AUBURN, Ala. - For
the second consecutive week, ULM lined up against an SEC West foe and it came
down to the wire. Auburn (1-2) defeated ULM (1-1) on a 35-yard field goal from
Cody Parkey in overtime to sneak out a Tiger victory, 31-28.
Junior quarterback Kolton Browning led the game-tying drive,
which started with 4:37 left in the game and covered 65 yards. Browning found sophomore
wide receiver Colby Harper for the six-yard score and sophomore Justin Manton
converted the extra point to tie the game at 28-28.
Auburn won the toss to begin overtime and chose defense. The
Tigers held the Warhawk offense in check and tipped a Manton field-goal attempt
that fell just short. Auburn ran two plays and kicked the game-winning field
goal on second down to secure its first victory of the season.
Browning finished 28-for-46 for 237 yards and three
touchdowns. The reigning National Player of the Week also ran 14 times for 58
yards and a touchdown.
The Warhawks opened the game with a strong drive, which was
capped by a fourth and goal touchdown toss from Browning to Harley Scioneaux,
his first career touchdown, to give ULM a 7-0 advantage with 8:22 left in the
opening quarter.
Je'Ron Hamm, Keavon Milton, Tony Cook all made catches on
the drive while junior running back Jyruss Edwards had the big play with a 29-yard
run. In addition, a pass interference call in the endzone on junior wide
receiver Tavarese Maye gave the Warhawks new life.
Auburn answered with a five play, 76 yard scoring drive.
Onterio McCalebb ran in from 27 yards to finish the drive, which lasted 2:16.
The Warhawks were up to the task and covered 80 yards in six
plays and Browning sprinted in from 39 yards to give ULM a 14-7 advantage.
Auburn finished the first half with a flurry. First, scoring
on a pass back to Auburn quarterback Kiehl Frazier from Quan Bray for a 33-yard
score. After the Auburn defense stuffed the Warhawks on three plays, Frazier
launched a hail mary into the endzone to Sammie Coates for a touchdown, giving
the Tigers a 21-14 advantage at intermission, its first lead of the day.
At the break, Auburn was outgaining ULM 232 to 206 while
Auburn collected 11 first downs to ULM's 10. The Warhawks outgained the Tigers
101 to 85. Both teams were called for two penalties for 20 yards.
Auburn scored on its opening possession of the second half
with a drive of 11 plays, 65 yards and eating 4:20 of clock. Tre Mason capped the drive with a one-yard
touchdown run.
A 31-yard ULM field goal attempt was blocked by Auburn
defensive end Corey Lemonier to leave ULM with no points after a 16 play, 61
yard and 6:48 drive on its ensuing possession.
Redshirt freshman safety Mitch Lane recovered a fumble on
its own one-yard line and advanced to the five to stop a strong Auburn drive
with 1:40 left in the third quarter. The turnover came after a 19-yard run from
Mike Blakely.
The ensuing drive stalled for the Warhawks but Justin Manton
delivered a 45-yard punt down to Auburn's seven-yard line.
Lane picked off Frazier and retuned it to ULM's 41-yard line
with 8:39 left in the game for his second takeaway of the day to give the
Warhawks the momentum.
Back-to-back penalties on Auburn jump-started the ULM
offense. Browning found Scioneaux for his second touchdown of the game to pull
the Warhawks within one score, 28-21, with 6:15 left in the game.
Browning completed pass-after-pass and found Colby Harper to
tie the game at 28-28 with 1:18 left in regulation. The drive went nine plays
for 65 yards and lasted 3:19. A key play was a 17-yard catch by Leonard along
the sideline that was reviewed and held up.
ULM took a knee to end regulation and send the game into
overtime. ULM's drive stalled and a field goal attempt from Manton was tipped.
Auburn took advantage after two rushing plays and kicked the
game-winning field goal on second down.
To compliment Browning's offense, Edwards rushed 17 times
for 76 yards. Hamm led the team in receiving with five catches and 57 yard.
Scioneaux pulled in two touchdown catches, while Harper caught a touchdown pass
as well. Leonard finished the game with seven grabs and 53 yards.
Lane had one interception and a fumble recovery to go with
his five tackles for the Warhawks' defense. Leading the ULM defense in tackles
was sophomore cornerback Rob'Donovan Lewis with nine.
ULM will open its home season on Friday (Sept. 21) at 7 p.m.
inside Malone Stadium against Baylor (1-0). The Bears played Saturday night
against Sam Houston State. Fans are encouraged to wear white, as the game is a "White
Out."
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
ULM - 1 yard TD pass from K. Browning to H, Scioneaux (J. Manton XP)
12-89-6:38 - ULM 7-0
Auburn - 27 yard TD run by O. McCalebb (C. Parkey XP) 5-76-2:16 - Tied 7-7
2nd Quarter
ULM - 39 yard TD run by K. Browning (J. Manton XP) 6-80-2:54 - ULM 14-7
Auburn - 33 yard TD pass from Q.
Bray to K. Frazier (C. Parkey XP) - Tied 14-14
Auburn - 33 yard TD pass from
K. Frazier to S. Coates (C. Parkey XP) - 3-38-0:22 Auburn 21-14
3rd Quarter
Auburn - 1 yard TD run by T. Mason (C. Parkey XP) - 11-65-4:20 Auburn 28-14
4th Quarter
ULM - 4 yard touchdown pass from K.
Browning to H. Scioneaux (J. Manton XP) - 9-59-2:24 Auburn 28-21.
ULM - 6 yard touchdown pass from K.
Browning to C. Harper (J. Manton XP) - 9-65-3:19 Tied 28-28
Overtime
Auburn
- 35 yard field goal from C. Parkey - 3-7 Auburn 31-28
