THE BASICS
The ULM football team (5-6, 3-4 Sun Belt) is set for The Battle on the Bayou and will play the Ragin' Cajuns (9-2, 6-1 SBC) Saturday (Nov. 30) Saturday at Malone Stadium. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. on ESPNU.

Saturday's game will be broadcast on ESPNU with Courtney Lyle (play-by-play) and Rene Ingoglia (analyst) with the call. The game also will air on KLIP 105.3 FM with the Voice of the Warhawks, Mike Hammett on the call alongside analyst Mike McGee.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION


Tickets are available through the ULM Ticket Office by calling 318-342-HAWK or by clicking here. For more information, fans can visit the ULM Football Gameday Page or to the football parking map and information page.

The main ticket office at Fant-Ewing Coliseum opens at 7 a.m. on gameday and will close at 8:30 a.m. (2.5 hours until kickoff). The ticket booths outside Malone Stadium open at 9 a.m. The parking lots open at 7 a.m. and the stadium gates open at 9:30 a.m.

The Warhawk Walk begins at 8:30 a.m. and fans can join the ULM Band and spirit groups by welcoming the team to Malone Stadium along the route below.


Saturday's game is ULM's annual Military Appreciation Game. Local veterans, all currently serving military members, first responders, and frontline workers and their families can claim complimentary tickets to Saturday's game by visiting vettix.org

FIRST-AND-10 –

• The ULM football team (5-6, 3-4 Sun Belt) is set to play in The Battle on the Bayou versus the Ragin' Cajuns (9-2, 6-1) in the 2024 regular season finale on Saturday (Nov. 30) at 11 a.m. from Malone Stadium in Monroe, La.

The Warhawks are looking to end a five-game losing streak after starting the season with a 5-1 record, which marked the best start in ULM history since 1987. The Warhawks are one win away from clinching bowl eligibility for the first time since 2018. ULM was bowl eligibile in both the 2018 and 2013 seasons but did not participate in a bowl game. The lone bowl appearance in program history came following the 2012 season when the Warhawks fell to Ohio in the AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl.

First-year head coach Bryant Vincent has directed one of the most exciting turnarounds in college football and guided ULM to a 5-1 record following a 38-21 homecoming victory over Southern Miss, which was ULM's first win over USM in Malone Stadium. After the Golden Eagles trimmed ULM's lead to 17-14 on a blocked field goal score in the third quarter, the Warhawks ripped off 21 unanswered points to lift the team to its third-straight SBC win. True freshman phenom running back Ahmad Hardy posted a season-high 121 rushing yards and crossed the goal line twice to lead ULM's rushing attack. In his second start of his collegiate career, redshirt freshman quarterback Aidan Armenta tossed a pair of touchdown passes to James Jones and Julian Nixon and scored his first-career rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter. Defensively, the Warhawks generated two takeaways from a forced fumble by Carl Fauntroy Jr. and an interception by Wydett Williams, Jr. 

The Warhawks secured its best start in the FBS era following a dramatic 21-19 victory over previously unbeaten James Madison on Oct. 5. ULM grinded out the win after scores from a 38-yard Ahmad Hardy rushing touchdown, a scoop and score forced by Earl Barquet Jr. and returned by Daniel Knudsen and a 12-yard touchdown pass from Aidan Armenta to Jake Godfrey. ULM started its conference slate with a 13-9 win at Troy with Hardy scoring the game's lone touchdown in a defensive battle.

Before falling on the road to No. 1/2 Texas, the Warhawks began the season with a 2-0 start after ULM defeated Jackson State 30-14 in week one, scoring the final 16 points of the game to seal the win. In week two, the Warhawks dominated UAB and shut out the Blazers in the second half while scoring 19 second-half points in a 32-6 home win, which was the largest margin of victory over an FBS opponent since the 2018 season. The ULM defense has held opponents to zero touchdowns in two games this season (UAB & Troy).

• The Warhawks will recognize 17 seniors before Saturday's game on Senior Day. The list of 17 players include Car'lin Vigers (DB, Eunice, La.), Davon Wells (WR, Kissimme, Fla.), Travor Randle (DB, Greenwood, Miss.), Marc Britt II (WR, Carol City, Fla.), Jaylan Ware (DL, Starkville, Miss.), Isaiah Velez (QB, Miami, Fla.), Justin Kimber (WR, Arlington, Texas), Ra'shad Onezime (DB, Lafayette, La.), Charlie Norman (RB, Monroe, La.), Nick Torres (LB, Port Charlotte, Fla.), Carl Glass Jr. (LB, Monroe, La.), Jordan Ashley (DL, Arlington, Texas) Jay Mickle (OL, Picayune, Miss.), Sam Telesa III (OL, Waipahu, Hawaii), Sam Carson (OL, Calgary, Alberta), Devon Smith (OL, Biloxi, Miss.) and Earl Barquet Jr. (DL, Marrero, La.).

• Saturday's game marks the 60th installment of the Battle on the Bayou between ULM and the Ragin' Cajuns with the Ragin' Cajuns holding a 32-26 lead in the all-time series. The Ragin' Cajuns vacated a win in 2011 due to the use of ineligible players. The last time these teams met at Malone Stadium, ULM was victorious by a score of 21-17. The Cajuns cruised to a 52-21 win in Lafayette in 2023. Five of the last seven meetings have been decided by six points or less.

• ULM completely overhauled its roster during the offseason and added 73 new players to its 2024 roster. After Bryant Vincent was hired in early December, he and his staff signed 35 new Warhawks in less than two weeks during the early signing period on December 20, including 17 junior college transfers and 13 four-year transfers. ULM's recruiting continued with 11 new additions on National Signing Day in February and wrapped up with 27 new faces during the spring signing period. The Warhawks lost nine starters on offense and seven on defense from the 2023 squad.

•Coach Vincent was named to the American Heart Association's 2024 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award Watch List. He was one of 27 head coaches in the country to be included on the list and was the lone coach from the Sun Belt Conference recognized. The award, given each January to a college football coach, recognizes contributions that make the sport better for athletes and fans alike by demonstrating grit, integrity and a winning approach to coaching and life – both on and off the field.

• ULM's 12-game football schedule features six home games for the fourth time in the last six seasons (previously in 2019, 2021 and 2023). Overall, it marks the seventh time that the Warhawks have played a six-game home schedule in Malone Stadium since joining the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-A).

According to Phil Steele, the Warhawks entered the season with the toughest schedule in the Group of Five and Sun Belt Conference with the 64th toughest schedule in the FBS. ULM's opponents earned a winning percentage of .565 last season, which is the highest opponent winning percentage in the Sun Belt and No. 34 in the country.

The Warhawks' 2024 opponents went a combined 87-67 (.565) last season, with six opponents posting .500 or better records, including three teams that posted double-digit win totals, in Texas (12-2) Troy (11-3) and James Madison (11-2). In addition, nine foes also participated in postseason bowl games a year ago: Texas (CFP Semifinal/Allstate Sugar Bowl), Marshall (Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl), Troy (76 Birmingham Bowl), Arkansas State (Camellia Bowl), James Madison (Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl), South Alabama (68 Ventures Bowl), Texas State (SERVPRO First Responder Bowl), Auburn (Music City Bowl) and the Ragin' Cajuns (R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl).

• True freshman running back Ahmad Hardy is one of the most dynamic rushers in the country and arrived in a big way for ULM in the backfield this season. The true freshman running back leads all freshman FBS running backs and ranks number 13 in the nation with 1,179 rushing yards. Last week, Hardy  became ULM's first 1,000 yard rusher since Josh Johnson's 1,298 yard season in 2019 and is the 12th player in ULM program history to reach the 1,000-yard rushing mark. Hardy crossed the goal line two times at Arkansas State to bump his season total to 12. He is the first Warhawk since 2019 to register double-digit rushing touchdowns in a single season. 

Hardy produced 207 yard rushing yards at Marshall and became the first ULM running back to reach 200 yards on the ground since Thomas Khoufi rushed for 201 yards at Georgia State on Nov. 12, 2016. Hardy broke free for an 80-yard score and his largest rush of the season to give ULM a 14-7 lead in the second quarter.

Hardy leads the Sun Belt in rushing yards and is first in the conference in rushing yards per game (107.2). The Lawrence County High School (Miss.) graduate has recorded seven games with over 100 yards rushing, with his season-high coming versus Marshall (207). According to Pro Football Focus, Hardy had 59 missed tackles forced on runs this season entering week nine, which was second most in the FBS.

• Baltimore, Maryland native running back James Jones brought down his second touchdown reception of the season at Marshall. Jones has totaled 331 rushing yards on 76 carries (4.4 yards/carry) and scored a 22-yard rushing touchdown versus Jackson State and a 36-yard receiving touchdown versus Southern Miss as well as a receiving touchdown at Marshall.

• Northeast Louisiana natives and ULM defensive stars Wydett Williams Jr. and Carl Glass Jr. both have racked up more than 70 total tackles this season and are both in the top 15 on the Sun Belt tackles leaderboard.

Williams, a General Trass High School alum and native of Lake Providence, La., intercepted his third pass of the season versus Southern Miss and is 18th in the country with three interceptions, trailing only JMU's Terrence Spence (5) in the Sun Belt Conference. Williams Jr. was voted Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Week following a media member panel vote after his week one performance 

versus Jackson State. Williams became the first ULM football player to earn SBC Player of the Week recognition since 2021. Williams tallied a game-high 10 tackles and an interception in his ULM debut versus the Tigers. The Delta State transfer added 0.5 sacks and 0.5 TFLs on opening night. He was an All-Louisiana First Team and All-NELA First Team selection in high school. In 23 games at Delta State, he racked up 72 total tackles, six pass breakups, 3.5 TFLs and one sack.

A Monroe native, Carl Glass Jr. is the anchor of the ULM linebacker unit and shared a game-high nine total tackles with Carl Fauntroy in the Troy game. Glass Jr. forced his second fumble of the season at Auburn and made the recovery. Glass Jr. also made nine stops and forced a fumble in the season opener versus Jackson State. The senior linebacker landed on Athlon Sports' Preseason All-SBC Third Team defense and Phil Steele Preseason defense. Glass tallied 59.0 total tackles last season to go along with 7.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and a pair of forced fumbles.

Fauntroy forced his first fumble of the season and made a game-high nine total tackles in ULM's win over the Golden Eagles. The Mobile native secured his first-career interception at Texas on Sept. 21 and has made five or more tackles in three games this season.

• First-team junior college All-American edge rusher and MACCC Defensive Player of the Year Billy Pullen has made an immediate impact on the ULM defense and made a pair of game-changing plays versus UAB including a strip sack and a safety. Pullen's 0.55 sacks per game is the sixth-highest in the Sun Belt and ranks 55th in the nation. ULM's top edge rusher arrives in Monroe after recording 13 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss at Co-Lin in 2023.

• Aidan Armenta has completed 89 of 159 passes for 1,124 yards and eight passing touchdowns in 11 games and threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Jake Godfrey on the opening drive at Arkansas State.

The 2022 New Mexico Preps Quarterback of the Year led the Warhawks to victory in his first career start under center versus JMU, throwing the game-winning touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to his former teammate at New Mexico, Jake Godfrey. The Albuquerque native completed 17 passes on 30 attempts for 147 yards in ULM's victory versus JMU. Armenta came in relief in ULM's win at Troy and completed four passes for 108 yards. Two of Armenta's completions were over 40 yards, including a 57-yard pitch-and-catch to Godfrey. The redshirt freshman quarterback transferred to ULM after spending last season at New Mexico under Coach Vincent as the Lobos' offensive coordinator.

• Redshirt Junior General Booty tossed his second touchdown pass of the season at Auburn on a 65-yard strike to freshman receiver Jonathan Bibbs. He has completed 29 passes on 54 attempts for 306 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown pass to Davon Wells in the season opener. Booty arrived in Monroe after spending the last two seasons at Oklahoma, making two appearances for the Sooners. 

• Hunter Herring scampered for a 44-yard rushing touchdown to put the Warhawks in the lead at South Alabama. Herring has been utilized in short yardage situations and on special teams for ULM. Herring has accumulated 113 rushing yards on 14 carries and has blocked a punt for the Warhawks. 

• Jake Godfrey hauled in his first-career touchdown reception in ULM's win over James Madison. Godfrey's season-long 57-yard reception from Armenta set the Warhawks up in the red zone and led to the game's only touchdown at Troy. He has tallied 19 catches for 231 yards in SBC play.

Davon Wells and Godfrey have both tallied 259 receiving yards. Wells reeled in his longest reception 

of the season on a 51-yard touchdown catch from Armenta at South Alabama. Wells padded ULM's wide receiver unit and was added to Warhawks' roster during the spring signing period. Wells was a two-time All-NEC Second Team wide receiver and kick returner at Long Island University. He was voted First Team All-NEC at All Purpose and Punt Returner by FCS Football Central.

Dodge City Community College transfer Javon Campbell led the Warhawks in receiving versus Jackson State with four receptions for 83 yards. He brought down Aidan Armenta's first collegiate pass in the end zone for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, giving ULM a 30-14 cushion. Artis Cole (Fresno State transfer) found the end zone for the first time in his career in the final two minutes at Marshall after slipping a tackle for a 26-yard touchdown score.  Tyler Griffin (UCF transfer) and Amir McGruder (Snow College transfer) add depth to ULM's wide receiver room.

At tight end, Julian Nixon made his first-career touchdown reception in the fourth quarter of ULM's win versus Southern Miss. Nixon made a clutch 19-yard reception on 4th down in Troy territory from Hunter Herring that kept ULM's scoring drive alive in the third quarter. 

Wesley Campbell VI arrives from Dodge City CC along with Nate Sullivan Jr. from Iowa Western CC. Sullivan Jr. has made 12 catches for 94 yards while Campbell VI has made five receptions for 39 yards.

• A two-year starter on the Warhawk offensive line, Elijah Fisher racked up multiple preseason accolades including Athlon Sports All-SBC Second Team offense and Phil Steele All-SBC Team honors. The offensive guard picked up Honorable Mention All-SBC recognition following the 2023 season. Fisher was one of ULM's representatives at 2024 Sun Belt Media Days and is set to begin his fifth season at ULM. 

JMU transfer Carter Miller highlights ULM's additions on the offensive line after appearing in 15 games throughout two seasons for the Dukes. New Mexico transfer Devon Smith arrives after appearing in four games and starting in three during the 2023 season and was an NJCAA Academic Scholar All-American offensive lineman at Jones College. Jay Mickle has made all four starts at right guard for ULM while Que McBroom made his first ULM start at Troy.

• ULM senior offensive lineman Sam Carson was named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy by the National Football Foundation (NFF) and College Football Hall of Fame.

The William V. Campbell Trophy, in its 35th year is tabbed as the "academic Heisman" is college football's premier scholar-athlete award that annually recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.

Carson, a transfer from the University of Calgary, has made three starts at left tackle this season for the Warhawks and has appeared in 10 games through two seasons in Monroe. The General Studies major holds a 3.75 cumulative GPA and is expected to graduate this December. Carson was named 2020 U-Sports Academic All-Canadian at the University of Calgary and made the President's List (3.9 GPA or above) in two out of the three semesters he has been enrolled at ULM.

• On the defensive side, ULM has four starters returning including defensive lineman Jaylan Ware. The Starkville, Miss. native forced a fumble at the goal line at South Alabama in the Warhawks' lone takeaway of the game. Ware made 54 total tackles, including six tackles for loss and one fumble recovery, in his first season at ULM after transferring from Hinds Community College, earning Athlon Sports Preseason All-Sun Belt honors. Dylan Howell also returns to the defensive line for the Warhawks after making 35 total tackles, four TFLs and three sacks, including two pass breakups and one fumble recovery last season. 

Jaden Hamlin, the No. 1 junior college defensive tackle prospect and NJCCA Second-Team All-American at Southwest Mississippi Community College, made 30.0 total tackles, two fumble recoveries and one sack last season. Hamlin registered his first tackle of his ULM career at Texas.

• Travor Randle recorded a game-high 14 tackles versus Texas State. Randle is back for ULM after making 40 tackles and 1.5 TFLs last season. Transfer Tyrese Hopkins recorded 65.0 tackles and a pair of sacks in 2023 at East Mississippi Community College. ULM also added JUCO transfers Daniel Knudsen (NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American at Iowa Central Community College).

• Car'lin Vigers, who was named to the Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List and Athlon Sports Preseason All-SBC Third Team, recorded a pick six to seal ULM's 32-6 win over UAB in week two. Vigers, a three-year starter for the Warhawks, has recorded two interceptions in his ULM career. David Godsey Jr. has made 33 total tackles this season and forced one fumble to go along with four pass breakups. He snagged an interception in three consecutive games last season and returns as a Phil Steele Preseason All- SBC honoree

• Florida State transfer kicker Max Larson is ninth in the SBC in field goals per game (1.00/game) 

and is 11-for-14 on field goal attempts this season, with a season long of 47 yards versus Southern Miss. The Davie, Fla., native split the uprights three times versus UAB, including a 40-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. 

25-year old true freshman Kyabram, Australia punter Makenzie Ryan downed all six of his punts inside the 20-yard line versus JMU and has downed 18 punts inside the 20-yard line, which is tied for second in the SBC. Ryan averages 39.1 yards per punt on 55 punts. The former rugby player was added to ULM's roster during the spring signing period to round out the special teams unit.

• ULM has blocked a punt in two games during the 2024 season, and is one of 14 FBS teams that has recorded multiple blocked punts. Brett Drillette blocked a punt in the third quarter versus Jackson State while Hunter Herring blocked a punt in the first quarter versus UAB.

• Broderick Fobbs, returns to the ULM coaching staff as the running backs coach. Fobbs previously served as Grambling State's head coach for eight seasons. Fobbs' brother, Jamaal Fobbs, joins the Warhawks' coaching staff this season as the team's wide receivers coach. 

Family connections on the ULM football coaching staff also include Bryant Vincent's son, Brady Vincent, as the team's Tight Ends Coach. Brady most recently served as the senior offensive analyst at New Mexico during the 2023 season and helped the Lobos achieve national top-20 rankings in red zone offense (14th) and rushing offense (19th). He was an offensive coordinator at Spanish Fort High School (Ala.) in 2022 and Orange Beach High School (Ala.) in 2021. Vincent spent three seasons at UAB both as a student assistant (2018-19) and a graduate assistant (2020). During his time at UAB, the Blazers won a pair of Conference USA Championships, a trio of division titles and won the first bowl game in school history. Vincent began his coaching journey as a student assistant at South Alabama, where he helped the Jaguars appear in their second bowl game in program history.  Bret Vincent makes it three Vincents featured in the ULM football program, with Bret playing wide receiver for the Warhawks.

ULM's coaching staff features nine new assistant coaches including Earnest Hill (Defensive Coordinator/Safties), Cameron Blankenship (Offensive Line), Taylor Dupuis (Quarterbacks), Sammy Joseph (Cornerbacks), Alec Osborne (Inside Linebackers), Troy Reffett (Outside Linebackers), Brady Vincent (Tight Ends) and Davern Williams (Defensive Line).

2024 STAT LEADERS –

ULM (11 games):

Rushing – Ahmad Hardy (209 carries for 1,179 yards, 5.6 avg., 12 TDs)

Passing – Aidan Armenta (89 of 159, 55.9%, for 1,124 yards, 8 TDs, 7 INTs)

Receiving – Davon Wells (27 catches for 259 yards, 9.6 avg., 2 TDs)

Tackles – Wydett Williams Jr. (91 tackles, 53 solos, 38 assists, 1.0 sacks, 3 INTs, 4 PBUs, 2 FR, 1 FF)

Ragin' Cajuns (11 games):

Rushing – Bill Davis (133 carries for 699 yards, 5.3 avg., 8 TDs)

Passing – Ben Wooldridge (185 of 271, 68.3% for 2,392 yards, 17 TDs, 5 INTs)

Receiving – Lance LeGendre (40 catches for 699 yards, 17.5 avg., 5 TDs)

Tackles – K.C. Ossai (90 tackles, 49 solos, 41 assists, 2.5 TFLs, 0.5 sacks, 1 FF, 2 QBH 3 PBUs)