Todd Berry spent the week preaching the unpredictability of rivalry games. The coach couldn’t have been more correct about the 48th edition of the Battle on the Bayou.

ULM’s attempt to even the series with Louisiana-Lafayette came to a screeching halt when Kolton Browning left the game with a lower-leg injury midway through the first quarter. The Warhawks (6-3, 4-1) never recovered, falling to their in-state rivals 40-24 on Saturday afternoon at Malone Stadium.

The Ragin’ Cajuns (5-3, 3-2) got on the board first, but ULM struck back on their first play of scrimmage, scoring on an 81-yard touchdown pass from Browning to Tavarese Maye. Browning limped off the field after the offense’s next series, replaced by backup Cody Wells.

“Obviously, the game plan changes,” Berry said. “When you lose one quarterback, you’re obviously not that fired up about losing another one, so it changes somewhat in terms of how you’re going to protect that guy.”

Browning was evaluated further after the game, and according to Berry, the early reports “aren’t good.” Wells led the offense down the field on a scoring drive before halftime to cut the lead to 21-17, but the Warhawks didn’t score again until the fourth quarter.

Wells completed 18 of 31 passes for 209 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

“You can’t turn the ball over and expect to win,” Wells said. “As a team we lost, so I didn’t play well enough.”

ULL’s offense controlled the tempo of the game, piling up over 40 minutes in time of possession and 607 yards of offense.

wA back-breaking 17 play, 99 yard touchdown drive by the Cajuns put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter.

After a late score by the Warhawks cut the lead to 34-24, ULL head coach Mark Hudspeth made the curious decision to throw deep down the field with four seconds left in the game. The pass was caught for an 81-yard Cajun touchdown.

Hudspeth said he did not feel comfortable taking a knee, and while he did not intend to run the score up, it was not his job to stop his own offense. Berry and Hudspeth did not speak after the game.

ULM remains at the top of the Sun Belt standings, but travels to Jonesboro, Ark. to face a surging Arkansas State team on Thursday night.

“This is when you find out what you’re really made of,” Berry said. “The margin for error is minimal now.”

Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. on ESPNU.