Game 7: ULM (2-4, 0-2 Sun Belt) vs.
COASTAL CAROLINA (3-2, 1-1 Sun Belt)
Saturday, Oct. 13 | 5:05 p.m. CT/6:05 p.m. ET
Conway, S.C. | Brooks Stadium (15,000)
ULM Football Notes: Game 7 vs. Coastal Carolina
FIRST-AND-10 –
• Saturday's game marks the second meeting between ULM and Coastal Carolina. The Warhawks lead the all-time series 1-0.
The two teams met for the first time in Week 4 last season.
Ben Luckett and
Derrick Gore combined to rush for 201 yards and four touchdowns to lead ULM to a 51-43 victory over Coastal Carolina in Malone Stadium.
• Fifth-year senior
Marcus Green, who returned a punt 71 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter at Ole Miss, has been named Sun Belt Special Teams Player of the Week. It marked Green's first career punt return for a TD and his fifth career kick return for a score (four kickoff returns). He accounted for a season-high 198 all-purpose yards against the Rebels (seven receptions for 60 yards, three kickoff returns for 67 yards and one punt return for 71 yards).
• Junior quarterback
Caleb Evans ranks second the Sun Belt in passing yards (233.0 per game) and total offense (283.2 ypg.). The 6-foot-2, 212-pound Evans has completed 130-of-217 throws (.599) for 1,398 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions. He also leads the team in rushing (66 carries for 301 yards and three TDs).
With his 11-yard completion to
Marcus Green early in the second quarter at Ole Miss, Evans became the eighth quarterback in ULM history to reach the 5,000-yard passing milestone. He recorded his fourth 200-yard passing game of the season and 11th of his career, completing 17-of-28 throws for 206 yards against the Rebels.
• A key to
Caleb Evans' throwing success in 2018 has been his ability to utilize all of the weapons at his disposal in ULM's one-back offense. Five Warhawks have at least 11 receptions, including
Marcus Green (26 for 392 yards),
R.J. Turner (23 for 323),
Derrick Gore (16 for 57),
Sloan Spiller (13 for 108) and
Xavier Brown (11 for 158). In addition, four different receivers have at least one touchdown reception.
• Fifth-year senior
Marcus Green leads ULM in receptions (26), receiving yards (392), yards per catch (15.1) and touchdown receptions (4). Green ranks among the Sun Belt leaders in TD receptions (tied for second), receiving yards per game (fourth at 65.3) and receptions (seventh at 4.3 per game).
In addition, he leads ULM with 10 explosive plays (20-plus yards), including five receptions, four kickoff returns and one punt return.
• Junior
R.J. Turner produced his first 100-yard receiving game of the season and fourth of his career with five receptions for 112 yards at Ole Miss. Turner ranks second on the team in receptions (23) and receiving yards (323). He also is listed among the Sun Belt's Top 10 in receiving yards per game (seventh at 53.8) and receptions per game (tied for ninth at 3.8).
• ULM features a well-balanced ground game, led by quarterback
Caleb Evans (66 carries for 301 yards and three TDs) and tailbacks
Derrick Gore (57 for 257 and three TDs) and
Austin Vaughn (28 for 151). That trio has rushed for a combined 709 yards, accounting for 77 percent of the team's total rushing yards (925).
• Fifth-year senior safety
Collin Turner leads ULM in tackles with 47 (31 solos, 16 assists), including 3.5 for losses (14 yards). Turner has produced double-figure tackles in three games this season, including back-to-back games at Georgia State (career-best 12 stops) and Ole Miss (10).
• ULM ranks third in the Sun Belt in passing offense (248.3 yards per game) and sixth in total offense (402.5 ypg.).
• ULM ranks among the Sun Belt leaders in sacks (second with 15 for 97 yards) and rushing defense (fifth at 194.7 yards per game).
CLASS BREAKDOWN (STARTERS) –
ULM Offense: 3 seniors, 6 juniors, 2 sophomores
ULM Defense: 3 seniors, 5 juniors, 2 sophomores, 1 freshman
Coastal Offense: 3 seniors, 2 juniors, 5 sophomores, 1 freshman
Coastal Defense: 3 seniors, 3 juniors, 5 sophomores
STAT LEADERS –
ULM (after six games):
Rushing –
Caleb Evans (66 carries for 301 yards, 4.6 avg., 3 TDs)
Passing –
Caleb Evans (130 of 217 for 1,398 yards, 7 TDs, 6 INTs)
Receiving –
Marcus Green (26 catches for 392 yards, 15.1 avg., 4 TDs)
Tackles –
Collin Turner (47 tackles, 31 solos, 16 assists, 3.5 TFL, 1.0 sack, 3 PBUs)
Coastal (after five games):
Rushing – Marcus Outlow (85 carries for 429 yards, 5.0 avg., 6 TDs)
Passing – Kilton Anderson (39 of 56 for 564 yards, 6 TDs, 1 INT)
Receiving – Malcolm Williams (22 catches for 245 yards, 11.1 avg., 2 TDs)
Tackles – Silas Kelly (37 tackles, 20 solos, 17 assists, 2.5 TFL, 1.0 sack, 2 PBUs)
ULM/COASTAL SERIES NOTES –
Saturday's game marks the second meeting between ULM and Coastal Carolina. The Warhawks lead the all-time series 1-0.
The two teams met for the first time in Week 4 last season.
Ben Luckett and
Derrick Gore combined to rush for 201 yards and four touchdowns to lead ULM to a 51-43 victory over Coastal Carolina in Malone Stadium.
THE LAST MEETING –
ULM 51, Coastal Carolina 43 (Sept. 30, 2018; Monroe, La.): Ben Luckett and
Derrick Gore combined to rush for 201 yards and four touchdowns to lead ULM to a 51-43 victory over Coastal Carolina, as the Warhawks improved to 2-0 in the Sun Belt standings. ULM scored 20 points off turnovers, thanks to three takeaways by the Warhawk defense.
ULM took the opening kickoff and put together a 12-play, 55-yard drive that resulted in a 40-yard field goal from
Craig Ford as the Warhawks jumped out to a 3-0 lead with 10:14 remaining in the first quarter.
Tyler Keane hooked up with
Malcolm Williams for an 86-yard scoring play as Coastal Carolina took its first lead at 7-3 with 3:55 left in the first quarter.
Marcus Green returned the ensuing kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown as ULM regained the lead at 10-7 with 3:42 to play in the first quarter. It marked the Warhawks first kickoff return for a TD since
Courtney Davis returned the opening kickoff 89 yards for a score against Grambling State in 2013.
Coastal Carolina answered with a seven-play, 85-yd drive and took a 15-10 lead on Keane's 27-yard TD strike to Williams and a two-point pass to
Alex James.
On the second play of ULM's next possession, Luckett broke a 53- yard run around right end for a first down at the CCU 17-yard line. On a fourth-and-1 play, Gore picked up 6 yards to set-up a first-and-goal at the Chanticleer 2. Luckett finished off the eight-play, 75-yard drive with a 1-yard TD plunge as ULM retook the lead at 17-15 with 12:34 left in the second quarter.
The ULM defense recorded its first takeaway on CCU's next series, as Keane's first-down pass attempt was intercepted by
Roland Jenkins and returned 17 yards to the Chanticleer 15-yard line. Two plays later, Gore scored on a 10-yard TD run as ULM built a 24-15 lead with 11:38 remaining in the second quarter.
Keane connected with Williams for a 47-yard gain to the ULM 10-yard line, and three plays later, James scored on a 1-yard TD run around right end as Coastal pulled to within 24-22 with 7:21 left in the second quarter.
Late in the first half, Keane's second-down pass attempt was intercepted by
Chase Day and returned 6 yards to the CCU 23-yard line. Two plays later,
Caleb Evans hooked up with tight end
Sloan Spiller for 20-yard scoring play down the middle, as ULM built a 31-22 lead with 2:33 remaining in the second quarter.
Luckett scored his second rushing TD on a 56-yard run up the middle as ULM extended its lead to 38-22 with 11:44 left in the third quarter.
Tyler Ky'Jon returned the ensuing kickoff 88 yards to the ULM 12-yard line, and three plays later,
Marcus Outlow scored on a 1-yard run as CCU pulled to within 38-30 with 10:11 remaining in the third quarter.
On third down,
Caleb Tucker and
Kerry Starks combined to sack Keane for a 9-yard loss. Three plays later, Green's 26-yard scamper set up Gore's 1-yard TD run as ULM moved out to a 45-30 lead with 5:31 left in the third quarter.
Late in the third quarter, Keane connected with Williams for a 38-yard gain to the ULM 27-yard line. Keane eventually capped off the 11-play, 75-yard drive with a 5-yard TD toss to tight end
Maxwell Kjosa as Coastal rallied to within 45-36 with 14:52 remaining in the fourth quarter.
On Coastal's second-to-last possession, Keane went 6-for-6 passing for 73 yards, including a 9-yard TD strike to Kjosa, as the Chanticleers cut their deficit to 45-43 with 3:07 left on the clock.
Coastal got the ball back with 20 seconds left in the game, and after a short third-down completion tried a series of laterals, but it resulted in a fumble that Tucker scooped up and returned 15 yards for a score as time expired for the final 51-43 margin.
Luckett recorded his fourth career 100-yard rushing game, with seven carries for 127 yards and two scores.
Keane completed 18-of-31 passes for 329 yards and four scores, while Williams finished with nine receptions for a Coastal single-game record 266 yards and two TDs.
FOUR-GAME LOSING SKID: INSIDE THE NUMBERS –
During its four-game losing streak:
• ULM has been outscored by its opponents, 138-38, in the first half.
• ULM has a turnover margin of minus 7 (8 turnovers and 1 takeaway).
• ULM has been outgained in total yards, 2,312-1,507 (Opponents: 578.0 ypg.; ULM: 376.8 ypg.).
• In the first half of the last four games, opposing quarterbacks have completed a combined 57-of-67 passes (.851) for 873 yards (218.3 ypg. In the first half).
• ULM has converted 36 percent of its third-down attempts (19-of-53) while its opponents have been converting at a 58-percent clip (28-of-48).
EVANS ECLIPSES 5,000-YARD CAREER MILESTONE –
Junior quarterback
Caleb Evans ranks second the Sun Belt in passing yards (233.0 per game) and total offense (283.2 ypg.). The 6-foot-2, 212-pound Evans has completed 130-of-217 throws (.599) for 1,398 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions. He also leads the team in rushing (66 carries for 301 yards and three TDs).
With his 11-yard completion to
Marcus Green early in the second quarter at Ole Miss, Evans became the eighth quarterback in ULM history to reach the 5,000-yard passing milestone. He recorded his fourth 200-yard passing game of the season and 11th of his career, completing 17-of-28 throws for 206 yards against the Rebels.
The Mansfield, Texas, native accounted for 317 yards total offense and two scores in the second half alone as ULM attempted to rally from a 28-point halftime deficit in ULM's 35-27 loss to Troy in the Sun Belt opener for both teams. In the second half, Evans completed 18-of-29 throws for 216 yards, including touchdown tosses of 4 yards to
Sloan Spiller and 23 yards to
Josh Pederson, and rushed nine times for 101 yards. He finished 29-of-48 passing for 290 yards. It marked his second career 100-yard rushing effort.
Evans completed 15-of-28 passes for 225 yards at Texas A&M, including a 2-yard touchdown toss to R.J. Turner, and one interception.
He connected on 15-of-28 passes for 195 yards in ULM's 21-20 win at Southern Miss, including TD strikes of 49 and 4 yards to
Marcus Green.
Evans accounted for 408 yards total offense and three TDs to lead ULM to a 34-31 season-opening victory over Southeastern Louisiana. He capped off a seven-play, 63-yard drive with the game-winning 11-yard TD run with 37 seconds left. Evans also added a two-point run on the conversion to provide the final margin. He set career highs for pass completions (35) and attempts (53) against Southeastern, including scoring tosses of 3 and 79 yards to Green. His 35 completions are tied for the sixth-highest single-game total in school history (
Pete Thomas completed 35-of-50 throws at New Mexico State in 2014). Evans, who completed throws to 10 different receivers, also rushed 13 times for 62 yards and one score.
In 25 career games, Evans has completed 417-of-705 passes (.591) for 5,100 yards, 28 TDs and 18 interceptions.
NCAA STAT LEADERS –
Here's a glance at how ULM ranks among the NCAA individual stat leaders in 2018:
Individual Statistics (Top 50 )
Completions Per Game: Caleb Evans (25th with 21.7 completions per game)
Passing Yards: Caleb Evans (33rd with 1,398 passing yards)
Passing Yards Per Game: Caleb Evans (50th at 233.0 passing yards per game)
Punt Returns for Touchdowns: Marcus Green (2nd with 1 punt return for touchdown)
Receiving Touchdowns: Marcus Green (49th with 4 receiving touchdowns)
Solo Tackles: Collin Turner (43rd with 5.2 solo tackles per game)
Total Offense: Caleb Evans (28th at 283.2 yards total offense per game)
WARHAWK SINGLE-GAME BESTS UNDER VIATOR –
Here's a look at the top single-game totals produced by ULM during head coach
Matt Viator's tenure (2016-present; 30 games):
Rushing Yards: 325 vs. Southern, 2016
Passing Yards: 454 vs. Arkansas State, 2017
Total Yards: 593 vs. ULL, 2017
First Downs: 31 vs. Southeastern Louisiana, 2018; vs. Texas State and Georgia State, 2016
Fewest Rushing Yards Allowed: 42 yards by Georgia State, 2016
Fewest Passing Yards Allowed: 0 by Louisiana, 2016
Fewest Total Yards Allowed: 240 by Louisiana, 2016
Fewest First Downs Allowed: 16 by Memphis, 2017; by Georgia State, 2016
Sacks By: 5 vs. Southern Miss, 2018; vs. ULL, 2017
Turnovers Forced: 4 vs. Southern Miss, 2018
Points (Game): 56 vs. ULL, 2017
Points (Half): 33 (1) vs. Texas State, 2016
Points (Quarter): 23 (1) vs. Texas State, 2016
Victory Margin: 18 vs. Texas State, 2017
Fewest Points Allowed (Game): 20 by Southern Miss, 2018
