ULM Warhawks

By Paul Letlow

STATESBORO, Ga. – ULM lost a game and found a quarterback in a topsy-turvy tilt Saturday at Georgia Southern's Paulson Stadium.

Freshman quarterback Blake Murphy made a stunning collegiate debut as he passed for 320 yards and led a spirited comeback from a 24-point deficit, but it wasn't enough to overcome a second-quarter meltdown in 38-28 loss to Georgia Southern. 

ULM outgained Georgia Southern in total offense 432 to 415 but rushed for just 28 yards and surrendered four sacks. The Warhawks committed four turnovers, including a pick-six in the final minutes that sealed the 10-point loss.

Also enjoying a breakout performance was ULM receiver Bugs Mortimer, who caught six balls for 135 yards.

"I don't think I can take any more lessons to be learned from a loss," said ULM coach Terry Bowden, whose team lost its fifth straight. "We've sure learned a lot. But of all the tight games we've lost, I've learned more about this team here. When you're down 31-7 I've seen (other teams) lay down and give up and say there's no way. These guys came back and came back and came back. The only points Georgia Southern got (in the second half) was a pick six when we were desperate at the end of the game."

Tied 7-7 after one quarter, ULM (2-5, 0-4 Sun Belt) committed turnovers on three consecutive second-quarter series in a horrific three-minute sequence, leading to 17 Georgia Southern points. The Eagles (5-2, 2-1 Sun Belt) outscored ULM 24-7 in the quarter to open up a 31-14 halftime lead.

The biggest development of the game besides the outcome was Murphy's introduction into the lineup. The young playmaker alternated series with starter Jiya Wright in the first half before taking command right before halftime.

Wright finished 7-of-13 for 84 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Combined, the two quarterbacks were 25-of-46 for 404 yards.

"We've been trying to experiment and decided we'd give Blake Murphy a shot," Bowden said. "He showed you some of the intangibles that he has at quarterback. Jiya still comes in and does what he does. I think we have to continue to look at our quarterback position and try to get the most out of it. Just take each game one at a time. We may be somewhat of a two-quarterback system from here on out."

Ranked among the nation's top dual-threat quarterbacks, Murphy accounted for 4,752 yards total offense and 53 touchdowns in his prep career at American Heritage High School in Plantation, Fla. Murphy flashed big-play ability with a 51-yard touchdown pass late in the first half that cut the deficit to 31-14 and played the majority of the second half as he completed 18-of-33 passes -- with the one costly interception when the Warhawks were desperately trying to complete a miracle comeback.

Thanks to Murphy's production and a defense that made four takeaways on the day, ULM pulled within three points with 6:52 remaining in the game.

There was hope late after David Godsey's first career interception with 2:29 left in regulation halted a GS drive in the red zone and gave ULM the ball at its own 11.   

But Murphy's second-down pass attempt was intercepted by Damell Hickman and returned 28 yards for a touchdown with 1:50 to go to end the comeback.

Jalen White provided 164 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 26 attempts for Georgia Southern. The Warhawks sacked GS QB Davis Brin three times, including two by Adin Huntington and one by Kenard Snyder.

"We challenged the O-line and we challenged the runners that we had to have balance in this game," GS coach Clay Helton said.

ULM made its own good fortune early with Snyder's fumble recovery at the 48 to derail Georgia Southern's opening drive. The takeaway was the 13th of the season for ULM's defense.

Creating points off the turnover, Tyrone Howell made a one-handed 9-yard touchdown grab from Wright five plays and 52 yards later and the Warhawks led 7-0.

It didn't take the Eagles long to retaliate, however, as Brin and Derwin Burgess Jr., connected on a 52-yard touchdown pass. The third-down strike tied the game at 7-7 with 10:27 left in the first.

Cornerback Lu Tillery's first interception of the season, the second takeaway of the game, stopped a long Georgia Southern drive at the ULM 10 with 12:37 remaining in the second quarter.

Playing alternating series at quarterback, Murphy took the offensive reins and pushed ULM past midfield with a couple of nice pass plays before the drive stalled and the Warhawks punted.

The Eagles then drove 60 yards in six plays to score on a 2-yard touchdown run by White, giving Georgia Southern its first lead, 14-7, with 6:14 remaining before the half.   

Back in the game, Wright lost a fumble at the GS 2. One play later, White punched in his second touchdown for a 21-7 lead with 5:11 showing in the quarter.

Murphy fumbled on the next series and Georgia Southern recovered at the ULM 17. Two plays later, Brin flipped a 14-yard touchdown pass to Keaton Upshaw for a 28-7 advantage at the 4:28 mark.

The second-quarter house of horrors continued with a Wright interception, returned by Georgia Southern's TJ Smith 43 yards to the ULM 9. The Warhawks kept the Eagles out of the end zone, but a Michael Lantz 27-yard field goal extended the lead to 31-7.

Back under center, Murphy delivered a 51-yard touchdown pass to NyNy Davis with 1:34 to go before the half for a 31-14 score. Murphy was back under center for a second consecutive series after his big play and finished out the half for the Warhawks. 

"The turnovers," Bowden said at halftime. "The back-to-back-to-back turnovers stretched it out to where it is now. We're trying to mix up quarterbacks but we had two fumbles in the backfield and that gave them quick scores. The interception gave them a field goal and that's the difference in the game right now."

Georgia Southern outgained ULM 305 to 233 in total first-half offense, with the Warhawks limited to minus-7 yards rushing. Murphy was 10-of-14 for 156 yards and the touchdown in his opening half, while Wright was 7-of-11 for 84 yards and one TD and one interception.

Murphy started the second half and hit a 54-yard pass to Mortimer to move the offense into scoring position. Wright came in mid-series on first-and-goal at the 8 but the offense stalled and ULM settled for a 27-yard field goal by Derek McCormick. The Warhawks trailed 31-17 with 10:03 left in the third.

On Georgia Southern's next offensive series, ULM's Michael Batton blocked a 48-yard field goal attempt but the Warhawks went three-and-out after taking over at their own 45.

As the quarter was winding down, ULM saw another decent drive end with a turnover on downs at the Georgia Southern 37.

Murphy directed a five-play, 39-yard drive and McCormick boomed a season-long 50-yard field goal with 11:56 left in the game as ULM pulled within two scores at 31-20.

ULM's defense came through again with 6:58 left in the fourth when Earl Barquette Jr., recovered a fumble by White and returned it nine yards to the GS 20.

One play later, Hunter Smith hurdled a would-be tackler on his way to a spectacular 20-yard touchdown run. With a successful two-point conversion run from Mortimer, ULM had clawed back within 31-28 with 6:52 remaining in the game.

"I'm awfully proud of our guys," Bowden said. "I'm ready to learn some lessons from winning. But if there is anything to be learned from losing then they've learned more than you'll usually learn in a lifetime."

Up next: ULM hosts Arkansas State on Oct. 28. The Homecoming game kicks off at 4 p.m.