ULM Warhawks

 
ULM Football Notes: Game 9 vs. Georgia Southern
 
FIRST-AND-10 –
• Saturday's game marks the eighth meeting between ULM and Georgia Southern. The Eagles lead the all-time series 5-2, including a 1-2 record in games played in Malone Stadium. Georgia Southern has won five of the last six meetings, including the last three in a row (22-16 in Statesboro in 2014; 51-31 in Monroe in 2015; and 23-21 in Statesboro in 2016). Four of the previous seven meetings have been decided by nine points or less.
 
• ULM ranks second in the Sun Belt in sacks, with 23 for 153 yards. The Warhawks have recorded multiple sacks in six of their eight games, including five each at Southern Miss (36 yards) and at Coastal Carolina (37 yards). ULM has already exceeded last year's season total, as the Warhawks managed 21 sacks (137 yards) in 12 games.
 
• In its 20-14 Homecoming victory over Texas State, ULM's defense permitted a season-low 242 yards total offense, forced a season-high eight punts, recorded 10 tackles for loss (38 yards) and limited the Bobcats to just 2-of-13 on third-down conversions. The 14 points also marked the fewest allowed by ULM under head coach Matt Viator.
 
• ULM fifth-year senior linebacker David Griffith recorded a season-high nine tackles (4 solos, 5 assists), including 1.5 for losses (4 yards), against Texas State. Griffith has produced at least one tackle for loss in each of the last three games and in five of eight games overall.
 
• Fifth-year senior Marcus Green leads ULM in receptions (34), receiving yards (539), yards per catch (15.9) and touchdown receptions (5). Green ranks among the Sun Belt leaders in TD receptions (third), receiving yards per game (fourth at 67.4) and receptions (tied for sixth at 4.2 per game).
 
In addition, he leads ULM with 14 explosive plays (20-plus yards), including eight receptions, five kickoff returns and one punt return. His seven receptions of 30 or more yards are tied for 14th in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision.
 
Green also ranks second in the Sun Belt in all-purpose yards, averaging 118.6 per game.
 
• Junior quarterback Caleb Evans ranks second the Sun Belt in passing yards (218.2 per game) and total offense (270.5 ypg.). The 6-foot-2, 212-pound Evans has completed 159-of-268 throws (.593) for 1,746 yards, nine touchdowns and six interceptions. He also ranks second on the team in rushing, with 86 carries for 418 yards and five TDs.
 
Evans recorded his fifth 200-yard passing game of the season and 12th of his career, completing 16-of-22 passes for 224 yards at Coastal Carolina, including a 37-yard TD strike to Marcus Green. He accounted for 256 yards total offense and three scores at CCU, including TD runs of 1 and 20 yards in the second half.
 
• 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. Four Warhawks have at least 15 receptions, including Marcus Green (34 for 539 yards), R.J. Turner (28 for 369), Derrick Gore (16 for 57) and Markis McCray (15 for 160). In addition, six different receivers have at least one touchdown reception.
 
• ULM features a well-balanced ground game, led by Derrick Gore (84 carries for 431 yards and five TDs), quarterback Caleb Evans (86 for 418 and five TDs) and Austin Vaughn (42 for 214 and two TDs). That trio has rushed for a combined 1,063 yards, accounting for 76 percent of the team's total rushing yards (1,396).
 
• Fifth-year senior safety Collin Turner leads ULM in tackles with 54 (36 solos, 18 assists), including 4.0 for losses (15 yards). The 5-foot-10, 175-pound Turner ranks fourth in the Sun Belt, averaging 7.7 tackles per game. He 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).
 
• Safety Jabari Johnson was rated among the nation's Top 10 true freshman (No. 5 with 83.6 overall grade) through Week 8, by Pro Football Focus. The 5-foot-11, 201-pound Johnson has averaged 5.3 tackles in his three starting assignments. He recorded seven tackles (4 solos, 3 assists) in his first career start at Ole Miss. Johnson was named to the Sun Belt's Defensive Team of the Week by Pro Football Focus after registering seven stops (6 solos, 1 assist) and an interception in the end zone (midway through the fourth quarter) at Coastal Carolina.
 
CLASS BREAKDOWN (STARTERS) –
ULM Offense: 3 seniors, 6 juniors, 2 sophomores
ULM Defense: 2 seniors, 6 juniors, 2 sophomores, 1 freshman
Georgia Southern Offense: 4 seniors, 3 juniors, 2 sophomores, 2 freshmen
Georgia Southern Defense: 3 seniors, 4 juniors, 3 sophomores, 1 freshman
 
STAT LEADERS –
ULM (after eight games):
Rushing – Derrick Gore (84 carries for 431 yards, 5.1 avg., 5 TDs)
Passing – Caleb Evans (159 of 268 for 1,746 yards, 9 TDs, 6 INTs)
Receiving – Marcus Green (34 catches for 539 yards, 15.9 avg., 5 TDs)
Tackles – Collin Turner (54 tackles, 36 solos, 18 assists, 4.0 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 3 PBUs)
 
Georgia Southern (after eight games):
Rushing – Shai Werts (118 carries for 671 yards, 5.7 avg., 10 TDs)
Passing – Shai Werts (31 of 54 for 548 yards, 5 TDs, 0 INTs)
Receiving – Wesley Kennedy III (7 catches for 152 yards, 21.7 avg., 0 TDs)
Tackles – Monquavion Brinson (52 tackles, 40 solos, 12 assists, 1 INT, 9 PBU)
 
ULM/GEORGIA SOUTHERN NOTES –
Saturday's game marks the eighth meeting between ULM and Georgia Southern. The Eagles lead the all-time series 5-2, including a 1-2 record in games played in Malone Stadium. Georgia Southern has won five of the last six meetings, including the last three in a row (22-16 in Statesboro in 2014; 51-31 in Monroe in 2015; and 23-21 in Statesboro in 2016). Four of the previous seven meetings have been decided by nine points or less.
 
P-40 WARHAWK SERIES UNIFORM –
On Military Appreciation Day, it's only fitting ULM will don its P-40 series alternate uniform. The Curtiss P-40 Warhawks constituted the principal armament of the U.S. Army Air Force (USAFF) fighter squadrons in the early 1940s. In the summer of 1941, Maj. Gen. Claire Lee Chennault, who grew up in Louisiana, began recruiting and training pilots for the American Volunteer Group, who became known as the "Flying Tigers" in China during World War II.
 
The P-40 Warhawk served as inspiration for ULM's new nickname/mascot, adopted in 2006. The P-40 uniform series incorporates details of the fighter into its design. Saturday's game against Georgia Southern marks the fourth time ULM has worn the P-40 series uniform (2015: vs. Nicholls State and Georgia Southern; 2017: vs. Southern Miss).
 
EVANS ECLIPSES 5,000-YARD CAREER MILESTONE –
Junior quarterback Caleb Evans ranks second the Sun Belt in passing yards (218.2 per game) and total offense (270.5 ypg.). The 6-foot-2, 212-pound Evans has completed 159-of-268 throws (.593) for 1,746 yards, nine touchdowns and six interceptions. He also ranks second on the team in rushing, with 86 carries for 418 yards and five TDs.
 
Evans recorded his fifth 200-yard passing game of the season and 12th of his career, completing 16-of-22 passes for 224 yards at Coastal Carolina, including a 37-yard TD strike to Marcus Green. He accounted for 256 yards total offense and three scores at CCU, including TD runs of 1 and 20 yards in the second half.
 
With his 11-yard completion to 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 completed 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 27 career games, Evans has completed 446-of-756 passes (.590) for 5,448 yards, 30 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 (34th with 19.9 completions per game)
Passing Yards: Caleb Evans (48th with 1,746 passing yards)
Total Offense: Caleb Evans (32nd at 270.5 yards total offense per game)
All-Purpose Yards: Marcus Green (37th at 118.3 all-purpose yards per game)
Kickoff Returns: Marcus Green (48th with 21.4 yards per kickoff return)
Punt Returns for Touchdowns: Marcus Green (tied for 3rd with 1 punt return for touchdown)
Solo Tackles: Collin Turner (40th with 5.1 solo tackles per game)
Forced Fumbles: Kerry Starks (42nd with 0.25 fumbles forced per game)
Fumbles Recovered: Sam Miller (tied for 12th with 2 fumble recoveries)
 
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; 32 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. Coastal Carolina and 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: 25 vs. Coastal Carolina, 2018
 
Fewest Points Allowed (Game): 14 by Texas State, 2018
 
QUARTERBACK CLUB LUNCHEONS –
Weekly ULM Quarterback Club luncheons, featuring head football coach Matt Viator, are scheduled for Mondays, beginning at 11:45 a.m., in the Scogin Room, located inside Malone Stadium. The program includes opponent scouting reports provided by members of the coaching staff as well as guest appearances by ULM administrators and former players.
 
The annual membership fee for the ULM Quarterback Club is $300. Guests are welcome for the weekly luncheon.
 
HAWKTALK WITH MATT VIATOR –
HawkTalk with ULM head football coach Matt Viator airs Wednesdays from 12-1 p.m. on SportsTalk 97.7, live from Walk-On's Bistreaux & Bar in West Monroe. Warhawk announcers Nick White and Mike McGee serve as co-hosts for this live show that features insight from Coach Viator, special guests and phone calls.