Chandler Rogers rollout vs South Alabama 2021
Siddharth Gaulee/ULM Photo Services
31
South Alabama USA 4-3 , 1-3
41
Winner ULM ULM 4-3 , 2-2
South Alabama USA
4-3 , 1-3
31
Final
41
ULM ULM
4-3 , 2-2
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
USA South Alabama 7 10 14 0 31
ULM ULM 7 17 14 3 41

Game Recap: Football |

Career Night for Rogers Leads to Homecoming Win for ULM

By ULMWarhawks.com Online Columnist Paul Letlow

MONROE, La.  – Suddenly, ULM is armed and dangerous.

Freshman quarterback Chandler Rogers celebrated his 20th birthday by passing for a career-high 368 yards and four touchdowns to lead ULM to a 41-31 Homecoming win over South Alabama at Malone Stadium.

"Every week, we see some growth," Bowden said. "The offense really came into their own tonight. As much as Chandler has grown, I think he really came into his own tonight as well".

A week after stunning Liberty on the same field, ULM kept the momentum going while improving to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in the Sun Belt Conference.

Making his fourth ULM start, Rogers set career highs across the box score passing as he completed 25-of-35 passes without a turnover or a sack.

"The game slows down when you get more reps," Rogers said. "The growth part of it all comes together."

Will Derrick made five catches for 135 yards, including an 81-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter that gave ULM the lead for good.

Overall, ULM gained 555 yards on 73 plays, with running back Andrew Henry contributing 88 rushing yards and a score on 18 attempts.

"I think this is the first game where we can say, the offense went out there and outscored them," Bowden said. "No matter what they did putting points on the board, we didn't get many turnovers on our side of the field and we drove the length of the field over and over again and put the points on the board that we needed to win the game."

The defense did its part again with two interceptions, one fumble recovery and four sacks. Zack Woodard collected 13 tackles and ULM forced three punts, all in the second half.

"The defense got turnover after turnover," Bowden said. "It was just a good team effort. Field goals, all those things we had to do, I would say we were able to win every area of the game."

ULM's opening drive was an impressive seven-play, 75-yard march finished off on Henry's 20-yard touchdown run. Henry gained 31 yards on three carries and Boogie Knight hauled in a 19-yard pass from Rogers during the series.

"We started fast and played well," Rogers said. "We kept the tempo up on them. We knew they hadn't faced a lot of teams that played a high-tempo offense. We knew that would be our edge against them."

South Alabama's first offensive series ended with a ULM takeaway as cornerback Mark Williams raked loose a fumble after a catch by Jalen Tolbert and recovered at the Jaguars' 44.

But ULM would give the ball right back as Derrick fumbled at the USA 12 after a catch deep in enemy territory. Keith Gallmon Jr. recovered and returned the turnover to the Jaguars' 38.

On the series after the turnover, USA faced fourth-and-3 from the ULM 10 when Jake Bentley rolled out under heavy pressure and tossed a touchdown pass to Jalen Wayne in the back of the end zone. The eight-play, 62-yard drive tied the game at 7-7 with 4:18 left in the first quarter.

Safety Keilos Swinney intercepted Bentley and set up ULM's offense at the USA 49 with 14:18 left in the second quarter. The Warhawks needed six plays to reach the end zone as Rogers hit Jared Sparks for a 12-yard touchdown.

South Alabama settled for a 28-yard field goal with 9:13 left in the second quarter after driving 55 yards on seven plays to pull within 14-10. ULM's Sir'Darrius Ellis sacked Bentley on third down to force Diego Guarjardo's field-goal attempt.

The Warhawks recouped the three points on their next possession as Calum Sutherland's 39-yard field goal extended ULM's lead to 17-10 with 5:23 to go before halftime. ULM's 10-play drive gained 53 yards.

South Alabama tied the game at 17-17 with 1:24 remaining before halftime as Bentley found tight end Luke Sefcik on a 12-yard touchdown connection. The Jaguars moved 65 yards on nine plays for the score.

ULM's offense responded again to finish the half on a positive note as Rogers directed a masterful 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Rogers completed six passes for 69 yards, including a 9-yard touchdown pass to Knight to give ULM a 24-17 lead with four seconds remaining. The touchdown was the first of Knight's ULM career.

The Warhawks gained 295 yards of total offense in the half while collecting 17 first downs. Henry rushed for 54 first-half yards, Rogers completed 16-of-23 attempts for 191 yards and two scores and Knight had six catches for 75 yards. ULM's defense made two takeaways.

South Alabama opened the third quarter with a 10-play, 75-yard march to tie the game at 24-24. Bentley's third touchdown of the game was an 8-yard strike to Tolbert with 10:17 to go in the quarter.

After ULM turned the ball over on downs at USA 34, the Jaguars unleashed their big-play offense to take their first lead at 31-24. Bentley's fourth touchdown pass was a 40-yard rainbow to Tolbert to cap a quick four-play, 66-yard drive with 6:28.

"We had to come back and really get going and we did," Bowden said. "The offense answered and the defense shut 'em down."

Malik Jackson's 38-yard run to the USA 37 started ULM's next offensive opportunity off on the right foot. Receiver Fred Lloyd leaped high to score his first ULM touchdown on a 21-yard pass from Rogers to pull even again at 31-31 after a six-play, 75-yard drive.

ULM's defense forced a three-and-out and the offense pounced two plays later with an 81-yard touchdown pass from Rogers to Derrick, who caught the ball in stride and raced for his first career score. ULM led 38-31 with 1:07 remaining in the third.

"That big pass to Will across the middle for 81 was a very big, huge play," Rogers said.

South Alabama didn't punt until the third quarter, but ULM's defense produced three-straight three-and-outs to help maintain control into the final period.

"At halftime, we stressed that we needed to get the offense some momentum," ULM senior defensive end Ty Shelby said. "They were driving down, scoring every time. As a defense, we thought we needed to get them on the field more."

Sutherland's 40-yard field goal with 6:28 left in the game extended the lead to 41-31. ULM covered 51 yards in 10 plays while chewing 5:32 off the clock.

Needing two scores, USA opted for a 39-yard field-goal attempt by Guajardo with 1:22 remaining but the kicker was wide left.

An interception by ULM's Nick Roberts with 18 seconds sealed the win for ULM, which improved to 4-1 at home.

"Just like last week, we were able to get that interception, fall on the ground and lock up the victory," Bowden said.

Something special: Swinney's interception in the second quarter was the first of his career. On the ensuing drive, Sparks made his first career ULM touchdown catch on a 12-yard reception from Rogers.

Enemy lines: Quarterback Jake Bentley and wide receiver Jalen Tolbert were as potent as advertised. Bentley completed 30-of-41 passes for 320 yards and four touchdowns while Tolbert made 10 catches for 155 yards and two scores.

Good call: ULM established the outside run early in the game with Henry and Rogers gaining yardage chunks behind good blocking. The Warhawks would finish with 186 yards rushing on 38 attempts but the early success running also opened up the passing game for Rogers.

Up next: ULM visits Appalachian State on Saturday, Oct. 30. Kickoff is 2:30 p.m. CT.

Tail feathers: L Club Sports Hall of Famer Marty Booker served as ULM's honorary game captain. … ULM averaged 7.6 yards on nine runs in the first quarter. … Derrick's 81-yard touchdown catch tied for the 10th longest in school history. … ULM improved to 5-3 in the series with South Alabama. … ULM is now 43-27-1 in 71 Homecoming games.
 
Will Derrick TD reception vs South Alabama 2021
 
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