BIRMINGHAM, Ala.– The ULM football team (0-2) fell to UAB (1-1) in a 60-minute fight at Protective Stadium on Saturday (Sept. 12). The Warhawks won the first quarter after holding UAB without a score in the opening 15 minutes. But the Blazers outscored ULM 10-0 in the fourth quarter to secure the victory. Combined with 381 yards of total offense to ULM's 257, the Blazers took the lead in the fourth and did not let up.
Austin Carlisle led the offense, earning his first career start. He completed 10 of 19 passes for 56 yards, rushing for a team-leading 93 and scoring his first career touchdown. In the receiving room, it was
Marcellus Jackson who led the charge with three catches for 21 yards. Both touchdowns for ULM were rushing,
Bryson Roland seeing 19 carries for 86 yards.
CJ Phillip also saw action, scoring his first rushing touchdown for ULM.
Abram Murray led the special teams room with two field goals made and two extra points.
Defensively, two Warhawks saw 10+ tackles in
Noah Flemmings and
Jabari Tiller. Six Warhawks recorded tackles for loss, as
Marcus Ross and Flemmings combined for one. Flemmings also logged the fumble recovery off a muffed punt.
Carl Fauntroy drove a turnover for the Blazers as well with an interception, ULM's first of the season.
ULM was 4-for-4 in the red zone, with two touchdowns and two field goals. But it was third down that made the difference as the Warhawks were three-of-12 and UAB was 10-for-15. The home team also led in possession with over 31 minutes. UAB did not ever resign to punt, instead turning the ball over twice and finding scores on every other drive.
The Blazers got possession first,
Braylon McReynolds landing two first downs for UAB.
Jaeden Calender then hurried quarterback Ryder Burton, the fourth-down pass falling incomplete to turn the ball over on downs. The Warhawks picked up, as Carlisle combined with Roland for four first downs as the team reached the red zone. On the one-yard line, Phillip crossed into the end zone to score the first touchdown of the game with 5:09 on the clock.
The Blazers worked to find the end zone, hunting from behind. While a few first downs had the home team close, the first quarter came to an end with the Warhawks ahead, 7-0. As the second quarter began, Jonah Delange nailed a 41-yard field goal to cut the lead to four.
ULM picked up possession, a penalty advancing the Warhawks 15 yards to midfield. Roland broke free to collect two first downs, including an 18-yard rush to get ULM knocking at the door. It was Carlisle with the quarterback keeper to score the second touchdown of the game for ULM, making it 14-3. The Blazers picked up the pace in their next drive, the home team marching downfield.
Tyrell Brown picked up a sack to force the second-and-long, but UAB converted. McReynolds then broke free for 27 yards to score the first touchdown for the Blazers, making it a 14-10 score.
The Warhawks resigned to a punt in the following drive. The punt was muffed, however, by the home team, Flemmings recovering the ball. After getting a fresh set of downs, the Warhawks were unable to convert, turning the ball over. A false start made it first and long for the Blazers, as quarterback Burton immediately had his pass intercepted by former UAB player Fauntroy. It was his second career interception. The defense fought back, however, as ULM settled for a field goal as time expired in the half, ahead 17-10.
ULM opened the second half with possession, quickly reaching Blazer territory. After the third down conversion fell short, Murray found the uprights for his second field goal for the 20-10 score. As UAB began its drive, KJ Daniels broke away for 35 yards to enter Warhawk territory, on the hunt to chip at the lead. The Blazers were unable to reach the endzone, settling for a 45-yard field goal. One first down was nailed, but the Warhawks were forced to punt. Tiller racked up some stops to hold the Blazers, but the home team continued to drive. The third quarter ended with UAB on the ULM21, Warhawks ahead 20-13.
Fauntroy continued his command of the ULM defense with a sack of six yards. The Blazers were forced to attempt the field goal, cutting the lead to four. UAB's defense forced the punt from ULM, setting up good field position to try and take the lead. A quarterback keeper converted the third down, Burton then launching a 43-yard pass for the touchdown and the lead, 23-20, with 9:34 left. As the Warhawks took over on offense, back-to-back penalties from the defense placed ULM at midfield. Another penalty had the Warhawks converting on fourth down. Carlisle's pass was then tipped and intercepted, UAB regaining possession with just under six minutes on the clock.
After slowly reaching Warhawk territory, the ULM defense was able to force the field goal, making it a 26-20 score with just over a minute for ULM to make a scoring attempt. Carlisle's pass was then intercepted by UAB's Ike Esonwune, securing the 26-20 victory in favor of the Blazers.
ULM will host Southeastern Louisiana in its home opener on September 19, the first football game played in FMOL Health | St. Francis Stadium. Kickoff against the Lions is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
