game