ULM Warhawks

DENTON, Texas -- North Texas scored 17-unanswered points over the final 17 minutes of the game to defeat ULM 38-21 Saturday evening in Sun Belt Conference action at Apogee Stadium.

Jyruss Edwards tied the game with an 8-yard touchdown run with just over four minutes to play in the third quarter, but it was all North Texas from that point on.

Zach Olen, who was just 5-for-13 on the season, booted a 46-yard field goal to give the Mean Green (3-5, 2-2 Sun Belt) the lead for good at 24-21 with 1:29 to play in the third quarter. The Warhawks (2-5, 1-2) appeared to push Olen out of his range on third down as Troy Evans dropped Derek Thompson for a 9-yard sack.

Still trailing by just three with 6:31 to play in the game the ULM offense took over on its own 20-yard line. On 2^nd-and-10 from the ULM 33-yard line, Brandon Akpunku got into the ULM backfield and stripped the ball from Warhawk quarterback Kolton Browning. Julian Herron scooped the loose ball and returned it 16 yards for a touchdown.

An interception on ULM's next possession gave North Texas the ball on its own 37-yard line; two plays later Lance Dunbar broke through the middle of the ULM defense for a 60-yard touchdown run. It was the longest rushing play allowed by ULM this season and the first of over 30 yards allowed.

Dunbar, one of the league's most dangerous runners, was held in check for most of the game. He finished with 139 yards on 29 carries. Thompson finished 23-of-39 for 332 yards and three touchdowns. Chris Bynes had eight catches for 85 yards and a pair of scores, while Brelan Chancellor had five catches for 113 yards and a score.

The Warhawks opened the game with some fireworks as Luther Ambrose returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. It was his second career kickoff return for a score and the first for ULM since 2008. Ambrose became ULM's all-time leader in kickoff return yards on the play.

Chancellor tied the game midway through the quarter with a 40-yard grab from Thompson.

Centarius Donald gave the lead back to the Warhawks with a punishing 15-yard run to cap a 6-play, 80-yard drive. Donald rushed for 84 yards on 11 carries before leaving the game in the third quarter with an injury.

Browning was 15-of-33 for 195 yards through the air. Brent Leonard was his favorite target as he pulled in eight catches for 113 yards. Tavarese Maye, who had 161 yards receiving in ULM's win at Troy last week, was held without a catch for the first time in his career.

Bynes caught the first of his two touchdown passes with just over eight minutes to play in the second quarter to tie the game at 14-all at the half. Thompson found him again, this time from 13-yards out, midway through the third quarter to give the Mean Green a 21-14 lead.

ULM answered on the ensuing possession to tie the game for the third time. Browning completed a 34-yard pass to Zarrell Sanders on the second play of the drive and Donald followed with a 33-yard run down to the North Texas 8-yard line. Edwards finished the deed on the next play with his third rushing touchdown of the season.

ULM linebacker Jason Edwards finished with a game-high and career-high 13 tackles.

The Warhawks return to Malone Stadium next Saturday for Homecoming against Western Kentucky (3-4, 3-1). Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

Scoring Summary
ULM - Ambrose 100-yard kickoff return (Manton kick), 14:48, 1^st                           0-7
UNT - Chancellor 40-yard pass from Thompson (Olen kick), 6:22, 1^st                     7-7
ULM - Donald 15-yard run (Manton kick), 1:01, 1^st                                               14-7
UNT - Bynes 9-yard pass from Thompson (Olen kick), 8:23, 2^nd                           14-14
UNT - Bynes 13-yard pass from Thompson (Olen kick), 5:53, 3^rd                          21-14
ULM - Edwards 8-yard run (Manton kick), 4:35, 3^rd                                              21-21
UNT - Olen 46-yard field goal, 1:29, 3^rd                                                               24-21
UNT - Herron 16-yard fumble return (Olen kick), 5:13, 4^th                                     31-21
UNT - Dunbar 60-yard run (Olen kick), 2:57, 4^th                                                  38-21

ULM at North Texas Game Notes