MONROE, La. – The ULM football team held a 13-0 lead at halftime, but Texas State came back to snatch a 22-18 decision from the Warhawks Saturday night at JPS Field in Malone Stadium.
Tyler Cain led the Warhawks (3-4, 2-2 Sun Belt) in all-purpose yards (169) as he garnered 39 rushing yards on eight carries, 64 yards on seven receptions and 66 yards on kickoff returns.
Pete Thomas completed 22 of 36 passes for 236 yards and one interception, while Brayle Brown went 3-of-4 for 14 yards.
Centarius Donald ran for 86 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, while Ajalen Holley recorded eight receptions for 89 yards.
Michael Johnson and Gerrand Johnson each collected eight tackles, with M. Johnson adding a sack. Ray Stovall added seven tackles.
Texas State's (4-3, 2-1 Sun Belt) Tyler Jones went 14-of-20 with one touchdown.
A 19-yard run up the right side by Donald set up the first points of the game for the Warhawks as Justin Manton booted a career-long 51-yard field goal to give ULM a 3-0 advantage over the Bobcats.
On the next drive, Manton launched a 43-yard field goal to give the home team a 6-0 lead.
The Warhawks extended their lead with 5:00 left before the break as Donald scrambled up the middle for a six-yard touchdown.
The defense came through with a huge play as Michael Johnson blitzed Texas State's Tyler Jones in the end zone, forcing him to throw the ball away. The quarterback was called for intentional grounding, earning the Warhawks a safety and giving them a 15-0 lead.
The Bobcats cut into ULM's lead with a 15-yard run into the end zone by Robert Lowe with 5:49 left in the third quarter before ULM increased its margin back to double digits (18-7) as Manton hit a 28-yard field goal with 1:06 to play in the third.
With 6:50 remaining, the Bobcats added another touchdown as Jones completed a 40-yard pass to Terrence Franks. Jones then added a two-point conversion to leave ULM with an 18-15 lead.
Texas State took its first lead (22-18) of the game, one they would not give up, as Lowe ran for a 21-yard touchdown with 3:29 left in the game.
The Warhawks take the field next Saturday as they travel to College Station to take on Texas A&M at 11:00 a.m. on the SEC Network.
First Quarter
8:37: ULM – 51-yard field goal by Justin Manton, 10-46-4:25, ULM 3-0
Second Quarter
10:47: ULM – 43-yard field goal by Justin Manton, 11-35-4:35, ULM 6-0
5:00: ULM – six-yard rush by Centarius Donald, (Manton, J. XP), 9-70-3:33, ULM 13-0
Third Quarter
11:21: ULM – Johnson, M safety, 0-15-00:00, ULM 15-0
5:49: TXST – 15-yard rush by Robert Lowe, (Johnson, W. XP), 9-78-3:33, ULM 15-7
1:06: ULM – 28-yard field goal by Justin Manton, 11-64-4:43, ULM 18-7
Fourth Quarter
6:50: TXST – 40-yard pass from Tyler Jones to Terrence Franks (Jones, T. Run), 9-76-3:08, ULM 18-15
3:29: TXST – 21-yard run by Robert Lowe, (Johnson, W. XP), 5-62-2:01, TXST 22-18
