ULM Athletics
MONROE, La. – The ULM football team (1-0) clinched a shutout victory over the Saint Francis Red Flash (0-1) on Thursday night (Aug. 28), amid a two-hour weather delay. This is the second season opener in a row that has been delayed by weather. The victory was also the first shutout since 2015, when the Warhawks secured a 47-0 win over Nicholls at Malone Stadium.
“Obviously, we’re going to celebrate all victories,” said head coach Bryant Vincent. “Victories are hard to come by in Division I football. […] I’m proud of our defense.”
Quarterback Aidan Armenta got the start, completing 12 of 23 passes and totaling 95 yards. The offense tallied 434 total yards, with Braylon McReynolds leading the way with 113 rushing yards.
Hunter Herring also saw action at quarterback, breaking through for a touchdown and logging 13 yards. Herring powered through on third downs, allowing the Warhawks to go 3-of-4 on third and shorts.
On the defensive end, cornerback D’Arco Perkins-McAllister led the squad with eight total tackles, two sacks and two tackles for loss. Korian Wilson bolstered the defense with seven tackles and a tackle for loss. The defense held Saint Francis to only one opportunity on the Warhawk side of the 50.
“[The defense] had eight months to prepare,” said Perkins-McAllister. “Tonight was a night, it’s as simple as that.”
After a weather delay got things going almost two hours behind schedule, a quick three-and-out by the Red Flash gave the Warhawks their first opportunity on offense. After McReynolds continued to push ahead, a breakthrough 74-yard run got the running back on the one-yard line with 10 minutes remaining in the quarter. Senior Hunter Herring broke the plane for the first touchdown of the season, Luke Stagg’s extra point setting ULM ahead, 7-0, with 9:25 remaining in the first quarter.
Early in the second quarter, Cliff Mosley got in on the defensive action, his interception solidifying an impenetrable defense. Three straight punts followed for the Red Flash, giving the Warhawks offensive chances, but both teams fell stagnant through the second quarter. With five minutes remaining in the half, a 25-yard reception by Jake Godfrey created momentum for ULM. Another double-digit reception, this time for Rico Powers Jr., put the Warhawks in position for a field goal to close the half ahead, 10-0.
The third quarter brought the offensive momentum needed for the Warhawks to extend the lead further. A wheel route got McReynolds in the end zone, setting ULM apart with the 17-0 score, 9:37 remaining in the third quarter.
A Dylan Howell sack shut down the Red Flash offense, allowing for Aidan Armenta to collect his first rushing touchdown of the season at the opening of the final quarter. Perkins-McAllister logged his second sack of the contest soon after, preventing a score from Saint Francis yet again. While Armenta threw an interception, giving the Red Flash some momentum, Noah Flemmings got the stop on fourth down, forcing the turnover on downs.
Landon Graves saw action in the fourth quarter, a 19-yard pass to Tyler Griffin giving Graves his first career touchdown with 4:44 remaining in the contest, extending the lead to 29 for the shutout victory at Malone Stadium.
“[Landon’s] growth this summer and fall camp has been as high as anybody on this team,” said head coach Bryant Vincent of the Monroe, La., native. “It was a great opportunity to give him game experience.”
**ULM PRESS RELEASE**
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