Caleb Evans throw vs. South Alabama 2019
Jeanette Robinson, ULM Photo Services
17
SOUTH ALABAMA USA 1-4 , 0-1
30
Winner ULM ULM 2-2 , 1-0
SOUTH ALABAMA USA
1-4 , 0-1
17
Final
30
ULM ULM
2-2 , 1-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
USA SOUTH ALABAMA 7 0 3 7 17
ULM ULM 7 10 0 13 30

Game Recap: Football |

ULM Answers Conference Call with First Sun Belt Win

By ULMWarhawks.com Online Columnist Paul Letlow
 
MONROE, La. – The big scoreboard at Malone Stadium wasn't always fully functional on Saturday night as ULM opened Sun Belt Conference play against South Alabama. 

While some of the bells and whistles weren't operational, the scoreboard numbers that mattered most were in full display for the home crowd of 16,222 as ULM posted a 30-17 win.

"The first conference win is always big," ULM receiver Jonathan Hodoh said. "It's always good to get off to a hot start, especially after what happened last week. As a team, as a whole, we put it behind us. This is probably the best week of practice we've had as a team." 

Indeed, ULM (2-2, 1-1) shook off a lopsided loss last week at Iowa State to get conference play started right.

"After a really bad loss to Iowa State, we said, 'Hey, let's focus on starting 1-0 in the league and that's what we did," ULM coach Matt Viator said. "I commend our players for that. We found a way to win."

ULM quarterback Caleb Evans completed 17-of-25 passes for 286 yards and three touchdowns and added another score on the ground. Josh Johnson ran for 93 yards on 15 carries while Josh Pederson, Markis McCray and Hodoh all had touchdown grabs.

"Our defense did a good job getting us stops and getting us the ball back," Evans said. "As an o line, as a receiver group, we just decided we needed to get some points on the board for the defense."

ULM's defense had a hard time corralling South Alabama running back Tra Minter, who rushed for 150 yards on 19 carries. The Jaguars (1-4, 0-1) gained 268 of their 377 yards on the ground on 78 offensive plays.

"Two tight ends, two backs, old school football," Viator said. "I think their game plan, obviously, was to run right at us and take advantage of the size advantage there. We bowed up in the red zone a couple of times and held them enough."

Led by linebacker Cortez Sisco's career-high 13 tackles, the Warhawks offset South Alabama's running success by holding the Jags to 4-of-16 on third-down conversions, registering four sacks and picking off the quarterback Cephus Johnson in the end zone.

"The defense did a tremendous job with three-and-outs," Sisco said. "That helped us out tremendously." 

The Jaguars made an early statement by taking their first offensive possession 90 yards in 12 plays. Cephus Johnson, who rushed for 40 yards on the march, punched it in from 3 yards for a 7-0 USA lead with 7:39 left in the first quarter.   

Josh Johnson jumpstarted ULM's offense with a 49-yard run, setting up a 20-yard touchdown pass from Evans to Pederson to tie the game at 7-7. ULM moved 75 yards in four plays for the score with 6:10 remaining in the first quarter.

Minter's 40-yard run put South Alabama in the red zone again as the first quarter ended. But cornerback Corey Straughter intercepted Johnson in the end zone for a timely ULM takeaway. Straughter has interceptions in three-straight games. 

"That was very encouraging," Viator said. "Corey had a big pick. We finally got them into a third-and-long deal and he had a big pick."

ULM took advantage of the turnaround with a methodical 11-play, 75 yard drive capped by Jared Porter's 22-yard field goal, to go up 10-7 with 9:34 to go in the second quarter.

After another defensive stand, the Warhawks popped a big play as McCray scored on a 52-yard reception from Evans. ULM covered 72 yards in four plays to go ahead 17-7 with 4:12 remaining in the half.     

"We made some plays," Viator said. "Markis has had a great career here and done some great things. Everybody has been waiting for him to make a catch and get in the open field. He's the fastest guy on the team and I've been waiting to see him catch it and really have an opportunity to get in the open field and do something."

Although ULM finished the first half with 17 unanswered points, Viator left the field imploring his team to stick to running the ball more and be stingier against the run on defense. USA outrushed ULM 177-76 in the first half.  

"We're up 10," Viator said, "but we've got to play a little better."

After the teams traded punts to open the second half, South Alabama narrowed the margin to 17-10 on a 21-yard field goal by Frankie Onate with 8:27 showing in the third quarter.

The Warhawks could muster little on offense through most of the third quarter, gaining just 45 yards with two first downs and three punts. 

However, ULM was moving as the fourth quarter started and finished a 61-yard, nine-play drive with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Evans to Hodoh. Evans converted a clutch 12-yard pass to Pederson on fourth-and-7 to the USA 21 to keep the march going. While Porter missed the PAT, ULM extended the lead to 23-10 with 13:00 left in the game.

On the scoring drive that basically sealed the win for the Warhawks, Brandius Batiste made a 31-yard catch on third-and-15 and a 13-yard snag on fourth-and-4. Evans scored on a 13-yard dash to put ULM ahead 30-10 with 7:02 left in the game.

Evans distributed the ball to seven different targets during the contest.

"Brandius Batiste made a couple of big catches, Zach Jackson made a big catch on our sideline, Hodoh in the corner made a heck of a play," Viator said. "And I like the way that we're using Pederson. He made two big catches over the middle and had a double move at the goal line. We're getting him involved in it pretty good too."

Cephus Johnson's 8-yard run with 4:02 remaining accounted for the final margin, 30-17.

Up next: ULM plays host to Memphis at Malone Stadium on Oct. 5. Kickoff was moved to 2:45 p.m. to accommodate the ESPNU broadcast. Memphis (4-0) beat Navy 35-23 on Thursday night. 

Tail feathers: Starting right guard T.J. Fialoa was carted off the field with an apparent right leg injury in the third quarter. Conner Parsons replaced him in the offensive line. …ULM's game captains were RB Josh Johnson, NT Larance Shaw, DE Ty Shelby and S Keilos Swinney. … The coin toss was administered by ULM professor of kinesiology in the School of Allied Health Dr. William Hey, who has been selected as one of the Sun Belt's 2019 Faculty Members of the Year. … Former ULM receiver Al Miller, an L Club Hall of Famer who became an innovator in the strength and conditioning profession, made a $15,000 donation to the Athletics Department. The donation is designated for ULM's strength and conditioning, sports performance and nutrition programs. … Former ULM assistant football coach and head tennis coach Johnny Robinson, a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee in August, was recognized on the field at halftime. … ULM announced Miranda Weed as the recipient of the 2019 UAAAC Staff Member of the Year Award. This award recognizes a ULM staff member who has contributed to the success of its student-athletes. Weed works in the Student Success Center as an Academic Counselor.
 
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