Monroe, LA (Sports Network) - Brent Leonard tied a school record by catching
four touchdown passes as the ULM Warhawks defeated the South Alabama Jaguars,
38-24, in a Sun Belt Conference showdown at Malone Stadium.
Leonard finished with nine catches for 126 yards for ULM (6-2, 4-0 Sun Belt),
which has won five in a row and is now bowl eligible for the third time in its
history. Kolton Browning continued his fantastic season with 250 yards on 23-
of-35 passing with the four touchdowns and one interception while also adding
41 rushing yards.
For South Alabama (2-6, 1-3), Ross Metheny threw for 211 yards and a pair of
touchdowns, but he completed just 21-of-41 passes and threw an interception.
Jereme Jones (seven receptions, 62 yards) caught both of Metheny's touchdown
passes, and Demetre Baker gained 115 rushing yards on 14 carries.
South Alabama recorded the only score of the first quarter on an 11-yard
touchdown pass from Metheny to Jones.
ULM tied the game early in the second quarter following a three-yard scoring
strike from Browning to Leonard, but the Jaguars answered less than four
minutes later with another Metheny-to-Jones touchdown hookup, this time from
14 yards out.
The Warhawks tied the score again, 14-14, with under two minutes to play in
the second half as Leonard found himself on the receiving end of another
Browning touchdown pass.
Browning and Leonard weren't finished in the first half, however. Leonard
hauled in his third touchdown catch (16 yards) with just six seconds left
before halftime to give the Warhawks their first lead, 21-14.
South Alabama continued to fight, putting together an impressive 15-play, 93-
yard drive in the third quarter, which resulted in a two-yard touchdown run
from Trey Fetner to tie the game up at 21-21.
ULM answered less than two minutes later, retaking the lead after a 32-yard
rushing touchdown from Mitchell Bailey.
The Warhawks opened up the fourth quarter in familiar fashion with Browning
tossing a 24-yard touchdown pass to Leonard to go up, 35-21.
Justin Manton added a 35-yard field goal later in the quarter to pad ULM's
lead.
Michael Chapuseaux answered less than three minutes later with a 27-yard field
goal for the Jaguars to make it a 14-point game, although they would get no
closer.
ULM converted 12-of-19 third downs, while South Alabama made good on just 3-
of-13 of its third down attempts.
GAME NOTES:
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