ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – ULM recorded only 73 total yards in the opening half, while New Mexico tallied 377 yards over the first two quarters, as the host Lobos handed the Warhawks a 59-17 defeat in the teams' first-ever meeting.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: New Mexico 59, ULM 17
LOCATION: Branch Field at University Stadium
RECORDS: New Mexico (4-3, 2-1 MWC)
ULM (2-5, 1-2 SBC)
TURNING POINT
-New Mexico's Jadon Boatwright intercepted Will Collins' first pass attempt and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown on the opening drive of the night to set the game in motion. The Warhawks finished with zero passing yards in the first half.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-New Mexico scored on its first four possessions of the night, using scoring drives of 72, 85 and 83 yards after the interception return touchdown.
-Conversely, ULM punted on its next six possessions before recovering a fumble deep in New Mexico territory and getting on the scoreboard with a 33-yard Craig Ford field goal.
-New Mexico went on to punt and fumble twice in the second quarter before scoring a touchdown just before the half. The Lobos then took the second half's opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown. The hosts scored on their opening three possessions of the second half to extend the lead.
-Thomas Koufie's one-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter got ULM into the endzone and was the freshman's first career touchdown, while Caleb Evans tossed a 30-yard touchdown to Xavier Brown 62 seconds later for his first collegiate touchdown as well.
-New Mexico added one final rushing touchdown to end the night's scoring.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
-ULM finished with 235 total yards after recording 75 total yards in the first half, all on the ground. The Warhawks were 0-for-7 passing in the opening half.
-Evans took over the offense in the second half and finished the game 12-for-15 for 120 yards with his touchdown pass as nine different ULM receivers pulled down catches.
-New Mexico tallied 377 total yards in the first half en route to finishing the night with 622 total yards. The Lobos tallied 476 rushing yards in the win.
-ULM falls to 0-4 this season when trailing at the half and is now also 0-4 when being outrushed by the opponent.
-Saturday night marked the third time this season an opponent has tallied 50 or more points against ULM.
UP NEXT
-The Warhawks return to Sun Belt Conference play next week when they travel to Jonesboro, Ark. to take on Arkansas State. Arkansas State is 2-4 on the season and will be coming off a bye week after not playing on Saturday.
