MONROE, La. -- The ULM football team (1-0) scored 16 unanswered points and pulled away in the second half to open the 2024 season with a 30-14 home victory over Jackson State (0-1) on Thursday (Aug. 29) at Malone Stadium.

Bryant Vincent collected his first win at the helm of the ULM football program and earned a win in his ULM head coaching debut.

"These players have bought in to turn this program around," said Vincent. "They have worked extremely hard to fight daily. I'm proud of our coaches and thought our staff did a great job. We made some really good halftime adjustments and felt like we attacked the boundary well in the second half."

Vincent's offense rushed for 204 net rushing yards, and the Warhawks' rushing attack was led by true freshman Ahmad Hardy, who tallied 103 yards and one touchdown.

"Coach V told us to keep the same mentality," said Hardy. "I fought for my spot just like everyone fought for their spot. I just had to do my job and learn from my mistakes. We kept going and got the job done to get the win."

James Jones rushed for 54 yards and one touchdown on the ground to bolster ULM's rushing attack. General Booty led the offense and completed 10 passes for 104 yards and one touchdown. Booty added 31 yards on the ground and took part in the Warhawks' dominance on the ground.

Defensively, ULM held the Tigers to a slim 59 rushing yards and forced a turnover with a Wydett Williams Jr. interception. 

After a two-hour weather delay, the game began with Hardy breaking through for a 39-yard rush on ULM's first play from scrimmage to put the Warhawks in Jackson State territory early. After two plays that resulted in negative yardage for ULM, the Warhawks were forced to punt, and Makenzie Ryan pinned the Tigers down inside the 10-yard line. On 3rd & 8 at the JSU 20, Car'lin Vigers and Carl Glass Jr. both stopped Rico Powers short of the sticks to force a Jackson State punt.

After a false start, Hardy tallied 21 yards in three plays to produce a Warhawks' first down. The Warhawks again called Hardy's number on a 3rd and 1 at the ULM 47 and the true freshman picked up 10 yards to move the chains. Booty led Javon Campbell down the right side of the field for 31 yards and ULM moved into the red zone. On 3rd and 9 at the 11, Booty dumped a pass to Davon Wells at the 8-yard line and Wells snuck into the end zone for ULM's first score of the season.

"It was a great feeling getting things going with the first touchdown of the game," said Booty.

At the beginning of the second quarter, Jackson State responded with a touchdown on a 41-yard pass by Jacobian Morgan to Joanes Fortillien. Jones tore through the line for a 23-yard rush on the next ULM drive, but the Jackson State defense kept ULM's offense off the board and forced a punt with under seven minutes left in the half.

On the ensuing JSU drive, Wydett Williams, Jr. intercepted a Morgan pass and gave the Warhawks favorable field position with just over five minutes left in the half. After a JSU personal foul, the Warhawks faced a 3rd and 9 at the 13-yard line. Booty swung a pass to Taven Curry in the flat for eight yards to make it 4th and 1 at the two-minute timeout. Hardy powered his way up the middle to pick up the first down to extend the drive. With the clock ticking down in the first half, Hardy again delivered a huge carry for the Warhawks and bulldozed his way into the end zone to put the Warhawks back in front, 14-7 at the end of the first half.

Out of the locker room, the Tigers evened the score with a seven-play, 75-yard scoring drive within the first five minutes of the second half. ULM's next drive was backed up to its two-yard line after an intentional grounding penalty was called. On 3rd & 17, Jackson State was called for a facemask infraction that gave ULM a fresh set of downs. Booty kept the football on a read-option play and found a running lane for 31 yards to give ULM possession in Jackson State territory. Curry then tacked on a 15-yard rush up the middle to move the chains on 4th and 4. On the next play, Jones took a handoff 22 yards for his first score as a Warhawk and pulled the home team back ahead, 21-14 midway through the third quarter.

Travor Randle and Carl Fauntroy Jr. both recorded a tackle for a loss on the next JSU drive to keep the Tigers off schedule offensively. Morgan threw an incomplete pass on 3rd and 11 as the Tigers' drive stalled. After a delay of game penalty, Brett Drillette blocked the Jackson State punt to flip the field. ULM's drive was cut short at the Jackson State 47 and a Ryan 41-yard punt pinned the Tigers at the 8-yard line. Vigers tallied another tackle for a loss on the first play of the Tigers' drive, and the third quarter ended with the Warhawks clinging to a 21-14 lead.

Florida State transfer Max Larson extended ULM's lead to 24-14 after he hit a 39-yard field goal for his first field goal as a Warhawk. Williams Jr. and Kevontay Wells provided pressure on Morgan, who was called for intentional grounding that resulted in a loss of nine yards on second down. After a ULM punt, Jackson State faced a 4th and 1 at their own 36-yard line with 3:30 remaining on the clock. Randle delivered a tackle for a loss and the Tigers turned the ball over on downs down 10 points.

After two rushes by Hardy, redshirt freshman quarterback Aidan Armenta lofted a pass to Campbell down the right side, who hauled it in over a JSU defender for a 28-yard touchdown to push the Warhawk lead to 30-14. The Warhawks emerged victorious in the season opener and began the 2024 campaign with a 30-14 win at Malone Stadium.

The ULM football team will prepare to face UAB next Saturday (Sept. 7) in Monroe at 6 p.m.