Hungry for a win...

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ULM and Florida Atlantic to meet in critical game

The Louisiana-Monroe football team reaches the crossroads tonight.

With a Sun Belt Conference win over Florida Atlantic, the Indians could turn the page on their disappointing 0-3 start and leap to an early lead in the league race. A win would add a new sense of purpose for the team and its supporters.

Or, ULM could lose its Sun Belt opener to a 0-3 team and write another chapter in a season going awry.

The balance of the year depends on tonight's outcome.

"It's very important," ULM coach Charlie Weatherbie said. "It's a Sun Belt Conference game, number one. Number two, it's an opportunity to get a taste of victory. It's going to be a hard-fought football game."

The Indians kick off their second season at 6:30 p.m., at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU, where available.

The thought of a fresh start after losses to Northwestern State, Wyoming and Georgia should be invigorating for a ULM team that is a seven-point underdog to Florida Atlantic.

"I think we're continuing to improve," Weatherbie said. "I know our players are looking forward to playing Florida Atlantic, just as I'm sure they're looking forward to playing us."

Last year's 17-13 win at FAU was a high point to ULM's 5-6 season. That victory was the third in a row at that time, counted as a designated Sun Belt Conference win and came over a team that had been undefeated coming in.

"They are certainly a competitive group of guys and they certainly played a very good game against us last year," FAU coach Howard Schnellenberger said. "That's the only thing I really know about them."

This year, FAU is a full-fledged Sun Belt member. Tonight's date marks the first Sun Belt game in the five-year history of the FAU program. The Owls lost 28 seniors from the team that played ULM last season.

Like ULM, FAU has stumbled out of the gate. The Owls have losses to Kansas, Oklahoma State and Minnesota.

"We're starved for a win," Schnellenberger said. "I think overall our team is encouraged by the way they've played in each of the games."

Turnovers and big plays played a big role in ULM's win at FAU a year ago. The Indians took the ball away three times on three interceptions by safety Chris Harris ? who has now moved on to the NFL.

A bright spot so far for the Indians this season has been its ability to force turnovers. The Indians rank second in the Sun Belt with eight takeaways ? with a league-leading six interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

"It's very important that you have takeaways," Weatherbie said. "We preach and teach it and work at it. Normally, you're better at things you work at and it's something we work hard at. I'm excited about the way our guys are coming up with the football."

While FAU has seen its roster turnover quite a bit, several players who had big nights in Florida are still with ULM.

Quarterback Steven Jyles, who has passed for 202 yards and a touchdown. Punter Joel Stelly boomed a 76-yard punt late that helped preserve the win. Running back Mason Denham, who could return from an ankle injury, ran for 110 yards on just 13 carries against FAU.

"They're a football team that is very capable of competing in the Sun Belt," Weatherbie said, "just like we are."
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Notes: ULM RB Mason Denham (ankle) is expected to play today.

 

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Owls can't run; that must change

BOCA RATON -- Florida Atlantic's running game never got its legs in the first three games.

FAU lost those games and goes into Thursday night's conference opener against Louisiana-Monroe (0-3) knowing it has to grind out more yards.

"To be able to win games we first have to establish the running game," said freshman running back Charles Pierre, who has been held to 76 yards.

"We have to show that we know how to run the ball," said DiIvory Edgecomb, another freshman, who has shared carries with Pierre and has 41 yards.

The Owls can succeed only if the opponent has to be concerned about the run. That sets up the passing game and keeps defenses from blitzing.

Quarterback Danny Embick is FAU's leading rusher with 81 yards, a statistic that resulted from Kansas, Oklahoma State and Minnesota using blitzes to chase him from the pocket and force him to run.

Embick has been sacked nine times for 62 yards in losses, and FAU is averaging 79 yards rushing and 1.9 yards per rush.

"It's frustrating," Embick said. "We really can't seem to get the run game solid. We can't move the ball consistently."

In its three games, FAU has had 40 drives, and only five have had seven or more plays and just three that have lasted longer than four minutes.

While FAU lost 46-7 Saturday at Minnesota, Embick said the line blocked well.

Coach Howard Schnellenberger agreed. "They had their best game. They have come along here in the last several weeks."

FAU has not just had to battle two teams from the Big 12 and one from the Big Ten to open; the Owls are also trying to overcome lack of experience.

Edgecomb and Pierre hadn't played in a college game before opening the season at Kansas, and Embick, a senior, is also a first-year starter.

"Mistakes are killing us because we are so young," Pierre said. "It's not that the other teams have been that much bigger or faster. Experience makes a big difference."

Pierre and Edgecomb said they have learned a lot in the first three games, even though the Owls didn't pull off an upset and win one of them.

"Every play you pick up something new. Then you look at the film and figure out what you did wrong and fix it," Edgecomb said.

"We are getting smarter," said Pierre. "We are going into this game with the mindset that we will run the ball. We are confident that is going to happen."