2011 games of the year: WKU versus ULM

Western Kentucky 31, Louisiana-Monroe 28 (OT)             

One year removed from a huge comeback loss at home to Louisiana-Monroe, Western Kentucky gave up another huge comeback but held on in overtime for the 31-28 win.

WKU opened the game with the ball on their own 23-yard line and advanced the ball to the ULM 32-yard line before a huge loss forced a punt from the 50-yard line. A nice punt pinned the Warhawks at their own 17-yard line to start their first offensive possession.

Monroe took the ball and went 62 yards to the WKU 21-yard line with a 4th-and-9. Justin Manton came on to attempt a field goal but his 38-yard attempt was blocked giving the ball back to WKU at the WKu 21-yard line. Both teams traded punts followed by WKU's Kawaun Jakes getting picked off by Darius Prelow at the ULM 43-yard line. The first quarter ended with ULM driving inside the WKU 25-yard line with the score tied at 0.

Four plays later, including a 4th-and-10 conversion, ULM was in the end zone courtesy of Mitchell Bailey's 5-yard run giving the Warhawks a 7-0 lead with 13:50 left in the first half. The teams again traded punts ending with WKU getting the ball on their own 37-yard line with 12:55 left in the half. WKU went on a 6-play, 63-yard drive that ended with a 13-yard touchdown catch from tight end Mitchell Henry. Jesse Roy's extra point attempt was block giving ULM a slim 7-6 lead with 8:48 left in the half.

ULM responded with a 44-yard kickoff return that gave them great field position at their own 44-yard line. The Warhawks imploded and lost 24 yards in 3 plays with a punt upcoming at their own 20-yard line. The punting game let the Warhawks down with a horrible 9-yard punt that gave the ball back to WKU on the ULM 29-yard line.

The Hilltoppers went 29 yards in 7 plays to take their first lead of the game at 13-7 following Roy's successful extra point kick with 3:21 left in the half. ULM moved the ball to the WKU 25-yard line but were unsuccessful on a 4th-and-2 pass giving the ball back to WKU with 1:22 left in the half. Neither team was able to move the ball in the final 1:22 and went to the locker rooms with WKU in the lead at 13-7.

Louisiana Monroe got the ball to start the second half and went on a 14-play, 58-yard drive that stalled with the ball on the WKU 13-yard line. Kicker Justin Manton attempted a 30-yard field goal on 4th-down but missed it leaving the score 13-7 in favor of the Hilltoppers. WKU worked off of the momentum of that defensive stop and went on a 9-play, 80-yard drive that was capped by Bobby Rainey's 15-yard touchdown catch. The ensuing extra point was successful extending the WKU lead to 20-7 with 2:40 left in the third quarter.

The Warhawks got the ball following the kickoff at the WKU 45-yard line and benefited from a 15-yard penalty on 4th-down from WKU giving ULM the ball at the 32-yard line. The Warhawks again imploded losing 28 yards, including a 10-yard and 15-yard penalty, and punting from their own 40-yard line. The following punt gave the ball back to WKU at the WKU 37-yard line to end the third quarter with the Hilltoppers in the lead 20-7.

WKU took the ball and went 49 yards with a 4th-down at the ULM 14-yard line. In line with the kicking woes of both teams, Roy missed the 31-yard attempt leaving the score 20-7 with 8:06 left in the game. WKU's defense quickly stopped ULM forcing a punt from the ULM 11-yard line. Returner John Evans was unable to corral the punt and gave the ball back to ULM at the Warhawk 46-yard line. With renewed life given to them, the Warhawks went 54 yard in 10 plays culminated in Colby Harper's 22-yard touchdown catch cutting the lead to 20-14 with 4:49 left in the game. WKU got the ball to the ULM 25-yard line but faced a 4th-and-15 on the ULM 32-yard line. WKU elected to punt and pinned ULM on their own 6-yard line with only 3:13 left in the game.

ULM went on a 14-play, 94-yard drive that lasted 2:13 with Browning running the ball in from 6 yards with only 1:00 left in the game. Following the extra point, ULM finally saw the lead again at 21-20 with WKU hopes dwindling. WKU returner John Evans atoned for an earlier mistake and took the following kickoff back 79 yard to the ULM 9-yard line in dramatic fashion.

Two plays later, Rainey went in from 4 yards to give WKU the lead back at 26-21 pending the extra point conversion. Jakes found Boe Brand for a 2-point conversion to extend the lead to 7 points at 28-21 with :38 left in the game.

ULM was in desperation mode with :38 left and on their own 23-yard line. Browning was not fluttered and hit passes for 19-yards and 56-yards to set up a 1st-and-goal on the WKU 7-yard line. Browning found Anthony McCall for a 7-yard touchdown pass that tied the game up at 28 with :06 left in the game.

WKU downed the ball forcing an overtime with both team contemplating missed chances earlier in the game.

ULM quickly moved the ball to the WKU 3-yard line on the back of Browning's career day but Derrius Brooks spoiled the party for ULM with a goal line interception that left the Warhawks coming up empty in their offensive chance in overtime.

WKU used a steady dose of Rainey with 17 yards rushing on 4 carries leaving the ball on the ULM 7-yard line facing a 4th-and-3. Roy atoned for his earlier miss and drilled the 24-yard attempt to give WKU its 4th straight win a .500 record.