ULM Warhawks

Game 2: ULM (1-0) vs. Southern Miss (1-0

Saturday, Sept. 8 | 6:05 p.m. CT

Hattiesburg, Miss. | M.M. Roberts Stadium (36,000)

ULM Football Notes: Game 2 vs. Southern Miss
 

FIRST-AND-10 –

• Saturday's game marks the sixth meeting between ULM and Southern Miss. The Golden Eagles lead the all-time series 4-1, including a 3-1 record in games played in Hattiesburg.

 

ULM's first win in the series came in Game 9 of the magical 1987 season (NCAA I-AA National Champions; 13-2 overall record), as quarterback Stan Humphries accounted for 305 total yards and four touchdowns in a 34-24 victory over the Golden Eagles in Hattiesburg. ULM became the only I-AA team to defeat a I-A opponent that finished with a winning record (6-5) in 1987.

 

• The Warhawks have compiled a 53-67 record (.442) against current members of Conference USA (Florida Atlantic 7-2, FIU 6-3, Louisiana Tech 13-30, Marshall 1-0, Middle Tennessee 4-9, North Texas 16-13, Southern Miss 1-4, UAB 1-1 and Western Kentucky 4-5).

 

• Two of the most prominent alums from these respective football programs – ULM's Doug Pederson and USM's Brett Favre – will serve as honorary captains for Saturday's game in Hattiesburg.

 

A three-year starter at quarterback for ULM (formerly Northeast Louisiana) from 1988-90, Pederson completed 581-of-1,040 throws (.559) for 6,602 yards and 33 touchdowns. He still ranks among ULM's all-time Top 10 in pass attempts, pass completions, completion percentage, passing yards and TD passes. As a senior in 1990, Pederson led the Southland Conference in passing yards (2,152) while guiding the team to the league championship (5-1) and a trip to the NCAA I-AA playoffs. He also still holds the school's single-game records for pass attempts (71), completions (46), passing yards (619) and TD passes (5) – all set against Stephen F. Austin in 1989.

 

Pederson, who played 10 seasons in the National Football League, spent seven years as one of Favre's teammates with the Green Bay Packers (1996-98 and 2001-04).

 

In just his second year as a head coach in the NFL, Pederson led the Philadelphia Eagles to a 13-3 regular-season record, including the NFC East title, as well as wins over the Atlanta Falcons (15-10) and Minnesota Vikings (38-7) in the NFC playoffs and a 41-33 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII.

 

• ULM's 2018 roster features seven players from Mississippi: fifth-year senior defensive lineman Derion Ford (Starkville), fifth-year senior wide receiver D'Marius Gillespie (Olive Branch/Center Hill), junior safety Tyler Glass (Greenwood), fifth-year senior wide receiver Marcus Green (Pontotoc/North Pontotoc), junior defensive end Barry Howard (Hollandale/Hollandale Simmons), junior linebacker Cortez Sisco Jr. (Southaven/DeSoto Central) and senior cornerback Rhoy Williams* (Yazoo City/Yazoo County). [* Williams suffered a season-ending knee injury on the first day of preseason camp.]

 

• First-year ULM wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator John Carr worked for three years as the director of football operations for Todd Monken at Southern Miss from 2013-15 where he managed team travel, event operations, fundraising projects, clinics and camps.

 

• Junior Caleb Evans accounted for 408 yards total offense and three touchdowns to lead ULM to a 34-31 season-opening victory over Southeastern Louisiana. Evans capped off a seven-play, 63-yard drive with the game-winning 11-yard TD run with 37 seconds left. He also added a two-point run on the conversion to provide the final margin. Evans set career highs for pass completions (35) and attempts (53) against Southeastern, including scoring tosses of 3 and 79 yards to Marcus 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.

 

• Junior R.J. Turner blocked Jonathan Tatum's potential game-tying field-goal attempt from 37 yards out as time expired to preserve ULM's 34-31 season-opening victory over Southeastern Louisiana. In addition, Turner matched his career high with seven receptions for 95 yards against the Lions.

 

• Fifth-year senior Derrick Gore carried 21 times for a career-best 104 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown run to open the scoring, in ULM's 34-31 season-opening win over Southeastern Louisiana. It marked Gore's second career 100-yard rushing game.

 

• In his first career start, junior defensive end Sam Miller recorded four tackles against Southeastern Louisiana, including two sacks for 13 yards.

 

• ULM outscored Southeastern Louisiana, 18-10, in the second half of the 2018 season opener, as the Warhawks rallied from a 21-16 halftime deficit to post a 34-31 win. ULM had lost 15 consecutive games when trailing at halftime.

 

CLASS BREAKDOWN (STARTERS) –

ULM Offense: 4 seniors, 6 juniors, 1 sophomore

ULM Defense: 5 seniors, 4 juniors, 2 sophomores

Southern Miss Offense: 2 seniors, 2 juniors, 6 sophomores, 1 freshman

Southern Miss Defense: 5 seniors, 2 juniors, 4 sophomores

 

STAT LEADERS –

ULM (after one game):

Rushing – Derrick Gore (21 carries for 104 yards, 5.0 avg., 1 TD)

Passing – Caleb Evans (35 of 53 for 346 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT)

Receiving – Marcus Green (7 catches for 99 yards, 14.1 avg., 2 TDs); R.J. Turner (7 catches for 95 yards, 13.6

avg., 0 TDs)

Tackles – David Griffith (7 tackles, 4 solos, 3 assists, 1.0 sack)

 

Southern Miss (after one game):

Rushing – Trivenskey Mosley (12 carries for 49 yards, 4.1 avg., 0 TDs)

Passing – Jack Abraham (21 of 27 for 242 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs)

Receiving – Quez Watkins (8 catches for 138 yards, 17.2 avg., 3 TDs)

Tackles – DQ Thomas (5 tackles, 3 solos, 2 assists, 2.0 TFL)

THE LAST MEETING –

Southern Miss 28, ULM 17 (Sept. 16, 2017): Kwadra Griggs completed 17-of-32 passes for 250 yards and three scores while Ito Smith rushed for a career-best 219 yards and one touchdown to lead Southern Miss to a 28-17 road victory over ULM. It marked USM's first-ever trip to Malone Stadium.

 

Griggs finished off a nine-play, 68-yard drive with a 15-yard TD toss to Korey Robertson, as USM jumped out to a 7-0 lead with 10:38 left in the first quarter. Griggs accounted for 64 yards (32 rushing and 32 passing) on the Golden Eagles' first offensive series.

 

The ULM offense came to life late in the first quarter, as three straight runs produced first downs (10-yard scramble by Caleb Evans followed by back-to-back gains of 12 and 26 yards by Derrick Gore). On third-and-1, Gore plowed forward for 3 yards to set up a first-and-goal as time expired in the first quarter. Two plays later, Evans capped off the 10-play, 76-yard drive with a 1-yard sneak as the Warhawks tied the score at 7-7

with 14:36 remaining in the second quarter.

USM responded with a six-play, 74-yard scoring drive. On a third-and-8 play, Griggs hooked up with Jaylond Adams for a 37-yard completion to the USM 35. Three plays later, Smith scored on a 27-yard TD run around left end as the Golden Eagles regained the lead at 14-7 to 12:05 left in the second quarter.

 

Midway through the second quarter, Evans opened a series with a 29-yard completion to Josh Pederson and added a 15-yard penalty for a late hit to set up a first down at the USM 17-yard line. The nine-play, 59-yard drive resulted in a 19-yard field goal by Craig Ford as the Warhawks pulled to within 14-10 with 3:17 to play in the first half.

 

For the second time in the game, USM answered with a TD drive (78 yards in five plays). Griggs connected with Robertson for a 37-yard gain to the ULM 36. Four plays later, Robertson turned a screen pass from Griggs into a 20-yard scoring play as USM built a 21-10 lead with 1:51 left in the second quarter.

 

The Golden Eagles rolled up 319 total yards in the first half.

 

Evans opened ULM's second possession of the third quarter with a career-long 67-yard TD run to cut the Warhawk deficit to 21-17 with 8:55 on the clock.

 

Once again, USM had a quick response, with the TD drive covering 79 yards in nine plays. On a third-and-4 play, Griggs hit Allenzae Staggers for a 42-yard scoring play as USM took a 28-17 lead with 5:31 left in the third quarter.

 

The Golden Eagles displayed outstanding balance on offense, gaining 284 yards on the ground and 250 more yards in the passing game. USM outgained ULM in total yards, 534-330.

 

Evans, who earned his fifth career start at quarterback for ULM, accounted for 142 total yards and two rushing TDs. He carried 11 times for 90 yards.

 

Gore had an impressive home debut against Southern Miss, with 18 rushes for a team-best 96 yards.

 

1987 FLASHBACK –

ULM 34, Southern Miss 24 (Nov. 7, 1987 in Hattiesburg, Miss.): ULM's first win in the series came in Game 9 of the magical 1987 season (NCAA I-AA National Champions; 13-2 overall record), in a quarterback match-up between Stan Humphries and Brett Favre. Humphries accounted for 305 total yards and four touchdowns, as

ULM knocked off Southern Miss, 34-24, in Hattisburg. ULM became the only I-AA team to defeat a I-A opponent that finished with a winning record (6-5) in 1987.

 

ULM jumped out to a 10-0 first-quarter lead on Humphries' 7-yard scoring toss to Jeff Steele and Teddy Garcia's 32-yard field goal. The Golden Eagles scored 17 unanswered points in the second quarter on Shelton Gandy's 2-yard TD run, Chris Seroka's 55-yard field goal and Favre's 29-yard TD strike to Chris McGee. ULM went to the locker room tied a 17-17, thanks to Humphries' 5-yard TD pass to Tommy Jackson.

 

ULM regained the lead for good at 24-17 on an 8-yard TD run by Humphries. ULM built a 34-17 lead on Garcia's 51-yard field goal and a 13-yard TD run by Humphries. USM's last score came on an 89-yard punt return by James Henry.

 

Humphries completed 24-of-42 throws for 233 yards, two TDs and three interceptions. He also led ULM in rushing, with 11 carries for 72 yards and two scores. Favre connected on 12-of-32 passes for 142 yards, one

TD and one interception.

 

ULM outgained USM in total yards, 412-262. The ULM defense limited the Golden Eagles to 120 rushing yards – 81 yards below their season average. The ULM defense dominated play in the third quarter, holding USM without a first down until the final two minutes of the period. Linebacker Rod Moon paced ULM with a game-high 12 tackles.

 

WARHAWKS vs. CONFERENCE USA TEAMS –

The Warhawks have compiled a 53-67 record (.442) against current members of Conference USA (Florida Atlantic 7-2, FIU 6-3, Louisiana Tech 13-30, Marshall 1-0, Middle Tennessee 4-9, North Texas 16-13, Southern Miss 1-4, UAB 1-1 and Western Kentucky 4-5).

 

ULM/SOUTHERN MISS COACHING CONNECTIONS –

• First-year ULM wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator John Carr worked for three years as the director of football operations for Todd Monken at Southern Miss from 2013-15 where he managed team travel, event operations, fundraising projects, clinics and camps.

 

• ULM defensive graduate assistant Slade Buckley's father Steve is a 1985 Southern Miss graduate, who spent three different stints as an assistant coach with the Golden Eagles (seven total seasons: 1989-90, 1997-99 and 2012-13). Steve is now in his third season as the head football coach at Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, Mississippi.

 

• Second-year ULM head baseball coach Mike Federico spent the previous nine seasons as an assistant coach at Southern Miss, where he helped the Golden Eagles win five Conference USA Championships and participate in four NCAA Regionals.

 

WARHAWKS FROM THE MAGNOLIA STATE –

ULM's 2018 roster features seven players from Mississippi: fifth-year senior defensive lineman Derion Ford (Starkville), fifth-year senior wide receiver D'Marius Gillespie (Olive Branch/Center Hill), junior safety Tyler Glass (Greenwood), fifth-year senior wide receiver Marcus Green (Pontotoc/North Pontotoc), junior defensive end Barry Howard (Hollandale/Hollandale Simmons), junior linebacker Cortez Sisco Jr. (Southaven/DeSoto Central) and senior cornerback Rhoy Williams* (Yazoo City/Yazoo County). [* Williams suffered a season-ending knee injury on the first day of preseason camp.]