TROY, Ala. – The ULM football team (1-6, 1-2 Sun Belt) snapped Troy's (3-4, 1-2 Sun Belt) home win streak in a 21-14 contest,
Bryant Vincent now 2-0 when playing at Troy. The Warhawks snap a losing skid to claim their first win of the season and in Sun Belt play, scoring twice in the final 20 seconds of the game to overtake the Trojans. The last time ULM scored in the final two minutes to win a game was 2018, in the season opener against Southeastern Louisiana.
ULM was a perfect three-for-three in the red zone, also perfect from fourth down. Despite allowing the Trojans to record almost 33 minutes of possession, the Warhawks found 243 yards to Troy's 200, with 17 first downs to Troy's 12. The Warhawk defense held strong with 93 tackles, six for loss, five pass breakups and four sacks for 26 yards.
The game was a strong defensive matchup, both teams forcing a combined 18 punts.
Makenzie Ryan reached a career high of nine punts with a 41.4 average and three inside the 20. After the Trojan defense forced a punt in ULM's opening drive, the home team went on a nine-minute-long drive that concluded in a Tucker Kilcrease pass to Gavin Griffin for the touchdown and the lead.
While the Warhawks continued a long drive, led by quarterback
Aidan Armenta, the first quarter ended with a 7-0 score.
Abram Murray opened the second quarter with a field goal from 35 yards to land on the board, ULM clawing from behind. After
Billy Pullen and the Warhawks had Troy punting, it was ULM's turn again.
Noah Flemmings led the defense with 15 tackles, breaking his career-best and becoming the first Warhawk since 2024 to record 15+ tackles in a game.
Taijh Overton and
Marcus Ross both showed stellar stat lines as well, each with two pass breakups, Overton crossing 10 tackles.
Both teams traded punts between a fumble was forced by Troy's Keyshawn Campbell and recovered by the Trojans. With a chance to double the lead on the ULM21, Goose Crowder's touchdown pass was intercepted by
DJ Jester. It was Jester's first interception of his career to pair with his two tackles. But the defenses held strong in keeping it even, as neither team could find another score in the first half, the score 7-3.
The third quarter consisted of five punts across both teams, neither team able to find a score. With the defense showing out on both sides, it became a fourth quarter fight to the finish, as ULM looked to take control in the final 15 minutes.
After three more punts, a long drive from the Trojans got the home team to the end zone. Griffin rushed one yard up the middle to extend the lead to 11. Down with six minutes on the clock,
Aidan Armenta took control of the offense to march downfield. Armenta ended the night 13-of-22 with 147 yards and two touchdowns.
Austin Carlisle also saw action at quarterback, completing four-of-nine passes and rushing for seven yards. Long passes to
Nic Trujillo and
Darrion Gilliam had the Warhawks crossing midfield as time worked against them. After a handful of passes to
JP Coulter, ULM saw the red zone and Armenta got the ball to
Bryce Anderson for the 12-yard touchdown. Coulter led receivers with 32 yards from five catches, Trujillo and Gilliam logging 30 yards apiece.
Unable to convert for two points, the gap remained at five for ULM, the home team gaining possession with 2:30 on the clock. But a major 10-yard sack from
James Smith shut down the Trojans and handed possession to the feisty Warhawks. A ball to
Zach Palmer-Smith had ULM moving in the right direction, Palmer-Smith leading the team with 51 yards off 11 carries. With less than two minutes on the clock, a long ball to
Parker Fulghum (23 yards) had the team in the red zone yet again. Amenta found Gilliam for the 16-yard touchdown, another two-point conversion failing as the Warhawks found themselves ahead by one with 15 seconds remaining.
Kevontay Wells and Pullen led the charge in the final drive, as Wells recorded 1.5 sacks in the final two snaps, placing Troy on its own 11-yard line. Trying to work out a trick play as time expired, the ball was handed off to multiple Trojans, before the ball was fumbled. Forced by Flemmings, it was recovered by Pullen in the end zone, logging the touchdown and sealing the victory, 21-14.
Quotes from ULM head coach Bryant Vincent:
- "This team's grit and perseverance…their care for this town and this program…there's no give-in. I couldn't be prouder of this team and these coaches."
- "[Billy Pullen]'s leadership on the field at practice, Kevontay Wells' leadership at practice, their leadership and their care means everything."
- "For Aidan to come in at the end and make those last couple throws, it tells you a lot about him."
