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Late Touchdown Gives ULM 20-17 Victory Over Florida Atlantic

Late Touchdown Gives ULM 20-17 Victory Over Florida Atlantic

Football Oct 10
MONROE, La. – Redshirt freshman running back Jyruss Edwards scored from five yards out with less than three minutes to play as ULM earned a 20-17 victory over Florida Atlantic on Saturday (Oct. 9) at Malone Stadium. The Warhawks held a 12-point halftime lead before the Owls scored 17-straight in the second half to take a lead before Edwards' game-winning score.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Kolton Browning completed 25-of-41 passes for 282 yards and a touchdown. Junior Luther Ambrose had a team-best six catches for 61 yards and junior Anthony McCall had 96 yards on five catches.

Alfred Morris rushed for a game-high 153 yards on 30 carries for Florida Atlantic.

Florida Atlantic (1-4, 0-2 Sun Belt) moved down to the ULM 10-yard line on its first possession of the contest before senior linebacker Theo Smith intercepted a pass by Jeff Van Camp on the one-yard line to extinguish the Owls threat.

Following the interception, ULM (2-3, 1-1 Sun Belt) put together a 12-play, 93-yard drive, moving down to the Florida Atlantic six-yard line. The key play on the drive was a 52-yard pass from Browning to McCall to get the Warhawks in the red zone. ULM came away with no points however as junior Radi Jabour's 23-yard field goal attempt hit the left upright.

On its next possession, the Warhawks used a 54-yard pass from redshirt freshman punter Aaron Munoz to senior Zach Rhodes on a fake punt on a fourth-and-nine to again move into scoring position. The Owls once again denied the Warhawks points as Browning was sacked and fumbled, giving the ball back to Florida Atlantic on its own 19.

A bad snap on its first play of the drive pushed the Owls back to their own one-yard line and ULM scored on the next play as junior defensive end Ken Dorsey sacked the Van Camp for a safety on the first play of the second quarter.

On the ensuing possession, ULM increased its advantage to 9-0 as Browning found sophomore Brent Leonard in the back of the end zone from seven yards out with 9:01 to play in the second quarter. The key play of the scoring drive for ULM was a fourth-and-11 connection from Browning to Ambrose for 19 yards. The scoring drive went 13 plays and 65 yards in 5:47.

Just before halftime, ULM increased its lead to 12-0 as Jabour made a 30-yard field goal to cap a 36-yard drive.

At the intermission, the Warhawks had 289 yards of total offense while holding the Owls to just 73 yards.

Florida Atlantic trimmed the ULM lead to nine points, 12-3, on the first drive of the second half. The Owls went 55 yards on the drive before scoring their first points on a 30-yard field goal by Ross Gornall with 10:47 left in the third quarter.

ULM punted on its first possession of the second half and Florida Atlantic drew within two, 12-10, with a touchdown on its next possession. The Owls went 66 yards in nine plays, culminated by a Morris touchdown plunge from a yard out with 5:10 to play in the third quarter.

The Owls took their first lead of the night with 10:26 remaining as Morris found the end zone for the second time. The three-yard touchdown run capped a six-play, 26-yard drive for the Owls as they took a 17-12 lead.

Florida Atlantic had the ball again with less than five minutes to play before a turnover gave the ball back to ULM, setting up the game-winning touchdown drive.

The Warhawks went 55 yards in nine plays on the drive capped by the Edwards touchdown to take an 18-17 lead. Browning found Leonard on the two-point play to give the Warhawks a 20-17 lead with 2:43 left.

Florida Atlantic picked up one first down on its final drive before turning the ball over on downs to preserve the ULM victory.

The win for ULM was the first by a home team in the series, ULM now leads the all-time series, 5-2.

The Warhawks will head back on the road next Saturday (Oct. 16) as they travel to Western Kentucky. Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m.


Scoring Summary

ULM – Dorsey safety, 14:55, 2nd                                                              2-0
ULM – Browning 7-yard pass to Leonard (Jabour kick), 9:01, 2nd                9-0
ULM – Jabour 30-yard field goal, 0:33, 2nd                                               12-0
FAU – Gornall 20-yard field goal, 10:47, 3rd                                              12-3
FAU – Morris 1-yard run (Gornall kick), 5:10, 3rd                                      12-10
FAU – Morris 3-yard run (Gornall kick), 10:26, 4th                                    12-17
ULM – Edwards 5-yard run (Browning to Leonard conversion), 2:43, 4th      20-17

ULM vs. Florida Atlantic Game Notes

  • ULM team captains; WR Brent Leonard, DE Ken Dorsey, RB Jyruss Edwards
  • ULM's victory was the first by a home team in the seven-game series against Florida Atlantic
  • All seven games in the series have been decided by less than a touchdown and all three games at ULM in the series have been decided by a combined six points
  • ULM lost the toss for the second time in two home games; ULM has won the toss in all three road games -- the Warhawks got the ball to open the game
  • Anthony McCall's 52-yard reception from Kolton Browning in the first quarter was the longest play of the season for the Warhawks at the time
  • Zach Rhodes' 56-yard reception from Aaron Munoz later in the first quarter was the longest play of the season for the Warhawks
  • Theo Smith's interception in the first quarter was the second of his career
  • ULM has now intercepted a pass in four of five games this season and in five of its last six games
  • ULM has now forced 31 turnovers in 17 games under defensive coordinator Troy Reffett
  • ULM's safety in the second quarter was its first since Sept. 12, 2009, against Texas Southern
  • Jyruss Edwards' 31-yard kickoff return following the safety was the longest of the season by the Warhawks
  • Brent Leonard's 7-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter was his second career touchdown
  • Kolton Browning became the first ULM quarterback since Steven Jyles in 2004 to throw for over 200 yards in four straight games
  • ULM held Florida Atlantic scoreless in the first half, it was the first time since Oct. 13, 2009, against Arkansas State that the Warhawks held their opponent scoreless in the opening half
  • With its 12 second quarter points, ULM is outscoring its opponents 32-21 in the second quarter for the year
  • Kolton Browning's 1,075 passing yards through five games are the most by a ULM quarterback since it joined the Sun Belt Conference in 2001
  • Jyruss Edwards' game-winning touchdown was the first rushing touchdown of his career
  • Kolton Browning's 282 yards passing were a career-high
  • ULM's 418 yards of total offense was a season-high
  • ULM's five penalties and 25 penalty yards were a season-low
Postgame Quotes

ULM Head Coach Todd Berry
Opening statement … “We were really proud of the team for the way they opened up the game. One of the things I've been mentioning to them is that I don't think we have been coming out with all the emotion. It is almost like they were afraid to do that. I think this week they came out and did that and I'm really proud of that fact. I don't know that I could have scripted the game any better to be honest with you. It would be much more comfortable to win by a larger margin but for our football team right now this win was what it needs.”

On his feelings right now … “I'm really really proud of this football team. We have some work to do and that apparent but I really believe that this team has a lot of the intangibles that you're looking for; it just needs to grow up.  There should be some confidence now that we will find a way to win and that is so important for a football team.  As long as they know they will find a way to win there is never any give up and doubt they just keep playing hard. Hope is probably the most powerful thing in the world. When we have games like this it continues to foster more hope.”

Junior Safety Darius Prelow
On the mindset of the team … “We have been through a lot; we work hard and worked hard during the off season. We expect a lot and sometimes we make mistakes, but today we let the mistakes go and just played football.”

On his hit late in the game on the sideline … “It was good and I was waiting for them to throw the ball so I could make the play. Defense and offense did what they were supposed to. I told them to get the ball to the quarterback and I would clean everything up.”

Redshirt Freshman Running Back Jyruss Edwards
On the excitement of his first career touchdown … “There are a lot of moments in life like your wedding and your first child and that was one of those moments.”

Redshirt Freshman Quarterback Kolton Browing
On the final drive … “We came out and we wanted to go (to our) two minute (offense) so our offense took the ball down the field. We came in with a good game plan and they got a little tired at the end of the game which helped us out. Things open up and people make better plays on offense because people on defense were tired. Coach shocked us by calling a run play at the end but it worked and it ended up working for us.”


Florida Atlantic Head coach Howard Schnellenberger
Opening statement … “We had three games out there. The first one was the first half and it was a game that we didn't compete very solidly either way. The second one was coming out in the third quarter and carrying the fight to them and forging ahead. The last part we couldn't keep control of the ball in that situation and we gave them the opportunity to beat us and they did. So it's a very disheartening thing for us because we played this team hard and messed up on occasion and had a chance to win. Some of the games we've played we haven't had that opportunity. So we need to go back to the campus and find the things we do that help us win and find the things that keep us from winning.”

On the offense in the third quarter … “The middle of the game we did things we did last year, not as well, but well enough to move the ball. And that's what we have to build on. Losing the game like we lost it is inexcusable and we have to learn how to maintain possession of the football. And then if we for some reason lose it, to be able to stop it.”

On the play of Alfred Morris … “I think we have challenged him to go out and do nothing but run the ball. Only throw when it was necessary. We moved the ball that way and they responded to us. When you can't protect your quarterback well enough to throw the ball it throws your whole game into a tailspin and that's what happened to us.”

Senior Quarterback Jeff Van Camp
On gaining momentum in the second half … “Our offensive line played really well the second half. They really stepped up. We needed that. For me it was just one of those nights; I never really got going. I have to take this loss, it's on me.”

On fixing things going forward … “Really there's nothing we can do. We've got who we have, and there's no fixing. Each game we're just going to continue to get better and every game we'll gain more experience and get better as the season goes on.”

Senior Defensive Back Tavious Polo
On the game … “They executed. They were ready on the last drive. They came out wanting to win the game on the last drive.”

On halftime adjustments … “Halftime we came out more poised. We came out knowing what kind of fight it was. We literally wouldn't let up. We knew they weren't just going to let us come back and win. We had to fight, fight hard to come back and win. We fought, but they fought harder.”

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