Caleb Evans 67-yard TD run vs Arkansas State 2019
Emerald McIntyre / ULM Photo Services
48
Winner ARKANSAS STATE ASU 5-4 , 3-2
41
ULM ULM 3-5 , 2-2
Winner
ARKANSAS STATE ASU
5-4 , 3-2
48
Final
41
ULM ULM
3-5 , 2-2
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
ASU ARKANSAS STATE 3 28 3 14 48
ULM ULM 14 14 6 7 41

Game Recap: Football |

Fast Start, Frustrating Finish for ULM in 48-41 Loss to Arkansas State

By Paul Letlow, ULMWarhawks.com Online Columnist

FINAL STATS

MONROE, La. – ULM enjoyed a fast start against Arkansas State on Saturday at Malone Stadium, but the good times didn't last. 

Arkansas State spotted the Warhawks a two-touchdown lead and trailed by as many as 18 points in the first half before roaring back for a 48-41 Sun Belt Conference victory. 

"Credit Arkansas State," ULM coach Matt Viator said. "They made a lot of plays and they made some great catches. We just didn't make enough plays."

The Red Wolves (5-4, 3-2) scored 28 unanswered points in a pivotal second quarter that unraveled an early 21-3 ULM lead. The Warhawks (3-5, 2-2) remained within striking distance until the end but couldn't claw all the way back.

"Of course, it's frustrating," ULM cornerback Corey Straughter said. "How many games do we end up in that position? We've got to go back to the drawing board. We have four games left and our goal is to be bowl eligible." 

Quarterback Caleb Evans reached a pair of major ULM career milestones while gaining career-high 148 yards rushing and scoring three touchdowns and passing for 215 yards and two scores. With his three rushing TDs, Evans became ULM's career leader with 32. Running back Calvin Dawson held the mark at 30. Evans also became the third player in school history to gain 10,000 yards in total offense, joining former quarterbacks Kolton Browning and Steven Jyles, who was in attendance. 

"It wasn't enough to get the job done," Evans said. "I was proud of the way the guys kept fighting. I told them before the game it would be a dogfight and you have to be a dog today."

The 100-yard rushing game was the fifth of Evans' career and second this season.

Straughter came up with an interception and helped hold Arkansas State's star receiver Omar Bayless under 100 yards. Bayless had six catches for 98 yards and one score.

"I'm a competitor, so I look forward to individual battles like that," Straughter said. "It's exciting making plays against a receiver like that. He's a good receiver, and I'm just trying to help my team win."
 
Arkansas State gained 514 yards total offense as running back Marcel Murray rushed for 175 yards and three scores and quarterback Layne Hatcher threw for 307 yards and two scores.

"We kept searching defensively and trying to search offensively," said Viator, whose team gained 448 yards on 76 plays. "Four hundred and fifty yards is certainly some yards, but we just didn't make enough to hang with them for what they were doing offensively."

ULM's third play of the game featured Evans racing around the right side and dashing 67 yards for a touchdown and an early 7-0 lead. Evans tied the school record for career touchdowns on the season-long scoring play, pulling even at 30 with the former running back Dawson.

The Warhawks gained an extra possession when Traveion Webster recovered a muffed punt by B.J. Edmonds at the Arkansas State 6 with 7:02 left in the first quarter.  One play later, Josh Johnson wiggled into the end zone and the Warhawks were up 14-0 at the 6:56 mark.

The Red Wolves cut the deficit to 14-3 with 41 seconds remaining in the opening quarter on a 43-yard field goal from Blake Grupe. Arkansas State covered 54 yards in eight plays to reach scoring position.

ULM pulled a flea-flicker from the back of tricks as Evans hit Markis McCray in stride on a 34-yard touchdown pass. Jonathan Hodoh also made a 23-yard catch on the four-play, 75-yard drive as ULM jumped ahead 21-3 with 14:18 left in the half.

"We talked about all week trying to get off to a good start and we actually did," Viator said. "I think that's what's frustrating. We came out and had a lot of juice."

But just as quickly as ULM jumped ahead, the Warhawks saw their lead evaporate in a stunning second-quarter swing.

Quiet early, Murray gashed the Warhawks for a 57-yard touchdown run on the second play of the ensuing A-State offensive series to make it a 21-10 game with 13:50 showing.

The Warhawks squandered a deep drive later in the second quarter. Austin Vaughn's 8-yard run pushed the ball to the A-State 7, but a 15-yard penalty on a late hit by Sam Williams backed the offense up to the 22. Three plays later, William Bradley-King blocked a 39-yard field goal try by Jared Porter as the Warhawks came up empty.

"I didn't see it, to be honest with you," Viator said of the penalty. "It was on the nicest guy on our football team, Sam Williams. I didn't see it but was told it was down the field when he was blocking. I guess after the whistle."

Bayless came up even bigger for the Arkansas State offense with a 46-yard touchdown catch from Hatcher. The Red Wolves were within 21-17 with 7:28 showing in the half.

The rally continued for the Red Wolves as Kerry Starks fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Arkansas State recovered at the ULM 35. After a pass interference call against the Warhawks, Murray scored on a 20-yard run and the Red Wolves led 24-21 at 7:08 to go in the second quarter. 

The Warhawks gambled and lost as Arkansas State stuffed Johnson on fourth-and-1 at the ULM 47 with 2:42 remaining in the half. The Red Wolves parlayed the short field into points four plays later as Hatcher hit Kirk Merritt on a 23-yard touchdown pass and Arkansas State led 31-21 with 1:27 to play in the half.  

"We made a few mistakes in the second quarter that I thought really cost us," Viator said. "The kickoff return that hung in the wind, we misplayed the sky kick. It probably wasn't the best decision I ever made to go for it on fourth-and-1 and we didn't get that one. That became like a turnover when you look at it."  

ULM finished the rough quarter on a positive note with a nine-play, 65-yard scoring drive to make it a 31-28 game with three seconds remaining. Evans, who kept the drive alive with a 14-yard run on fourth-and-6 from the A-State 30, finished the march with a 16-yard touchdown run. On the same play, Evans became ULM's career rushing touchdown leader with 31 and the third quarterback with more than 10,000 yards in total offense. 

The wild first half featured ULM's quick start, 614 yards of total offense and the 28-0 run by Arkansas State. 

"We expected a dogfight with Arkansas State," Viator said as he left the field at the half, noting the impact of the pivotal penalty, the muffed kickoff and the failed fourth-down conversion .

Arkansas State opened the second half on offense, kept the drive alive with a fake punt (18-yard run by punter Cody Grace), and went 61 yards in 12 plays to collect a 31-yard field goal by Grupe. The Red Wolves were up 34-28 at the 9:29 mark of the third quarter.   

Straughter's fifth interception of the year came with 6:16 left in the third quarter and Arkansas State driving again. Straughter picked off Hatcher and returned the ball 22 yards to the ASU 42.

Five plays later, Evans rushed for his third touchdown on a 23-yard run to tie the score at 34-34 with 4:20. Porter's PAT attempt hit the left upright.

The teams entered the final quarter deadlocked. Edmonds' 20-yard punt return on the third quarter's final snap put the Red Wolves in prime position at the ULM 36. Dahu Green's 35-yard catch on third down set up first-and-goal from the 4. Three plays later, Murray scored on a 6-yard run and Arkansas State was back on top 41-34 with 12:58 remaining.

The lead grew to 48-34 with 7:26 left in the game when Jamal Jones scored on an 8-yard run to finish a seven-play, 73-yard drive.
  
ULM's last score came with 2:21 remaining on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Evans to tight end Josh Pederson. Arkansas State came up with the onside kick that followed and ran out the clock to preserve the win.

"We made a couple of mistakes that killed us," Viator said. "But at the end of the day, we didn't make enough plays and they did."

Up next: ULM is back at home on Nov. 9 for a Sun Belt Conference date against Georgia State. Kickoff is 4 p.m.

Tail feathers: ULM honored former president Dwight Vines, who passed away last Friday, with a pregame moment of silence.  … The game was televised nationally by ESPNU, with Kevin Brown (play-by-play) and Ray Bentley (color analyst) calling the action. … ULM offensive lineman Eastwood Thomas made his team-leading 38th consecutive start. Evans (30) and center Bobby Reynolds (30) are next in line. … ULM game captains were safeties Tyler Glass, Austin Hawley, Logan Latin and Korian Reynaud. 
 
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