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ULM Faces I-20 Rival Grambling in 2019 Season Opener

ULM Faces I-20 Rival Grambling in 2019 Season Opener

Football Aug 30

Game 1: GRAMBLING STATE (0-0) vs. ULM (0-0)
Monroe, La. | Malone Stadium (30,000)
Saturday, Aug. 31 | 7:05 p.m. | ESPN3
 
ULM Football Notes: Game 1 vs. Grambling
 
Digital Game Program 
 
Order ULM-Grambling Tickets Online 
 
FIRST-AND-10 –
• Saturday's game marks the fourth meeting between ULM and Grambling State. The Warhawks lead the all-time series 3-0, with all games played in Malone Stadium. ULM has outscored the Tigers, 111-31, in the three previous meetings.
 
In the last meeting, Kolton Browning threw three touchdown passes while Jyruss Edwards and DeVontae McNeal combined to rush for 217 yards and two scores as ULM rolled to a 48-10 victory over Grambling State in the 2013 home opener in Malone Stadium.
 
• ULM has compiled a 9-0 record (1.000) against current members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (1-0 vs. Alabama A&M, 2-0 vs. Alcorn State, 3-0 vs. Grambling State, 2-0 vs. Southern and 1-0 vs. Texas Southern). ULM's last win over a SWAC opponent came in the 2016 season and home opener against Southern, 38-21.
 
• In its 68-year football history (as a four-year college), ULM is 29-37-2 (.441) in season openers, including a 4-3 record (.571) in its last seven games.
 
• Fourth-year ULM head coach Matt Viator has compiled an 8-4 record (.667) in 12 season-opening games. Viator is 2-1 in season-opening games at ULM, including a 38-21 win over Southern in his Warhawk debut in 2016, a 37-29 loss at Memphis in 2017 and a 34-31 victory over Southeastern Louisiana in Malone Stadium in 2018.
 
• Grambling State head coach Broderick Fobbs previously spent six seasons as co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach for Matt Viator at McNeese State (2007-11, 2013). During that stretch, the Cowboys won two Southland Conference Championships (2007 and 2009) and made three appearances in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs (2007, 2009 and 2013).
 
• ULM safeties coach Bakari Guice was a two-year starter (2004 and 2006) at cornerback for Grambling State. He recorded two interceptions as a senior, returning one 54 yards for a touchdown against Jackson State. Early in his career, Guice saw action on both sides of the football for the Tigers, playing both wide receiver and cornerback. He earned a bachelor's degree in marketing from Grambling State in 2014.
 
• With a 38-10 victory at South Alabama last November, ULM became bowl eligible for the first time since 2013. The Warhawks entered the final weekend of the regular season with a chance to claim at least a share of the West Division title.
 
• ULM's 2019 roster features 48 players from the state of Louisiana, including eight of the Warhawks' 22 probable starters against Grambling State: wide receivers Chandler Whitfield (Zachary) and Brandius Batiste (Roanoke/Welsh), tailback Austin Vaughn (Alexandria/Menard), defensive ends Donald Louis Jr. (Monroe/Neville) and Kerry Starks (Marrero/John Ehret), linebacker Chase Day (Baton Rouge/The Dunham School) and cornerbacks Josh Newton (Monroe/Ouachita Parish) and Corey Straughter (Monroe/Neville).
• Caleb Evans ranked as one of only three NCAA FBS quarterbacks to put together multiple games with at least 290 passing yards and 100 rushing yards in 2018 (vs. Georgia Southern and Troy), joining Oklahoma's Kyler Murray (3 games) and Houston's D'Eriq King (2 games).
 
• ULM senior quarterback Caleb Evans has completed 518-of-862 passes (.601) for 6,571 yards, 37 TDs and 24 interceptions in 31 career games. Evans already ranks among ULM's all-time Top 10 in completion percentage (second), passing efficiency rating (third at 132.7), total offense (third with 7,945 career yards), pass completions (fifth), passing yards (sixth), pass attempts (seventh) and TD passes (seventh).
 
• The Warhawks displayed dramatic improvement on the defensive side of the football in 2018, allowing 111 fewer points (9.2 per game) than the previous season. ULM also created more negative plays, increasing its totals in tackles for loss (+30) and sacks (+13) from 2017. The Warhawks ranked second in the conference and No. 22 in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, averaging 2.8 sacks per game. In addition, ULM held three opponents under 100 rushing yards.
 
CLASS BREAKDOWN (STARTERS) –
Grambling Offense: 3 seniors, 5 juniors, 3 sophomores
Grambling Defense: 5 seniors, 2 juniors, 4 sophomores
ULM Offense: 8 seniors, 3 juniors
ULM Defense: 5 seniors, 5 juniors, 1 freshman
 
STAT LEADERS –
Grambling (top returnees/2018 statistics):
Rushing – Geremy Hickbottom (123 carries for 500 yards, 4.1 avg., 8 TDs)
Passing – Geremy Hickbottom (145 of 259 for 1,945 yards, 16 TDs, 9 INTs)
Receiving – De'Vante Davis (28 catches for 414 yards, 14.8 avg., 3 TDs)
Tackles – Danquarian Fields (59 tackles, 35 solos, 24 assists, 3 FR)
 
ULM (top returnees/2018 statistics):
Rushing – Caleb Evans (140 carries for 632 yards, 4.5 avg., 10 TDs)
Passing – Caleb Evans (231 of 374 for 2,869 yards, 16 TDs, 12 INTs)
Receiving – Markis McCray (27 catches for 304 yards, 11.3 avg., 0 TDs)
Tackles – Cortez Sisco Jr. (53 tackles, 26 solos, 27 assists, 4.5 TFL, 1 INT)
 
ULM/GRAMBLING SERIES NOTES –
Saturday's game marks the fourth meeting between ULM and Grambling State. The Warhawks lead the all-time series 3-0, with all games played in Malone Stadium. ULM has outscored the Tigers, 111-31, in the three previous meetings.
 
THE LAST MEETING –
ULM 48, Grambling State 10 (Sept. 7, 2013, in Monroe, La.): Kolton Browning threw three touchdown passes while Jyruss Edwards and DeVontae McNeal combined to rush for 217 yards and two scores as ULM rolled to a 48-10 victory over Grambling State in the 2013 home opener in Malone Stadium.
 
Cortney Davis provided an early spark, returning the opening kickoff 89 yards for a TD to give the Warhawks a 7-0 lead 10 seconds into the game.
 
Grambling answered with a 10-play, 75-yard drive and tied the score at 7-7 on D.J. Williams' 17-yard scoring toss to Anthony McGhee with 9:44 left in the first quarter.
 
The Warhawks scored TDs on their next three possessions to take control of the game. ULM, which built a 35-7 halftime lead, scored 41 unanswered points.
 
Browning completed 13-of-25 passes for 171 yards, including TD strikes of 18 yards to Harley Scioneaux, 16 yards to Je'Ron Hamm and 11 yards to Kenzee Jackson – all in the first half.
 
Edwards rushed eight times for 123 yards, including a 19-yard TD run in the first quarter and a 61-yard gain in the third quarter. McNeal added 94 yards on nine carries, including a 34-yard TD run in the third quarter.
 
As a team, ULM rushed for 367 yards while averaging nearly 10 yards per attempt. The Warhawks outgained the Tigers in total yards, 571-237. The ULM defense limited Grambling to 11 first downs and forced 10 points.
 
Cedric Skinner paced the Grambling ground game with 22 rushes for 109 yards.
 
ULM/GRAMBLING COACHING CONNECTIONS –
• Grambling State head coach Broderick Fobbs previously spent six seasons as co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach for Matt Viator at McNeese State (2007-11, 2013). During that stretch, the Cowboys won two Southland Conference Championships (2007 and 2009) and made three appearances in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs (2007, 2009 and 2013).
 
• ULM safeties coach Bakari Guice was a two-year starter (2004 and 2006) at cornerback for Grambling State. He recorded two interceptions as a senior, returning one 54 yards for a touchdown against Jackson State. Early in his career, Guice saw action on both sides of the football for the Tigers, playing both wide receiver and cornerback. He earned a bachelor's degree in marketing from Grambling State in 2014.
 
• Grambling State defensive coordinator Everett Todd spent five seasons as defensive line coach at ULM from 2009-13, including one year under Charlie Weatherbie and four years under Todd Berry.
 
WARHAWKS vs. SWAC OPPONENTS –
ULM has compiled a 9-0 record (1.000) against current members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (1-0 vs. Alabama A&M, 2-0 vs. Alcorn State, 3-0 vs. Grambling State, 2-0 vs. Southern and 1-0 vs. Texas Southern). ULM's last win over a SWAC opponent came in the 2016 season and home opener against Southern, 38-21.
 
SEASON OPENERS –
In its 68-year football history (as a four-year college), ULM is 29-37-2 (.441) in season openers, including a 4-3 record (.571) in its last seven games.
 
MATT VIATOR'S RECORD IN SEASON OPENERS –
Fourth-year ULM head coach Matt Viator has compiled an 8-4 record (.667) in 12 season-opening games. Viator is 2-1 in season-opening games at ULM, including a 38-21 win over Southern in his Warhawk debut in 2016, a 37-29 loss at Memphis in 2017 and a 34-31 victory over Southeastern Louisiana in Malone Stadium in 2018.
 
BATTLE FOR IN-STATE BRAGGING RIGHTS –
ULM's 2019 roster features 48 players from the state of Louisiana, including eight of the Warhawks' 22 probable starters against Grambling State: wide receivers Chandler Whitfield (Zachary) and Brandius Batiste (Roanoke/Welsh), tailback Austin Vaughn (Alexandria/Menard), defensive ends Donald Louis Jr. (Monroe/Neville) and Kerry Starks (Marrero/John Ehret), linebacker Chase Day (Baton Rouge/The Dunham School) and cornerbacks Josh Newton (Monroe/Ouachita Parish) and Corey Straughter (Monroe/Neville).
 
VIATOR EXPECTS TO LEAN ON HIS LARGEST SENIOR CLASS –
ULM's preseason roster features 20 seniors, including 16 fifth-year players. Thirteen seniors are listed among the 22 probable starters for Saturday's season opener against Grambling State.
 
Left guard Brandon Jones is the only first-time starter among the seniors. The other 12 seniors have accounted for 209 combined starts (137 on offense and 72 on defense). Right tackle Eastwood Thomas and defensive tackle Jaylen Veasley are the most experienced players, with 34 starts each to their credit. Thomas heads into the 2019 season with a streak of 30 consecutive starting assignments.
 
WARHAWKS FEATURED ON PRESEASON WATCH LISTS FOR FOUR NATIONAL AWARDS –
Three ULM players – quarterback Caleb Evans, offensive guard T.J. Fiailoa and center Bobby Reynolds – combined for mentions on four different preseason watch lists for national awards.
 
Evans is listed on the preseason watch lists for both the Manning Award (presented to the nation's top quarterback after postseason bowl games) and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (nation's top senior of fourth-year junior quarterback). Fiailoa is featured on the preseason watch list for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year while Reynolds is mentioned on the fall watch list for the Rimington Trophy (nation's most outstanding center).
 
ULM RETURNS ONE OF THE NATION'S MOST EXPERIENCED OFFENSIVE LINES –
With right tackle Eastwood Thomas (34 career starts), center Bobby Reynolds (28), right guard T.J. Fiailoa (19) and left tackle Trace Ellison (17) combining for 98 career starts, ULM boasts one of the nation's most experienced returning offensive lines (tied for 15th with Syracuse in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision). That combined total also marks the third highest in the Sun Belt Conference, trailing only ULL (131) and Texas State (110).
 
SEASON-OPENING STARTING LINEUP FEATURES FOUR FIRST-TIME STARTERS –
ULM's probable starting lineup for the 2019 season opener against Grambling State features four first-time starters, including one on the offensive side of the football, two on defense and one specialist.
 
The projected first-time starter on offense is left guard Brandon Jones (6-3, 320, Sr.). The probable first-time starters on defense include BUCK safety Keilos Swinney (6-1, 193, Jr.) and boundary corner Josh Newton (5-10, 188, R-Fr.). Jacob Meeks (6-2, 192, So.) also is expected to make his debut as the starting placekicker.
 
EIGHT GRADUATES LISTED ON 2019 ULM FOOTBALL ROSTER –
Eight members of the 2019 ULM football team already have earned their bachelor's degrees: wide receiver Xavier Brown, long snapper Walker Easton, wide receiver Jonathan Hodoh, quarterback JT Jackson, defensive end Donald Louis Jr., offensive tackle Eastwood Thomas, defensive lineman John Washington and offensive tackle Samuel Williams.
 
Those eight student-athletes will wear a Sun Belt Conference graduate patch on their jersey.
 
ULM LEADS NCAA FBS IN LARGEST PERCENTAGE INCREASE IN HOME ATTENDANCE –
ULM's average home attendance increased by 43.1 percent in 2018 – the largest percentage gain among NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision programs. The Warhawks' average home attendance increased by 4,282 fans per game to 14,210 last season, compared to 9,928 per game in 2017.
 
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; 36 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 ULL, 2016
 
Fewest Total Yards Allowed: 216 by Georgia Southern, 2018
 
Fewest First Downs Allowed: 11 by South Alabama, 2018
 
Sacks By: 5 vs. Georgia Southern, 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: 28 vs. South Alabama, 2018
 
Fewest Points Allowed (Game): 10 by South Alabama, 2018
 
Matt Viator on sidelines with Broderick Fobbs - McNeese State 2011

 
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