ULM Warhawks

LEXINGTON, Ky.-Kentucky extended its non-conference win streak to 17 games with a 36-13 victory over visiting ULM Saturday night at Commonwealth Stadium.

Making the first start of his collegiate career, ULM redshirt freshman Cody Wells completed 21-of-44 pass attempts for 267 yards and a touchdown. Wells was playing in place of Trey Revell who suffered a broken thumb in ULM's victory over Arkansas State on Oct. 13. The 44 pass attempts by Wells were the most by a ULM quarterback since Steven Jyles threw 49 passes against Florida International on Nov. 5, 2005.

LaGregory Sapp caught seven passes for a season-high 121 yards in the loss for the Warhawks, while Frank Goodin rushed for 55 yards on 16 carries.

The Warhawks outgained Kentucky 377-330 for the game, but big plays by the Wildcats (4-3, 1-3 SEC) and missed opportunities by ULM (4-3, 3-0 Sun Belt) proved to be the difference in the game.

Three players took snaps at quarterback for the Wildcats led by Will Fidler who was 8-for-13 for 82 yards. The Warhawk defense held Kentucky without a point in the second half and allowed just 21 of the 36 points scored in the game. ULM held the SEC's leader in all-purpose yards Derrick Locke to just 36 yards on 10 carries.

The Wildcats took a 7-0 lead on their first possession of the game after forcing ULM into a three-and-out on its opening drive. John Conner scored from 1-yard out two plays after he broke a 39-yard run through the middle of the Warhawk defense.

Following another ULM three-and-out, Randall Cobb returned Scott Love's punt 73 yards for his first career punt return for a touchdown. Kentucky's last punt return for a touchdown came against ULM when the teams last met in 2006.

The Warhawks had an opportunity to get on the board late in the first quarter following Nate Brown's second interception in as many games for ULM. After driving down to the Kentucky 6-yard line, a penalty and a pair of incomplete passes forced a ULM 27-yard field goal attempt. Wells, who is also ULM's holder, couldn't handle a high snap and was forced to throw the ball into the end zone instead of Radi Jabour attempting the field goal.

Cobb continued his personal assault on the Warhawks scoring from 11 yards out with 11:00 minutes to play in the opening half to push the Kentucky lead out to 21-0. Cobb, who entered the game ranked fifth in the Southeastern Conference in all-purpose yards per game (129.5), also had an 11-yard reception and a 28-yard run on the scoring drive.

Wells put the Warhawks on the board with 10-yard touchdown pass to Luther Ambrose with 4:52 remaining in the half - Ambrose finished with four catches for 50 yards and also rushed for 34 yards on four carries. Wells was 4-for-5 through the air on the drive including completing three third-down passes for 54 yards - he opened the game completing seven of his first nine attempts on third down.

It only took the Wildcats four plays to extend their lead back out to 21 points. Cobb hooked up with Chris Matthews for a 37-yard gain to the ULM 25-yard line and then on the next play Fidler found Conner down the sideline for a touchdown.

ULM was denied a chance to score at the end of the half as the game clock hit zero despite a heavy protest by the Warhawk coaching staff. The Warhawks drove down to the Kentucky 4-yard line and with seven seconds remaining on the clock threw the ball into the end zone. The officials ruled that the clock expired on the incompletion which denied ULM a field goal attempt right before the break.

The Warhawks held Kentucky on its opening drive of the second half and took the ensuing possession down to the Wildcats 14-yard line. The drive stalled and a 31-yard field goal attempt by Jabour sailed wide left. ULM pulled within 15, 28-13, on a 3-yard touchdown run by Goodin in the final minute of the third quarter. The score was the 19th of his career moving him into a tie for fourth place in ULM history with Joe Profit.

Kentucky pulled away early in the fourth quarter picking up a safety after ULM's Otis Stamps intercepted Fidler on the Kentucky 3-yard line. Randall Burden extended the Wildcat lead out to 36-13 with a 50-yard interception return for a touchdown - Wells threw three interceptions on the night. The interception came two plays after Josh Thomas forced a Fidler fumble and Cardia Jackson recovered it - Jackson finished with a game-high and season-high 15 tackles.

The Warhawks return to Sun Belt Conference play next Saturday when they travel to Troy (5-2, 4-0) in a battle for first place in the league.

Scoring Summary
UK - Conner 1-yard run (Seiber kick), 11:04, 1^st                                                                                    7-0
UK - Cobb 73-yard punt return (Seiber kick), 9:18, 1^st                                                                            14-0
UK - Cobb 11-yard run (Seiber kick), 11:00, 2^nd                                                                                    21-0
ULM - Wells 10-yard pass to Ambrose (Jabour kick), 4:52, 2^nd                                                              21-7
UK - Fidler 25-yard pass to Conner (Seiber kick), 3:09, 2^nd                                                                   28-7
ULM - Goodin 3-yard run (Jabour kick blocked), 0:49, 3^rd                                                                      28-13
UK - Team safety, 11:57, 4^th                                                                                                              30-13
UK - Burden 50-yard interception return (Seiber kick blocked), 7:41, 4^th                                                 36-13

ULM Football Notes vs. Kentucky (October 24, 2009)