ULM returns for homecoming match against Florida Int

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ULM returns home for just the second time this season, and it could not be a more anticipated game for the Warhawks and the home crowd.

The season opener came almost a month ago against FCS Texas Southern on a rain soaked Saturday night.

Since that win to open the home slate, ULM has gone 1-1 -- including last week?s win against Florida Atlantic. Kickoff against Florida International is at 2:30 p.m.

?Whether you?re 5-0 or anywhere in between, you go into each game with great focus,? said ULM head coach Charlie Weatherbie. ?You?ve got to have great intensity, knowing you?re got to go play your best game.?

The Golden Panthers are just starting their conference slate, after starting the season 0-3 against some decent opponents, including No. 3 Alabama.
FIU will be aiming to do the same as ULM did last week by starting Sun Belt contention with a win to jump to the top of the race at 1-0.

A win for FIU would also include spoiling ULM?s homecoming, which no one is ready to surrender.

?I think the most important thing is, it?s a conference opponent,? Weatherbie said. ?Fifth victory or third victory is not as important as staying in the conference race. That?s part of our goals ? win the conference, win the New Orleans Bowl. With a conference opponent coming in here, that?s the opponent we?ve got to beat.?

With a small crowd in the home opener due to the nightlong downpour, ULM coaches and players are hoping for one of its biggest crowds of the season -- in part because of homecoming festivities and also because it?s the only area home college match.

?It?s a beautiful autumn day for football; the weather?s already starting to change,? Weatherbie said. ?Bring out your family and friends. It?s a conference game. Florida International is a good football team. The ULM Warhawks are a good football team. It?s important to support these young men not only for football but as future citizens in our community.?

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ULM WILL WIN IF: The offense can take advantage of a young FIU defense. The ULM defense will need to maintain its dominance in the red zone from a week ago, while also limiting the Golden Panthers? passing game.
ULM WILL LOSE IF: The team slacks off in the second half just when FIU will start to find its groove as prior weeks have indicated. The ULM defense also needs to eliminate extra yardage after contact.
 

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ULM tries to solve Florida International's defense


Throw out the fact that Florida International only returns five starters on defense.


Any unit that can keep No. 3 Alabama close for the majority of a game commands ULM?s respect.

The Golden Panther offense was the young side of the ball last season when the Warhawks met FIU on the road, a close 31-27 win for ULM in its season finale.

Another reason not take them lightly: Despite starting a new quarterback last season in Paul McCall and a slew of other first year starters, the Golden Panthers were able to hang with ULM.

The Warhawks don?t expect any different this time around.

?All their games so far, what sticks out is they fly around,? ULM quarterback Trey Revell said. ?They?re an aggressive defense ? tenacious is the word I?d use to describe them. That play through the whistle. Their linebackers are great at finding the ball, and the defensive line puts pressure on the quarterback.

?They played Alabama tough through three quarters. Alabama just hit late in that game to put them ahead.?

Third-year head coach Mario Cristobal replaced three linemen, a linebacker and two in the secondary during the offseason, but FIU?s few returners include first-team all-conference cornerback Anthony Gaitor, as well as the team?s leading tackler and linebacker Scott Bryant.

?The defense comes and gets you,? ULM head coach Charlie Weatherbie said. ?They?ve got a sic-?em, go-get-on-?em kind of defense. We?ve got to go out and execute and take care of the football, move the sticks and get the ball in the endzone.?

Revell ranks second in the Sun Belt in pass effiency with a 138.2 rating, just 0.7 behind Western Kentucky quarterback Kawaun Jakes.

ULM is also second in scoring offense (29.8) and third in total offense with a 379.0 rating.

Revell ranks fourth in passing yardage in the conference with 561 yards for five touchdowns. He has completed 41 of 72 passes with just three interceptions. Middle Tennessee quarterback leads the league with 759 yards in the air, followed by Troy senior Levi Brown with 742 yards.

?He?s picked up things very well,? Weatherbie said of his first-year starter. ?He?s a strong competitor and a very good leader. He?s doing some good stuff for us.?

Running back Frank Goodin is third in rushing yardage with 227 yards in four games and ranks second in touchdowns with four so far this season.
 

ageecee

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Major line move on this game in the middle of the week. Went form -3.5 to -6
 
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