ULL downs ULM 40-24

MONROE, La. -- ULM (6-3, 4-1) dropped its first Sun Belt game to UL-Lafayette (5-3, 3-2), 40-24, on Saturday in front of 20, 203 inside Malone Stadium. The win moved ULL's all-time series advantage to 25-23 including the last five. The attendance number was the second most to watch a Sun Belt game in Malone Stadium. The most was the ULL/ULM game in 2008.

Terrance Broadway led the Ragin' Cajuns with 373 yards on 23-of-32 passing and four touchdowns and rushed 14 times for 87 yards and another score.

Brent Leonard finished the game with 11 catches with ties him for the fifth most catches all-time. Those 11 catches accounted for 168 yards (a career-high) and one touchdown. Cody Wells took over for Kolton Browning due to injury late in the first half and finished 18-for-31 passing with two touchdowns and two interceptions and 209 yards. Browning was 5-for-7 passing for 124 yards for 124 yards and a touchdown.

After both teams traded punts, UL-Lafayette struck first on a 12-yard touchdown run from Alonzo Harris, giving the Cajuns a 7-0 lead with 7:55 left in the first quarter.

ULM answered on one play, an 81-yard touchdown connection from Browning to Tavarese Maye (the longest play of the year for the Warhawks), tying the game at 7-7 with 7:40 left in the opening quarter.

Isaiah Newsome slammed the door on the Cajuns' next drive with his third interception the season and returned 12 yards to give ULM solid starting field position. ULM's ensuing drive ended with a career-long 45-yard field goal attempt that missed wide left.

On the next play Henry Mitchell stripped the ball lose from Effrem Reed and R.J Young recovered to give possession back to the Warhawks. Wells took over on offense for the Warhawks and used a defensive pass interference to move into the red zone. Manton converted a 23-yard field goal to give ULM a 10-7 lead with 48 seconds left in the first quarter.

Jamal Robinson broke lose across the middle for a 52-yard touchdown reception from Terrance Broadway to give ULL a 14-10 lead with 13:30 left in the first half.

With just under six minutes left in the half, on 4th & 1, Harris carried for eight yards and a first down to keep the drive alive. Two plays later, Harry Peoples eluded a slew of ULM defenders and found the end zone for a 23-yard touchdown reception from Broadway. After the extra point, ULL led 21-10, with 4:46 left before intermission. The drive went 13 plays and 86 yards and lasted 6:46.

ULM took over with 1:50 left in the half. Wells found Brent Leonard on three straight plays to move the ball to the ULL 26-yard line. Leonard hauled in another catch for 14 yards and a first down, the first third down conversion of the afternoon for ULM. Wells connected with Je'Ron Hamm for a 19-yard touchdown to bring the score to 21-17 in favor of the visitors with 48 seconds left before the break.

At the break, the Cajuns held onto a 21-17 lead. ULL outgained ULM 311 to 259 and collected 14 first downs to ULM's 10.

In the second half ULL regained its early momentum as Broadway kept around the end for an eight-yard touchdown to give ULL a 28-17 with 6:36 left in the third quarter. The touchdown capped a 12-play, 87-yard and 6:26 drive.

An interception from Rodney Gillis gave possession back to the Cajuns with 5:27 left in the third quarter. A stop on third down forced a 4th & 2 for the Cajuns and elected to go for it. Broadway pass was tipped and fell incomplete.

A Manton punt was downed inside the one-yard line and was confirmed after a review. ULL picked up three first downs before stalling at ULM's 33-yard line where ULL faced 4th & 1. The Cajuns ran straight ahead and just picked up the first down after the referees measured. On third down, the Cajun drive continued on a pass interference call on the Warhawks.

The 17-play drive, 99-yard drive ended with a one-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Maxwell from Broadway, to give ULL a 34-17 lead, after Brett Baer missed the extra point, with 5:47 left in the contest. The scoring drive started with 20 seconds left in the third quarter and lasted 9:33.

Wells engineered a seven-play, 74-yard scoring drive lasting just 1:17 and found Leonard on a 22-yard touchdown with 4:30 left in the game to bring ULM within 10 at 34-24.

ULM's onside kick was not recovered and ULL took over at the Warhawks 39-yard line. The Cajuns were forced to punt and ULM would take over at their own 20-yard line with 2:51 on the clock.

Jemarlous Moten picked off Wells' deep pass with 1:45 left in the game to secure the victory for ULL. Broadway found Robinson with time expiring for an 81-yard touchdown extending ULL's lead to 40-24.

The Warhawks will travel to Jonesboro, Ark. for a 6 p.m. Thursday night matchup with Arkansas State, which will air on ESPNU.