WarhawkReport.com - Shock tha Rock

September 9, 2012

WarhawkReport Staff
WarhawkReport.com Staff

The Warhawks entered War Memorial Stadium to kick off the 2012 season against the eighth ranked Arkansas Razorbacks. The game was an uphill battle from the start, as the series history, 0-9, bias crowd, 53,089, and a slew of all-SEC players waited.

None of this mattered though, as the Warhawks rallied from a 21 point deficit to walk out with the headline grabbing 34-31 overtime win.

ULM came out swinging, as they held Arkansas to attempt a long pass on third down in their first possession, Vincent Eddie hauled it in for the game's first interception, allowing Kolton Browning to take over and lead the offense on a 12 play 67 `yard drive, putting ULM up 7-0. Tyler Wilson would answer with a quick, but long 20 yard pass to Julian Horton. The scoring drive took just 2:34.

Cody Wells entered the game relieving Browning for a series to close out the opening quarter and the early part of the second. No offensive progress was made, as the Warhawks were forced to punt. The Razorbacks capitalized on this stall in ULM offense using deep passes to Colbi Hamilton from Wilson for a 39 yard score and a setup 61 yard connection. Arkansas put up the final points of the half with just 2:35 remaining. Knile Davis scampered in from 3 yards out to extend the lead to 21-7. ULM did have a chance to cut the lead just before the half, but their efforts were turned away at the Arkansas goal line when Browning's pass was intercepted.

Mekale McKay's 13 yard pass to Brandon Allen extending the lead to 28-7. McKay was forced into action when Wilson left the game with an injury "above the shoulder," as described by the Arkansas Sports Information office.

From there the running game and mixed in passing efforts of Browning allowed Jyruss Edwards to collect his first score of the season, while Browning connected with Kevin Steed and Brent Leonard to tie the game. Leonard's reception came with just 47 seconds remaining in the game.

The Warhawks won the coin toss, setting up Arkansas to go first on offense. ULM held, but not before surrendering yards on a pass interference. Zach Hocker tacked on tacked on three points from 37 yards out to give them the lead, 34-31.

ULM managed to move the ball on runs by Edwards and receptions by Taverese Maye, but the key over time play came on a 4th and short. Browning scrambled around for an opening, before reversing direction and plunging in the endzone to secure the upset win.

TEAM NOTES ? ULM Captains: QB Kolton Browning, LB R.J. Young, S Brandon Hardy.
? ULM won the opening coin toss and deferred to the second half.
? The game vs. #8 Arkansas marked the fi fth consecutive season that the Warhawks opened the season against a ranked foe (at #10 Auburn [2008]; at #2 Texas [2009], vs. #14 Arkansas [2010]; at #5 Florida State [2011])... The last time ULM won a season opener came on August 31, 2006 when the Warhawks defeated Alcorn State, 24-6, at Malone Stadium.
? ULM scored on its fi rst possession of the game with a 12-play, 67-yard drive that took 5:03... ULM scored in the fi rst quarter in 8-of-12 games in 2011.
? ULM was 6/7 on 4th down in the game... In 2011 the team fi nished 12/27 (44%).
? ULM's 34 points are the most against a team from a BCS conference since tallying 20 in the season-opener at #2 Texas on Sept. 5, 2009.
? ULM is now 1-23 all-time vs. Ranked Opponents
? ULM is now 1-9 all-time vs. Arkansas (series started in 1996)
? ULM is now 6-2 all-time in overtime games... It is the first OT victory for ULM under Coach Berry
? ULM 4-37 against current teams in the SEC
? ULM's win is the fi rst Sun Belt victory over a top-10 team ever... It is just the second win over a ranked team by a Sun Belt school (Troy def. Missouri, 2004).

RECORD NOTES ? 83 Total Plays by QB Kolton Browning is second most in ULM history.
? 103 Total Plays is a single-game school record.
? Kolton Browning fi nished with 481 yards of total off ense which ranks fi fth all time for a single game.
? WR Brent Leonard fi nished with 11 receptions which is tied for fi fth all-time (single-game).
? Kolton Browning tallied 42 completions and 67 attempts, both are second most in program history (single-game).

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