STATESBORO, Ga. – Quarterback Pete Thomas delivered a 36-yard touchdown strike late in the third quarter to break the school record for most passing yards in a single season, however ULM was unable to sustain its lead as Georgia Southern defeated the Warhawks, 22-16 on a cold Saturday night at Allen E. Paulson Stadium.
ULM completes its 83rd season, 4-8 overall and 3-5 in the conference. The Eagles (9-3, 8-0) stayed undefeated in league play to clinch the Sun Belt conference title in their first season as a member.
Thomas accounted for 307-yards through the air on 28-45 passing and touchdowns.
Eight of those balls were completed to Rashon Ceaser for 138 yards and one score. Kenzee Jackson led the game with 10 catches for 87-yards, while Ajalen Holley snagged four reception for 50-yards and a touchdown.
Tyler Cain grabbed four balls for 12-yards as fellow running back Centarius Donald garnered 30-yards from the ground on only five rushes.
Linebacker Hunter Kissinger led the defensive effort with 12 total tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss. Safety Mitch Lane posted 11 total tackles, including eight solo stops and a tackle for loss.
Nose tackle Gerrand Johnson and linebacker Michael Johnson each added 11 tackles, while G. Johnson led the team with two tackles for loss. Safety Cordero Smith and linebacker Cody Robinson tallied eight and seven stops, respectively.
Opposing quarterback Kevin Ellison led the Eagles rushing and passing game. The sophomore totaled 117-yards on 20 attempts and a touchdown on the ground, while airing it out for another 136-yards on 8-19 throwing.
An injury forced backup quarterback, Ezayi Youyoute in the game during the fourth quarterback. Youyounte did not attempt a pass but recorded 81 rushing yards and one touchdown. Running back Matt Breida picked up 52 yards and the other score for Georgia Southern.
The Eagles struck first on a field goal from Alex Hanks with 3:38 to go in the first quarter.
After Upshaw rushed 46-yards to the ULM 29-yard line, ULM prevented Georgia Southern from stretching its lead as Mitch Lane stuffed the quarterback for a loss of two yards on fourth-and-two to regain possession of the ball with 7:06 left before the break.
On the ensuing drive, it took the Warhawks just two plays and 44 seconds to get on the board. After a 14-yard rush by Donald, Ceaser got behind the Eagles' secondary to catch a 63-yard pass from Thomas for a 7-3 lead with 6:22 remaining in the half.
Following a 38-yard pass from Ellison to Ramsby, the Warhawk defense came up big once again, forcing another field goal attempt that was shanked by Hanks to preserve a four-point lead.
The ULM defense continued to be the story of the first half as G. Johnson and Tevyn Cagins stopped a rush up the middle on fourth-and-two with 14 seconds to help the Warhawks take a 7-3 lead into the locker room.
A short rushing touchdown from Ellison with 4:13 left in the third quarter gave Georgia Southern a 9-7 lead as Hanks missed the extra point.
ULM answered the door with a five play, 50-yard drive of its own to retake the lead. Thomas delivered a rope to Holley for a 36-yd. touchdown and make it 13-9 Warhawks with 2:40 to play in the third quarter.
Taking advantage of a defensive holding call on fourth and 14, the Eagles extended a crucial drive midway through the fourth quarter. Four plays later, Breida ran the ball into the end zone from one-yard out to put Georgia Southern ahead, 15-13 with 8:52 left to play.
The Eagles tacked on seven more points to make it 22-13 with 5:28 left in the ball game.
Refusing to back down, the offense added three points on a 47-yard boot from Justin Manton. The field goal cut the deficit to six points with 2:04 remaining.
After the defense denied the Eagles on three straight plays, the Warhawks needed to drive 81-yards in 1:37. A 40-yard. throw from Thomas to Ceaser put ULM in Georgia Southern territory. However, an incomplete pass across the middle from the 19-yard line secured the victory.
First Quarter
03:38: GASO – 27-yard field goal by Alex Hanks, 16-62-8:49, GASO 3-0
Second Quarter
06:22: ULM – 63-yard pass from Pete Thomas to Rashon Ceaser, (Manton, J. XP), 2-77-0:44, ULM 7-3
Third Quarter
04:13: GASO – Kevin Ellison 10-yard run, (Hanks, kick failed), 6-74-2:26, GASO 9-7
02:40: ULM – 36-yard pass from Pete Thomas to Ajalen Holley, (Pete Thomas rush failed), 5-50-1:33, ULM 13-9
Fourth Quarter
08:52: GASO – Matt Breida one-yard run, (Younghoe Koo kick failed), 11-40-4:35, GASO 15-13
05:28: GASO – L.A. Ramsby seven-yard run, (Younghoe Koo kick), 3-59-1:16, GASO, 22-16
02:04: ULM – 47-yard field goal by Justin Manton, 12-34-3:12, ULM 22-16
