Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Related News

ULM Football Gets Its Kicks with Win over Jackson State

ULM Football Gets Its Kicks with Win over Jackson State

Football Sep 19
By ULMWarhawks.com Online Columnist Paul Letlow

MONROE, La.  – Kicker Calum Sutherland gave ULM the leg up it needed Saturday night.

Sutherland kicked four field goals in ULM's 12-7 win over Jackson State, connecting from 29, 45, 42 and 49 yards.

"Obviously, that's a great feeling and it comes with practice, repetition over and over again," said Sutherland, a transfer from Oklahoma who sat out last season at ULM. "The coaches have confidence to put me out there for that.

"I don't see why I wouldn't have confidence in myself. If the coaches trust me, I've shown them in practice I can do it and they like what they see."

Sutherland's two misses were from 51 and 48 yards, further demonstrating the faith ULM coaches haves in his ability to connect from long range.

"The kicker made critical field goal after field goal," ULM coach Terry Bowden said. "Even when he missed, it was right around the edge."

Sutherland's performance marked the first time in almost 15 years a ULM kicker made four field goals in a contest. The last to do it was Cole Wilson at UL Lafayette on Dec. 2, 2006.

"It's a great feeling to have when the coaches have the confidence to put you out there for those long field goals," Sutherland said. "Especially when kickers have struggled here in the past. But obviously, none of that happens without the offense getting me into position to do so."

Sutherland delivered the go-ahead points in the fourth quarter with his 42-yard field goal at the 11:32 mark, then provided the final margin of victory with a career-long 49-yard field goal with 2:24 remaining in the game.

"Obviously there's pressure," he said. "But at this point in my career, I just know I need to hit the same ball over and over again. Solid contact, that's my main worry, you know?

"I know I have the distance on it and know I can hit from over 55 yards."

Sutherland wasn't the only standout in the kicking game.

With the offense struggling (156 yards passing, 5-of-19 on third-down conversions), punter Devyn McCormick had a busy and productive night. McCormick averaged 45.3 yards per punt with a long of 54 yards and dropped two inside the 20. JSU didn't return a punt.

"We won because of our kicking game," Bowden said. "Not just the field goals that we made, but the punts were so good and so long. That great punt return man had to fair catch almost everything tonight."

Defensive stars align: The pivotal defensive play of the game came on Zack Woodard's fourth-quarter interception that doused a potential JSU go-ahead scoring opportunity and set up Sutherland's final field goal.

Woodard's interception at the ULM 31 with 5:24 remaining in the game came with ULM clinging to a 9-7 lead and JSU starting a drive at the Warhawks 45. The junior linebacker returned the interception 23 yards to the JSU 46.

"Words can't even explain how happy we are to get a win," Woodard said. "To help the team and do that feels amazing."

Woodard joined the Warhawks this season as a portal transfer from Jacksonville State.

"My teammates and everybody did their job," he said. "It's a different ULM this year."

Other top defenders included Traveion Webster, who led ULM with seven tackles in what was a balanced effort. Ty Shelby recorded another two sacks and has four for the season. Adam Sparks forced and recovered a fumble. Austin Hawley also recovered a fumble.

"When you have a defense that played like ours did tonight, you've got a chance to be in every ballgame," Bowden said.

Offensive woes: Bowden addressed his team's lack of offensive production through two games. ULM is averaging 11 points and 168.5 yards per contest.

"Obviously we've got to find some weapons on offense," Bowden said. "We're going to search for that."

JSU applied steady pressure and sacked ULM quarterbacks three times.

Rhett Rodriguez started at quarterback and completed 16-of-29 passes for 150 yards. Chandler Rogers came into the game in the second half and directed the offense into position to kick the field goals late. Rogers completed 1-of-4 passes for 6 yards and was sacked once. He netted 18 yards on 12 carries with a long rush of 9 yards.

Bowden said JSU's man coverage sparked ULM to bring in the more mobile quarterback in Rogers.

"Rogers was able to step in and make a difference for us tonight," Bowden said. "Rich (Rodriguez) has often used a second quarterback that can run and that was really important for us tonight. I don't think we could have won the ballgame tonight without adding that."

Andrew Henry was an impact runner late and led ULM with 52 yards on nine carries, averaging 5.8 yards per attempt. Overall, ULM netted 98 yards on 41 rushes.

"When the quarterback runs, that does give us one number up on blockers and allows us to have enough blockers to open holes," Bowden said. "We made just enough plays to get the win out there."

Boogie Knight made six catches for 78 yards and is tied for the Sun Belt Conference lead averaging six receptions per game. Knight has 12 catches for 136 yards this season.

Long time coming: Bowden's first ULM win also was the first for the Warhawks since  beating Coastal Carolina on Nov. 23, 2019, at Malone Stadium.

"It was so needed and so necessary," Bowden said of the victory. "It was the perfect night and we had a great crowd. We had over 20,000 people here and it made a difference in the game."

Did you know? ULM is the least penalized team in the Sun Belt Conference through its first two games. The Warhawks have been flagged just six times for 50 yards.
 
 
Print Friendly Version