BOONE, N.C. – In a game that came down to the wire and featured seven lead changes, the ULM football team fell 31-29 to Appalachian State on Saturday evening at Kidd Brewer Stadium.
The Warhawks (3-6, 2-3 Sun Belt) defense held Appalachian State (4-5, 3-2 Sun Belt) to just 104 rushing yards, which is 154 yards below their season average.
Michael Johnson led ULM on defense with nine tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss. Hunter Kissinger added six tackles, while Mitch Lane, Gerrand Johnson, Cody Robinson and Cordero Smith each recorded five tackles.
ULM quarterback Pete Thomas completed 20 of 41 pass attempts for 244 yards and two touchdowns.
Rashon Ceaser caught six of those passes for 87 yards, while Ajalen Holley had four receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown. Kenzee Jackson also added 61 yards and a touchdown on three passes.
Centarius Donald led the Warhawks rushing efforts with 71 yards on 16 carries.
Taylor Lamb went 25-of-35 for 276 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.
The Warhawks posted points on their first drive of the game. Thomas hooked up with Kenzee Jackson on a 39-yard pass to land ULM inside the Mountaineers' 40 yard line. Thomas led the team into the redzone where Justin Manton connected on a 31-yard field goal with 9:58 left in the first quarter for a 3-0 lead.
Appalachian State then took a 7-3 lead with a 4-yard rushing touchdown by Simms McElfresh.
After marching steadily down the field on the next drive, ULM cut the Appalachian State's lead to 7-6 with 43 seconds left in the first quarter as Manton scored his eighth field goal in as many attempts with a 38-yarder.
After Manton's punt pinned the Mountaineers on their own three-yard line, Lenzy Pipkins intercepted Lamb's pass and returned it to the Appalachian State 12-yard line. The Thomas-to-Jackson duo proved true once again on the next play as they connected on a 12-yard pass to help the Warhawks re-gain the lead, 13-7.
Thomas found Ajalen Holley on a 32-yard pass to land the Warhawks at Appalachian State's one-yard line. Thomas then scored a one-yard touchdown on a quarterback sneak for a 20-7 lead with 8:02 remaining in the half.
After a pass-interference call on ULM gave the Mountaineers a fresh set of downs, Lamb hit Tacoi Sumler on a 5-yard pass for a touchdown. Lamb completed a one-yard pass to Barrett Burns on Appalachian State's next drive to give the home team a 21-20 lead heading into the break.
After the ULM defense forced a three-and-out to open the second half, Manton added another field goal, this one for 35-yards, to push the Warhawks ahead 23-21.
The Mountaineers re-gained the lead, 28-23, as Marcus Cox scrambled seven yards for the touchdown with 6:10 left in the game.
Thomas found Holley again, this time with a three-yard pass into the endzone to give the Warhawks a 29-28 lead with 1:42 remaining.
With 29 seconds to go, Appalachian State's Bentlee Critcher booted a 39-yard field goal for a final score of 31-29.
ULM returns to JPS Field at Malone Stadium next Saturday for the final home game of the season against UL-Lafayette. The Senior Day contest will begin at 6:00 p.m. and will air on ESPN3.
First Quarter
09:58: ULM – 31-yard field goal by Justin Manton, 12-63-4:57, ULM 3-0
04:21: APP – 4-yard run by Simms McElfresh (Critcher, B. XP), 12-80-5:29, APP 7-3
00:43: ULM – 38-yard field goal by Justin Manton, 11-54-3:38, APP 7-6
Second Quarter
11:32: ULM – 12-yard pass from Pete Thomas to Kenzee Jackson, (Manton, J. XP), 1-12-00:8, ULM 13-7
8:02: ULM – One-yard run by Pete Thomas, (Manton, J. XP), 4-43-1:05, ULM 20-7
02:24: APP – 5-yard pass from Taylor Lamb to Tacoi Sumler (Critcher, B. XP), 12-75-05:38, ULM 20-14
00:06: APP – One-yard pass from Taylor Lamb to Barrett Burns (Critcher, B. XP), 5-63-00:39, APP 21-20
Third Quarter
8:44: ULM – 35-yard field goal by Justin Manton, 11-56-4:23, ULM 23-21
Fourth Quarter
6:10: APP – 7-yard run by Marcus Cox, (Critcher, B. XP), 12-89-5:00, APP 28-23
1:42: ULM – 3-yard pass from Pete Thomas to Ajalen Holley, (Manton, J. XP), 14-72-4:22, ULM 28-29
00:29: APP – 39-yard field goal by Bentlee Critcher, 7-53-1:13, APP 31-29
