Michael Wade throw vs. Georgia State 2020
Michael Wade
34
ULM ULM 0-8 , 0-5
52
Winner Georgia State GSU 3-3 , 2-3
ULM ULM
0-8 , 0-5
34
Final
52
Georgia State GSU
3-3 , 2-3
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
ULM ULM 7 7 6 14 34
GSU Georgia State 21 21 3 7 52

Game Recap: Football |

ULM’s Second-Half Rally Falls Short at Georgia State, 52-34

By Paul Letlow, ULMWarhawks.com Online Columnist

ATLANTA – Sluggish starts are contributing mightily to ULM's woes this season.

The Warhawks descended into a familiar flight pattern on Saturday before falling 52-34 to Georgia State at Center Parc Stadium.

ULM trailed 21-0 in another rocky first quarter that featured two lost fumbles by the Warhawks (0-8, 0-5 Sun Belt Conference), and faced a 42-14 deficit by halftime. ULM, which has not led through eight games, has been outscored 108-17 in the first quarter this season and 197-65 in the first half.

"Offensively, we settled in and moved it nicely," ULM coach Matt Viator said. "But you can't not move it and be down 21-0 and then decide to move it. It's frustrating and I know it's frustrating for the players. I think we continue to play really hard, compete really hard. It's just not happening for us."

If not for the early outcome, the Warhawks might have had a puncher's chance after finding an offensive spark off the sidelines.

Quarterback Jeremy Hunt saw his most extensive action of the year in relief of starter Colby Suits and delivered a career-best performance by completing 26-of-39 passes for 339 yards and three touchdowns.

"I thought he played pretty good," Viator said. "He didn't turn it over. We decided to go with him. We were getting a lot of pressure in the pocket and he moves a little bit better. Colby has been nursing that knee (injury). Jeremy gave us a little bit better opportunity to move around in the pocket and do some stuff."

Suits was 0-for-3 passing with an interception and a lost fumble. Georgia State recorded six sacks against the two ULM quarterbacks.

ULM's Perry Carter Jr. overcame a costly special teams miscue to score three touchdowns (two receiving) while catching four passes for a career-high 124 yards.

"Perry is a good player," Viator said. "He actually played a lot more (today) because Chandler Whitfield stayed home and Chandler's been playing the same position. He played really good."

Overall, the Warhawks made three turnovers leading to 21 points and were outgained 504 to 424 yards by the Panthers (3-3, 2-3) in a high-scoring affair.

"I think we're playing hard defensively," Viator said. "But we continue to have trouble getting off the field on third down and I think that's costing us."

Georgia State quarterback Cornelious Brown passed for 241 yards and three touchdowns while Cornelius McCoy made seven catches for 118 yards. The duo played a key role in the home team's explosive start.

Brown struck for 57 yards to McCoy on the first pass of the game to enter the red zone and needed six plays to cover 75 yards to take a 7-0 lead.  Roger Carter's 4-yard touchdown catch from Brown provided the early cushion.

A mistake on special teams led to a deeper hole as Carter muffed a punt return and Georgia State recovered at the Warhawks' 37. Six plays later, Brown rushed for a 4-yard touchdown and the Panthers led 14-0 with 8:44 left in the first quarter.

ULM's next offensive series went south when Suits was sacked and lost a fumble. Georgia State recovered at the ULM 28 and turned the takeaway into points. McCoy scored his first touchdown of the year on a 5-yard pass from Brown and the Panthers led 21-0 with 5:16 remaining in the opening period.

Hunt's first entry in the game for ULM was a success as he directed an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Carter scored on a 2-yard speed sweep with 46 seconds left in the first quarter to shave the lead to 21-7.

"I kept telling (Hunt), there are no 21-point plays or 14-point plays," Viator said. "Just play the game like it's zero-zero."

McCoy's 18-yard touchdown reception on third down capped an 11-play, 60-yard drive and put Georgia State up 28-7 with 9:19 to go before the half.

Suits returned at quarterback only to toss an interception to Bryquice Brown at the ULM 35. Two plays later, Destin Coates scored on a 3-yard run and Georgia State led 35-7 at the 8:08 mark. Coates rushed for 102 yards as Georgia State gained 259 yards on the ground.

Hunt came back and executed a flea flicker for a 50-yard touchdown pass to Carter. The novelty play capped a quick four-play, 75-yard drive and closed the gap to 35-14 with 6:03 left in the second quarter.

Georgia State kept its ensuing drive alive with a fake punt that picked up a first down and went up 42-14 on a 1-yard touchdown run by Coates with 1:27 left in the half.

Hunt started the second half for ULM and directed his third scoring drive. Kadyn Roach's 19-yard touchdown jaunt in the third quarter was the first rushing TD of his career. Davis Hughes missed the PAT with 8:41 showing in the period after the nine-play, 67-yard drive and ULM trailed 42-20.

Georgia State extended its lead to 45-20 with a 21-yard field goal by Noel Ruiz at the 2:58 mark of the third quarter. The Panthers used 13 plays to go 72 yards

ULM started the fourth quarter by finishing a seven-play, 75-yard drive on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Hunt to Charles Norman, a walk-on running back from West Monroe. The Warhawks cut their deficit to 45-27 with 14:55 remaining in the game.

ULM's defense responded immediately by recovering a Georgia State fumble at the Panthers' 37. Seth Mason forced the turnover with a jarring hit on running back Gregg Tucker and Keilos Swinney recovered. The Warhawks on offense failed to capitalize and turned the ball over on downs.

The Panthers turned to their power running game after the stop and went ahead 52-27 on Marcus Carroll's 5-yard touchdown run. Georgia State ran on six of seven plays covering 61 yards.

With 6:44 to go in the game, Hunt fired a 39-yard touchdown pass to Carter as both players added to their career-best performances. Hunt surpassed 300 yards and Carter topped 100 yards on the big play.

Up next: ULM's Sun Belt Conference road swing is scheduled to stop in Jonesboro, Arkansas, on Nov. 14 for a game against Arkansas State. Kickoff is 2 p.m.

Tail feathers: ULM junior linebacker Hunter Smith made a career-high 11 tackles (6 solos, 5 assists) against Georgia State. Smith recorded eight stops in the 2020 season opener at Army. … ULM kickers have missed four PATs this season. … Game captains were center Garrett Hirsch, offensive tackle Tyler Johnson and offensive tackle Blake Lodes. … Running back Josh Johnson (hamstring) did not make the trip. Isaiah Phillips made the backfield start for the Warhawks, but he left the game in the first quarter with a lower body injury. … Georgia State tied the series at 3-3 with its win.
 
Perry Carter TD vs Georgia State 2020

 
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