MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Redshirt freshman quarterback Kolton Browning threw for 232 yards, but it wasn't enough as ULM fell at Middle Tennessee, 38-10, on Saturday (Oct. 23) at Floyd Stadium. Middle Tennessee scored 21 points in a five-minute stretch in the first half that proved to be the difference for the Blue Raiders. Browning finished the game 25-of-43 with one touchdown.
Browning has thrown for 200-or-more yards in six-straight games, the longest stretch since Raymond Philyaw had a six-game streak in 1995. Browning has also thrown for the most yards by a ULM quarterback through seven games since Philyaw in 1996.
Middle Tennessee quarterback Dwight Dasher was 11-of-19 through the air for 219 yards and two touchdowns; Dasher also had 66 rushing yards on 14 carries. Phillip Tanner had a game-high 73 rushing yards on 15 carries and a touchdown for Middle Tennessee.
Junior receiver Luther Ambrose had a career-best nine receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown.
After missing a field goal on the first drive of the game, Middle Tennessee (3-4, 2-1 Sun Belt) opened the scoring with a 70-yard interception return for a touchdown. Rod Issac stepped in front of a Browning pass along the sideline and went all the way to give the Blue Raiders the early 7-0 lead.
ULM (3-4, 2-2 Sun Belt) scored its first points of the contest following a Middle Tennessee turnover. Junior linebacker Jason Edwards recovered a fumble for the Warhawks on their own 45-yard line and ULM cashed in with a 20-yard Radi Jabour field goal. Browning found senior running back Frank Goodin for 28 yards on a swing pass on the key play of the drive to get ULM into scoring position.
Middle Tennessee answered the ULM field goal with three touchdowns in quick succession. Dasher found Garrett Andrews from 18 yards out for the first of the three scores with 13:22 left in the third quarter. He then hit Tyler Mason on a 53-yard completion for a score before Tanner capped the scoring outburst by the Blue Raiders with a 25-yard run to give Middle Tennessee a 28-3 lead with 8:22 remaining in the second quarter.
The Blue Raiders took that 25-point advantage into halftime. Middle Tennessee outgained ULM in the first half, 268-163. Dasher was 7-of-11 for 124 yards and two touchdowns in the first half; he was also the game's leading rusher with 67 yards on 10 carries. Sophomore Brent Leonard and Ambrose each had four receptions in the first half for ULM, Leonard gained 42 yards on his four receptions and Ambrose gained 40 yards.
The second half began with five consecutive drives resulting in punts before Middle Tennessee added a field goal with 3:18 to play in the third quarter. Dasher found Tanner for 75 yards on a screen pass on the first play of the drive to set up the Blue Raider score.
ULM found the end zone with 9:01 remaining in the fourth quarter as Browning found Ambrose from eight yards out. Browning was 2-of-3 through the air on the drive, including a 31-yard completion to junior Anthony McCall to move the Warhawks to the Middle Tennessee 11-yard line.
ULM will return home next Saturday (Oct. 30) as the Warhawks host Troy on homecoming at Malone Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on the Sun Belt Network.
Scoring Summary
MTSU -- Issac 70-yard interception return (Gendreau kick), 11:26, 1st 0-7
ULM -- Jabour 20-yard field goal, 1:46, 1st 3-7
MTSU -- Andrews 18-yard pass from Dasher (Gendreau kick), 13:22, 2nd 3-14
MTSU -- Mason 53-yard pass from Dasher (Gendreau kick), 10:59, 2nd 3-21
MTSU -- Tanner 25-yard run (Gendreau kick), 8:22, 2nd 3-28
MTSU -- Gendreau 24-yard field goal, 3:18, 3rd 3-31
ULM -- Ambrose 8-yard pass from Browning, 9:01, 4th 10-31
MTSU -- Pratcher 1-yard run (Gendreau kick), 4:15, 4th 10-38
ULM at Middle Tennessee Game Notes
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ULM won the toss for the toss for the fourth time in five games away from Malone Stadium; the Warhawks deferred to the second half
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Linebacker Theo Smith and offensive lineman Jonathan Gill extended their team-leading (non-special teams) consecutive games started streak to 19 games -- place kicker Radi Jabour started his 29th career game
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True freshman Jon Fisher started at right tackle for the Warhawks. He is the eighth freshman to start this season for the Warhawks and the second true freshman to start on the offensive line (Josh Allen). Fisher becomes the 18th ULM player to make his first career start this season
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Kolton Browning threw for 232 yards to become the first ULM quarterback to throw for over 200 yards in six straight games since Raymond Philyaw in 1995. The next quarterback on the streak will be Robert Cobb's seven straight games in 1993
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The ULM defense has now forced 34 turnovers in 19 games under defensive coordinator Troy Reffett
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The ULM defense has now forced at least one turnover in 17 of 19 games under defensive coordinator Troy Reffett
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ULM has intercepted a pass in six of seven games this season
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Keavon Milton's second quarter interception was the first of his career
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In the first quarter, two different Warhawks threw a pass, four ran the ball and seven had a catch
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ULM's 13-play scoring drive in the first quarter was its sixth of 10 plays or more this season
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Luther Ambrose's fourth-quarter touchdown was his fourth of the season and ninth of his career. The four this season ties a career-high
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Kolton Browning has now thrown a touchdown pass in six of ULM's seven games this season
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Kolton Browning's 1,515 passing yards are the most by a ULM quarterback through seven games since Raymond Philyaw had 1,621 in 1996
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