By ULMWarhawks.com online columnist Paul Letlow
MONROE, La.  –   South Alabama dominated ULM from start to finish Saturday night to claim a 55-7 win at Malone Stadium.

The Jaguars, who had never won a game at ULM in four previous tries, left nothing to chance on this visit. South Alabama pounced on the home team early and ULM never recovered. 

"That's just a butt whippin'," ULM coach Terry Bowden said. "Offensively, defensively, kicking game, it's been a long time since we've been whipped like that." 

A week ago, ULM lost a heartbreaker as Appalachian State won on a walk-off field goal. There was no such drama on this night.

"To me it's nothing how you have to respond to one like this," Bowden said. "You've got to stand up and believe in yourself and get that mojo back."

ULM (2-3, 0-2 Sun Belt) sputtered on offense and struggled to slow down a balanced South Alabama attack. The Jaguars (3-3, 1-1 Sun Belt) gained 589 yards of total offense, with 387 through the air and 202 on the ground.

The Warhawks managed just 250 yards and 13 first downs. Quarterback Jiya Wright completed 13-of-28 passes for 112 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions. ULM's big-play running attack contributed 138 yards on 38 attempts     

South Alabama quarterback Carter Bradley completed 20-of-29 passes for 303 yards and three touchdowns before leaving the game early in the fourth quarter with his team up 45-7. Receiver Caullin Lacy caught seven balls for 156 yards and a score while running back La'Damian Webb led the ground game with 100 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.   

"I hate to say too much because there's a lot of fingers that could be pointed at a lot of us," Bowden said. "I ultimately have to take responsibility, but we've got to look back and see where it all happened. It was really not a very good performance offensively, defensively or in the kicking game."

The Jaguars took a 7-0 lead on the game's opening drive, finishing a 10-play, 75-yard drive with Kentrel Bullock's 5-yard touchdown run. 

ULM's first series didn't go as well. Free safety Jaden Voisin intercepted Wright's second pass attempt while ULM receiver Tyrone Howell limped off the field with an injury sustained on the play. Howell later returned and finished with four catches for 41 yards.

Eight plays and 45 yards after the takeaway, South Alabama was in the end zone again as Bradford tossed a 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Brandon Crum, and the Jags led 14-0 with 6:29 left in the first quarter. 

Diego Gujardo's 37-yard field goal with 13:55 showing in the second quarter extended South Alabama's lead to 17-0.

Bradley's 44-yard rainbow to Lacy for a touchdown with 9:57 to go before halftime put the Jags up 24-0. While scoring on their first four possessions, the Jaguars outgained ULM 219-13. 

The rout was on when South Alabama running back Marco Lee Jr., battered his way into end zone on a 10-yard touchdown run with 1:23 left in the second quarter. The Jaguars led 31-0 after finishing the seven-play, 76-yard march.   

ULM finally scored on the final play of the half, with Wright finding Howell on a 14-yard touchdown pass. ULM drove 75 yards in 11 plays to pull within 31-7.

"They're whipping us every way you can whip a football team," Bowden said as he left the field at the break.

South Alabama dominated the first half, scoring four touchdowns and a field goal on its first five offensive series. The Jaguars outgained ULM 295-134 through two quarters while collecting 15 first downs.

The second half brought ULM little relief.

The Jaguars widened the spread to 38-7 after Webb's 1-yard touchdown run with 4:46 remaining in the third quarter. South Alabama covered 58 yards in seven plays to score their fifth touchdown of the game.

Bradley third touchdown pass, a 30-yarder to Bullock, gave South Alabama a 45-7 lead with 1:23 in the third.

Gujardo's second field goal, a 46-yarder with 10:33 remaining in the game, came after the Jaguars intercepted Wright for the second time and gave USA a 48-7 lead.

South Alabama reserves Gio Lopez and Jeremiah Webb combined for a 3-yard touchdown pass for the final 55-7 margin, with Webb making a sliding catch in the end zone with 1:20 left in the game. 

"Sometimes you have a game like this," Bowden said. "We did not play well and they came in ready to play and whipped us pretty good."

Up next: ULM is on the road Oct. 14 for a 6 p.m. Sun Belt Conference matchup at Texas State (4-2, 1-1). The Bobcats lost 34-30 at Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday.