Box Score

MONROE – Kolton Browning completed 23 of 34 passes for 249 yards and connected with Tavarese Maye on a 47-yard pass on the first play of the fourth quarter as Louisiana-Monroe edged Southeastern Louisiana, 21-20, in a non-conference game Saturday at Malone Stadium.

Browning added 75 yards rushing with a touchdown as ULM (1-2) held the football for over 38 minutes in the game. Southeastern, which was looking to win its first game over a Football Bowl Subdivision team in 13 games, dropped to 1-3 on the season with its second consecutive one-point loss.

“We missed easy opportunities to score points with a missed field goal, extra point and couldn't score after getting a turnover in the (ULM) red zone,” Southeastern head coach Mike Lucas said. “We had several opportunities to win this football game. It was a well-coached game on both sides.

“We had a very good game plan on both sides of the ball. They made adjustments, we came back and made adjustments and they made more adjustments.”

Southeastern, which will return to action on Oct. 9 against Texas State in the Southland Conference opener, trailed 14-7 at halftime before scoring twice in the third quarter for a 20-14 lead.

A 52-yard punt by Beau Mothe pinned ULM at their own 2 before Ryan Godare recovered a Frank Goodin fumble at the ULM 14. On the next play, Tyler Beatty hit Simmie Yarborough in the left corner on the end zone for a 14-yard score that tied the game at 14-14.

The Lion defense held on ULM's next possession as Mark Newbill broke up a fourth-down pass at the SLU 25 and the offense responded as it drove down the field to take the lead.

Beatty, who completed 20 of 41 passes for 212 yards, hit Yarborough on a 25-yard pass down the right flat to the 50-yard line on the first play before Beatty connected with Brandon Collins for a 9-yard gain on third-and-5 to the ULM 36. The duo hooked up again on thrd-and-5 as Collins caught a 13-yard pass to the ULM 18. Three plays later, Zeke Jones scored on a 2-yard plunge for a 20-14 lead with 2:08 remaining, but Seth Sebastian pushed his extra point attempt to the right for his first miss in 13 attempts.

After Southeastern was forced to punt on its next possession, the Warhawks tied the game at 20-20 on their first play when Browning rolled left and hit Maye in the end zone with 14:34 remaining.

Southeastern was forced to punt on its next two drives, but got a break on the second attempt as David Durden recovered a Brent Leonard muff at the ULM 35. The Lions were unable to score as Ken Dorsey broke up a fourth-and-3 pass at the ULM 28.

The Warhawks drained 6:31 off the clock on their next possession before Aaron Munoz had his punted down at the SLU 9 with 2:20 remaining.

Southeastern was forced to go for it on fourth-and-2 at their own 17, but Beatty's pass was intercepted by Cameron Blake and the Warhawks were able to run out the clock.

After holding ULM to a three-and-out on its opening possession, Southeastern drove 71 yards in seven plays with Beatty hitting Yarborough for a 5-yard scoring pass with 11:03 remaining in the first quarter.

The Lions opened the drive with a 21-run on a reverse by Greg Johnson before Beatty hit Collins on a 14-yard pass to the ULM 36. A 9-yard pass to Johnson and two penalties on the Warhawks moved the ball to the ULM 5 where Beatty found Yarborough for his 20th TD reception of his career.

ULM methodically drove down the field on its next possession, driving 89 yards in 19 plays with Browning capping the drive with a 10-yard TD run. The Warhawks converted four third-down conversions and a fourth-and-6 when Browning hit Leonard for an 8-yard gain to the SLU 27.

The Warhawks took their first lead of the game with 6:45 left after Browning hit Luther Ambrose on a 39-yard pass before Clint Coleman forced a fumble at the SLU 16. The ball was kicked by a ULM player where Anthony McCall recovered in the end zone that put the Warhawks ahead, 14-7.

Yarborough caught seven passes for 95 yards for Southeastern while Collins had six catches. The Lions were held to 266 yards total offense while controlling the football for 21:49.

Newbill, playing in his hometown as a collegian for the first time, tied a career-high with 17 tackles for Southeastern. Tommy Connors added 15 stops, including two for loss, with an interception for the Lions while Curtis Strong added 10 tackles.

Southeastern La..... 7 0 13 0 - 20 Record: (1-3)
Louisiana-Monroe.... 0 14 0 7 - 21 Record: (1-2)

Scoring Summary:
1st Quarter
11:03 SLU – Yarborough 5 pass from Beatty (Sebastian kick)

2nd Quarter
14:53 ULM – Browning 10 run (Jabour kick)
6:45 ULM - McCall 0 fumble recovery (Jabour kick)

3rd Quarter
11:18 SLU – Yarborough 14 pass from Beatty (Sebastian kick)
2:08 SLU – Jones 2 run (kick failed)

4th Quarter
14:34 ULM – Maye 47 pass from Browning (Jabour kick)

SLU ULM
FIRST DOWNS................... 16 22
RUSHES-YARDS (NET)............ 24-54 52-114
PASSING YDS (NET)............. 212 249
Passes Att-Comp-Int........... 41-20-1 34-23-1
TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS..... 65-266 86-363
Fumble Returns-Yards.......... 0-0 0-0
Punt Returns-Yards............ 0-0 4-7
Kickoff Returns-Yards......... 3-72 4-84
Interception Returns-Yards.... 1-0 1-0
Punts (Number-Avg)............ 7-32.1 6-36.3
Fumbles-Lost.................. 1-0 6-2
Penalties-Yards............... 5-38 15-121
Possession Time............... 21:49 38:11

RUSHING
Southeastern La.- Johnson 2-26; Fairley 6-16; Jones 7-14; Collins 1-0; Beatty 8-minus 2. ULM – Browning 22-75; Goodin 19-43; Edwards 5-21; Rhodes 1-7; TEAM 5-minus 32.

PASSING
Southeastern La. – Beatty 20-41-1-212. ULM – Browning 23-34-1-249.

RECEIVING
Southeastern La. – Yarborough 7-95; Collins 6-55; Cryer 3-26; Jones 2-16; Theodore 1-11; Johnson 1-9.