Miscues costly; team loses 24-19 to Arkansas State
With less than three minutes remaining in the game, safety Darius Prelow dropped back in coverage and intercepted the ball, giving ULM a chance to get in the end zone and win the game.
But they couldn’t do it.
“Our hearts are right,” Prelow said. “We kept fighting, and this loss is hurtful, but we have to move on.”
Backup quarterback Cody Wells marched the team up the field with the clock winding down in the fourth quarter, but he failed to convert on a fourth and long situation, turning over the ball.
The football team (1-4, 0-1) lost 24-19, despite leading at the half.
The defense forced three interceptions against Arkansas State’s quarterback, but the offense could not capitalize.
“This group will scratch and fight you for everything that’s out there,” head coach Todd Berry said.
Receiver Brent Leonard made several big catches for the Warhawks, as he finished the game with 10 catches for 145 yards and two touchdowns.
His first big play came in the first quarter. Wells connected with the receiver on a 41-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at seven in the first quarter.
Leonard said, “When we are down like that, and our team comes back and have a chance to win the game, that’s really what we want.”
He said, “I guess tonight just wasn’t our night.”
ULM led 13-10 at the half, but after a blocked punt was recovered and returned for a touchdown in the third quarter, Arkansas State took the lead and did not let go.
Berry said, “We had a major break down, which is just unfathomable.”
After the blocked punt return, ULM was down four points until a 44-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter by ASU to get a double-digit lead.
“(ASU) played a very physical game, and they handled situations maturely,” head coach Todd Berry said.
With the loss, ULM continues conference play Saturday at Troy University in Troy, Ala.
“I really wanted to get through this conference undefeated, but that’s difficult to do,” Berry said. “
He said, “At the end of this week we need to be 1-0.”
ULM returns home for Homecoming against Western Kentucky University at 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 29.
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