Senior receiver Luther Ambrose returned the opening kick off for a touchdown on Saturday against North Texas, hoping to spark the Warhawks and pace them to victory.

“Once you get momentum, it’s hard to beat it,” Ambrose said. “We had the momentum early and North Texas didn’t give up. They broke it and shifted it their way.”

UNT closed the game out on a high note, sending ULM (2-5, 1-2 SBC) home with a 38-21 loss.

North Texas scored 17-unanswered points over the final 17 minutes of the game.

Senior linebacker Jason Edwards said, “They have a real explosive offense as we all saw tonight.”

He said, “But you have to make plays that’s what it all boils down to.”

The teams went into halftime tied at 14. ULM tried to pull away early in the third quarter with a field goal by freshman Justin Manton.

Manton’s 34-yard attempt was blocked, and the Mean Green took possession and did not look back.

Edwards finished the game with a game-high and career-high 13 tackles. He said, “I was just trying to make the plays that came my way. I’d give up all those stats for the win.”

ULM’s defense did not force any turnovers in the game.

Edwards said, “At the same time, you have to be able to stop the run, and stop the pass, he said. “They moved the ball pretty well tonight.”

Ambrose’s returned kickoff was for 100 yards, making it the second of his career for a score and the first for ULM since 2008.

Ambrose became ULM’s all-time leader in kickoff return yards on the play.

ULM hosts Western Kentucky on Saturday for homecoming at Malone Stadium.