Tyrone Howell open field vs Texas State 2022
Ty Hundley / ULM Football Creative
30
Texas St. TXS 3-6 , 1-4
31
Winner ULM ULM 3-6 , 2-3
Texas St. TXS
3-6 , 1-4
30
Final
31
ULM ULM
3-6 , 2-3
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
TXS Texas St. 21 3 3 3 30
ULM ULM 0 17 7 7 31

Game Recap: Football |

Resilient Warhawks Rally from 21 Down; Overtake Texas State, 31-30

By ULMWarhawks.com Online Columnist Paul Letlow

MONROE, La.  –  ULM's outlook for success looked bleak Saturday afternoon as Texas State stacked up a three-touchdown lead 10 minutes into the game.

The Warhawks would rally back to take a one-point lead. But with 1:30 left in the contest and ULM trying to run out the clock, quarterback Chandler Rogers fumbled at the ULM 39 where Texas State recovered.

But six plays later, after the Warhawks called a timeout, Seth Keller missed a 38-yard field goal wide right and ULM escaped with a wild comeback 31-30 win at Malone Stadium.

"The difference tonight was we kept finding a way to win and our defense came on," ULM coach Terry Bowden said. "We covered each other's you know what over and over again. The offense covered for the defense. The defense then covered for the turnovers by the offense. At the last of the game, all I did was call timeout to ice the kicker."

ULM (3-6, 2-3 Sun Belt) overcame three lost fumbles and an interception, thanks to game-breaking receiver Tyrone Howell erupting for a career-high 12 catches for 176 yards and two touchdowns to lead the way.

"Tyrone Howell continues to be a real spark on our team," Bowden said. "He's a big-play guy."

Gashed early, the defense made two big stops in the final minutes prior to the fumble to help preserve the win. On third-and-5, Quincy Ledet Jr. and Fitzroy Gardner sacked quarterback Layne Hatcher at the ULM 39. Then on fourth-and-8, Hatcher fired incomplete under pressure from Gardner and Jackson Bailey.

"I don't know if there's a better way to lose a football game than what we did tonight," Bowden said. "But that's maybe the most enjoyable way to win. Before you're even out there, you're down 21 points to a team that really hasn't scored 21 in the last two games. It didn't look like we could stop them. "

Rogers completed 28-of-40 passes for 310 yards and two scores, his third career game over 300 yards and second this season.

"Honestly, we try to avoid looking at the scoreboard and focus on the next play," Rogers said of the early deficit. "Keeping a positive mindset and really executing, because when we execute, nobody can stop us."

Howell, who made nine catches for 244 yards against South Alabama, continues to emerge as ULM's most dangerous playmaker. His production was pivotal in helping the Warhawks overcome the early stumbles and miscues later.

"It's a mindset," Howell said "Everybody stayed focused. We knew we really shouldn't be down 21-0. We came back, got focused and started making plays."

It took every yard and every second of the game to reach the winning outcome. A nightmarish first quarter saw ULM stagger into a 21-0 hole.

Texas State (3-6, 1-4 Sun Belt) claimed the early 7-0 lead with a swift nine-play, 75-yard march on the game's opening drive. Hatcher's 8-yard touchdown pass to Javen Banks put Texas State ahead with 11:12 to play in the first quarter.

ULM's first offensive series ended on a lost fumble by Bugs Mortimer, recovered by Texas State at its own 8. Facing little resistance in a seven-play, 62-yard drive, the Bobcats cut through ULM's defense again for another score to go ahead 14-0 on a second touchdown pass from Hatcher to Banks.

ULM's rocky start continued as a 58-yard punt return by Ashtyn Hawkins set up Texas State at the Warhawk 4 with 5:07 to go in the first quarter. Two plays later, Lincoln Pare punched in a 3-yard touchdown run and the Bobcats led 21-0 with 4:27 showing in the first quarter.

Down three touchdowns, ULM finally answered the bell with a much-needed offensive response. The Warhawks drove to the Texas State 3 and faced fourth-and-goal on the first play of the second quarter. Going to the bag of tricks for a little razzle dazzle, Rogers tossed the ball to Andrew Henry, who handed off to Will Derrick on a reverse, then Derrick threw a touchdown pass to Rogers. ULM drove 75 yards in 11 plays for the score.

After the defense forced Texas State to punt for the first time in the contest, the Warhawks drove 69 yards in nine plays to collect a 31-yard field goal by Calum Sutherland, narrowing the gap to 21-10 with 8:19 to go before the half.

Texas State extended its lead back to 24-10 as Keller booted a 35-yard field goal to wrap a seven-play, 57-yard drive with 4:30.

A sequence of positive plays sent ULM to the locker room riding high.

The defense forced a three-and-out as cornerback David Godsey's tackle on third-and-2 forced Texas State to punt with 45 seconds left in the second quarter. Given their shot, the offense delivered a quick three-play, 58-yard scoring drive as Rogers connected with Howell for a 46-yard touchdown pass. Howell broke four tackles during a rugged run that cut the deficit to 24-17 at the break.

"That's why you never give up," Bowden said, noting it was a new ballgame as he left the field at halftime.

ULM gained 230 yards on 39 plays in the first half while allowing Texas State 240 yards on 36 plays. Sacked three times, Rogers completed 16-of-24 passes for 212 yards and one touchdown. The Warhawks were limited to 15 yards rushing on 14 attempts.

The Warhawks received the ball to start the third quarter with a chance to tie but squandered the opportunity as Rogers threw an interception on the second play of the half.

After the takeaway, Texas State took over at ULM's 24 and added a Keller 41-yard field goal to go up 27-17 with 12:49 left in the third.

Self-destructive ways continued on the ensuing kickoff return as Alred Luke fumbled and Texas State recovered at the ULM 36.  However, ULM's defense hung tough and stopped the Bobcats on fourth-and-1 as Zack Woodard stuffed Pare for no gain at the 27. Texas State managed just three points off the two turnovers.

This time around, ULM's offense was able to capitalize with a 13-play, 73-yard scoring drive. Howell caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from Rogers with 6:25 to go in the third and ULM trailed 27-24. Howell made four catches for 36 yards on the drive and made a nifty reverse spin move to cross into the end zone for his second touchdown.

Keller's 39-yard field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter extended Texas State's lead to 30-24 after a 13-play, 48-yard drive. A shoestring tackle by ULM's Bailey on third-and-10 forced Texas State to settle for the field goal.

Ten plays and 80 yards later, Malik Jackson pushed his way into the end zone on a 3-yard touchdown run and ULM had its first lead at 31-20 with 10:20 to go into the game. Howell made two catches for 47 total yards on the drive as he continued to dominate Texas State.

"We really needed this win," Howell said. "I really believe we can go on a winning streak right now. The team believes it. This is a confidence booster. We're ready to play and ready to go ahead and get bowl eligible."

Something special: ULM punter Devyn McCormick averaged 47.7 yards on three punts with a long of 51 and one inside the 20. The 51-yard punt to the Texas State 30 came with 5:14 left in the game and helped ULM preserve its slim lead.

Enemy lines: Texas State gained 367 yards on 73 plays. Hatcher completed 29-of-41 passes for 237 yards with two scores. Lincoln Pare rushed for 100 yards and one touchdown on 25 attempts.

The Bobcats sacked Rogers four times.

Good call: Down 21-0, ULM dialed up a trick play to jumpstart the offense. On fourth-and-goal from the 3, Rogers caught a touchdown pass from receiver Will Derrick on a reverse for ULM's first score.

Did you notice?: On Military Appreciation Day, ULM wore its P-40 series alternate uniforms for the eighth time since their debut in 2015. In addition, the pregame flyover was performed by the AeroShell Aerobatic team, featuring three North American AT-6 aircraft. Staff Sgt. James Trujillo, with 10 years of service with the National Guard, was an honorary game captain for the coin toss.

Up next: ULM visits Georgia State on Nov. 12. Kickoff is 12 p.m. CT.

Tail feathers: ULM game captains were OG Peyton Dunn, WR Tyrone Howell and CB Lu Tillery. They were joined by honorary game captain Shawn King, the former ULM defensive lineman and West Monroe product who was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the second round of the 1995 NFL Draft. … Hawkins, Texas State's top receiver, was carted off with an injury after his 58-yard punt return in the first quarter. … Texas State, which came into the game averaging just 83.1 yards rushing, parted ULM for 58 yards on nine carries in the first quarter. … ULM leads the series 13-6. … Keller was 3-for-3 on field goals in the game before missing wide right on the potential game-winner from 38 yards.
 
Chandler Rogers TD reception celebration vs Texas State 2022

 
 
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