The Basics
· Score: UL Lafayette 30, ULM 24
· Records: UL Lafayette (3-4, 2-1), ULM (1-7, 0-4)
· Location: Cajun Field – Lafayette, La.
· Attendance: 17,410
How It Happened
· After ULM fumbled in its own territory, the defense stood tall, limiting UL Lafayette to three yards and a successful 40 yard field goal with 13:27 to play in the opening quarter.
· ULM responded with a 12-play, 75-yard drive that resulted in a 27 yard TD pass from Garrett Smith to Marcus Green on fourth down and four. On the drive the Warhawks converted 2-of-3 three third down attempts and was 1-for-1 on fourth down.
· After a Cajun punt, the Warhawks scored again on fourth down. On 4th and 10 at the UL Lafayette 29, Smith found Ajalen Holley for a 29 yard TD to put the Warhawks ahead by 11, at 14-3, with 3:28 to play in opening quarter.
· UL Lafayette connected on their second field goal of the contest as Stevie Artigue hit a 41 yd field goal with 14:14 to play in the second quarter.
· Artigue hit his third field goal of the game (33 yards) with 6:53 to play in the second quarter. On the drive, the Cajuns were called for holding inside the 10 and were unsuccessful on the following third down attempt, resulting in the field goal on fourth down.
· After a short kickoff, the Warhawks started on their own 40 and needed just two plays to find the endzone again, after a seven yard rush by Kaylon Watson, Smith hit Watson for a 53 yard TD to put ULM ahead 21-9 with 6:14 to play until the break.
· ULM moved into the Cajun redzone on its next drive and the Warhawks came away with points as Craig Ford hit a 29 yard field goal with 35 seconds to play until the half.
· UL Lafayette used a nine-play, 65-yard drive to pull within eight points (24-16) as Elijah McGuire picked up a five yard rushing score with 10:50 to play in the third quarter.
· UL Lafayette scored twice in the fourth quarter to pick up the 30-24 win. Brooks Haack found the endzone on the ground to pull the Cajuns within two. Later in the fourth Haack found Jamal Robinson for a 64 yard score to put the Cajuns in front by six after a Elijah McGuire two point conversion run.
Inside (and Beyond) The Box Score
· ULM captains: DeVontae McNeal (offense), Hunter Kissinger (defense), Craig Ford (special teams).
· UL Lafayette captains: Trey Granier, Brooks Haack, Torrey Pierce and Dominique Tovell.
· UL Lafayette won the opening coin toss and deferred to the second half.
· ULM held UL Lafayette to a field goal attempt on its opening drive of the game. It was the third time this season a Warhawk opponent has scored on the opening drive (all FGs – Georgia Southern, Idaho, UL Lafayette). ULM's other five opponents have all punted on their opening drive.
· Marcus Green hauled in his third touchdown reception of the season to put ULM ahead 7-3 midway through the first quarter.
· The ULM defense limited UL Lafayette to just three yards of total offense over the first two drives (three yards on first drive, zero yards on second drive).
· ULM again scored on fourth down as Garrett Smith tossed his second TD of the first quarter to put Warhawks ahead, 14-3. Ajalen Holley was the recipient of the TD, his fourth of the season.
· Holley's TD grab was the 16th of his career. He tied Darrell McNeal (2006-09) and Rubin Jones (1968-70, 72) for seventh in school history.
· UL Lafayette moved inside the Warhawk 10, but again the Warhawk defense did not break as they forced the Cajuns to a field goal attempt (33 yards – good).
· Garrett Smith tied a career-best as in TD passes as he hit Kaylon Watson for a 53-yard score to put the Warhawks ahead by 12 midway through the second quarter. He also had three TD passes against Nicholls State and Georgia Southern.
· Michael Johnson led the Warhawks in the opening half as he registered five total tackles and one tackle for loss. Trey Caldwell also registered a tackle for loss in the opening 30 minutes.
· In the first half, the Warhawks were 3-of-8 on third down and 3-of-3 on fourth down. The Cajuns, meanwhile, were 0-for-7 on third down and 1-for-1 on fourth down in the first half.
· In the opening half, ULM outgained UL Lafayette, 235 yards to 90 yards.
· On the opening possession of the second half, UL Lafayette found the endzone on the ground to pull within eight points (24-16). It was just the second time the Warhawks have allowed a TD on an opponent's first drive of the second half in 2015 (Appalachian State was the other).
· ULM finished the game 6-of-18 on third down and 3-for-3 on fourth down.
· UL Lafayette was 2-for-14 on third down and 1-of-1 on fourth down.
· ULM outgained the Cajuns, 341 yards of total offense to 261.
· Michael Johnson paced ULM with eight total tackles including two tackles for loss.
· Roland Jenkins and Gerrand Johnson each tallied six tackles in the game.
· Hunter Kissinger recorded a sack on the night and he was one of four players to tally a tackle for loss in Saturday's game.
Up Next
· The Warhawks will close out their three-game road swing next weekend at Troy. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m. and will air on ESPN3.
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