Monroe, La. – Georgia State fell at Louisiana-Monroe 38-10 Saturday night at Malone Stadium in Monroe, La.
ULM (4-4, 2-1 Sun Belt ) quarterback Kolton Browning passed for 224 yards and four touchdowns in his first game back from injury. The Preseason Player of the Year was injured Sept. 28 against Tulane and was thought to be out for the season but returned tonight. Centarius Donald added 126 yards rushing.
Georgia State’s (0-8, 0-3 Sun Belt) Robert Ferguson returned a fumble 87 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter for the first defensive touchdown in the Panthers’ history. In last week’s game, Ferguson became GSU’s career tackling leader. Terrance Woodard sacked Browning, who fumbled, and Ferguson scooped up the ball and raced for the end zone.
ULM jumped to a 14-0 lead with two first quarter touchdowns, the second one set up by an interception that gave the Warhawks possession at the GSU 33.
After Feguson’s touchdown pulled the Panthers within 14-7, the GSU defense forced ULM to go three-and-out. Georgia State took over at its own 13 drove deep into ULM territory for a 25-yard field goal by Wil Lutz.
Now trailing 14-10 with seven minutes left in the second quarter, Georgia State tried an on-sides kick, and freshman Kight Dallas recovered the ball for the Panthers. But on third down at the GSU 45, Ben McLane’s pass was intercepted. ULM took over at the GSU 31 and scored four plays later on Browning’s 19-yard touchdown pass to Je’Ron Hamm for a 21-10 lead.
GSU played two quarterbacks in the game, but both starter Ronnie Bell and backup Ben McLane struggled, combining to complete just 12 passes for 108 yards with three interceptions and a fumble.
“You can’t turn the ball over four times against a good football team and expect to have a chance,” GSU head coach Trent Miles said. “We got it to 14-10, we recover an on-sides kick and have the momentum, but we gave it right back. Then we had a chance to put points on the board at the end of the first half and we fumbled.”
Contributing to Georgia State’s offensive struggles were more injuries on the offensive line. Already starting its third center in Ronald Martin, Georgia State lost Martin and then Mark Ruskell to injuries during the game. Tim Wynn took over, playing center for the first time since 2010.
“A positive from tonight was the play of Tim Wynn,” Miles said. “We don’t have a center right now because of injuries, and he stepped in late in the first half and then played the entire second half.”
Freshman Jonathan Jean-Bart rushed for 60 yards on just seven carries for the Panthers, and freshman Kyler Neal added 34 yards on five attempts.
Travis Evans rushed for 25 yards to become Georgia State's career rushing leader, passing Donald Russell (1,412, 2011-12). Evans now has 1,428 career yards.
Georgia State returns home to host Western Kentucky next Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Georgia Dome.
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