Final - OT
  for this game

Browning leads ULM in upset of No. 8 Arkansas

Sep 9, 2012 - 5:37 AM Little Rock, AR (Sports Network) - On the game's final play, Louisiana-Monroe quarterback Kolton Browning scampered for a 16-yard touchdown run on 4th-and-1 to give the Warhawks the upset victory over No. 8 Arkansas, 34-31, in overtime at War Memorial Stadium.

"He did a great job," Arkansas coach John L. Smith said of Browning. "He made play, after play, after play. That includes one at the end to win. We couldn't tackle him, couldn't stop him. He played a great game."

Browning was sensational, orchestrating offensive possessions that led to 21 unanswered points to tie the game at 28 and send it to overtime. The junior quarterback completed 42 of his 68 attempted passes, throwing for three touchdowns and 412 yards for the Warhawks (1-0).

"I'm really excited for our football team," ULM coach Todd Berry gushed. "They put in just a tremendous amount of work. There certainly were a lot of people that doubted us. This team had a chance to grow up and mature and they did that together."

The Razorbacks (1-1) were decimated by injuries over the course of the game.

Starting quarterback Tyler Wilson threw for two touchdowns and 191 yards in the early going, but sustained an injury above his shoulders late in the second quarter and did not return.

Starting cornerback Tevin Mitchel and starting full back Kody Walker were both carted off the field within plays of each other in the fourth quarter. Mitchel sustained an injury above his shoulders as well, but was verbally responsive. Walker appeared to suffer a left leg injury.

The Razorbacks squandered a 28-7 lead, as backup quarterback Brandon Allen failed to orchestrate cohesion offensively after throwing a touchdown pass on the Razorbacks' first drive of the second half. He finished 6-of-20 for 85 yards and a touchdown with one interception.

On the game's first possession, Wilson was intercepted by Vincent Eddie inside Louisiana-Monroe territory. Browning led the Warhawks down the field, connecting with Centarius Donald on four-yard touchdown strike to give Louisiana-Monroe a 7-0 lead.

The Razorbacks would fire back and score the next 28 points. Wilson hooked up with Julian Horton for a 20-yard touchdown completion to tie the game at seven. On their first possession of the second quarter, Wilson completed four straight passes, connecting with Chris Gragg on three of them. Three plays later, Wilson threw a 39-yard touchdown strike to Cobi Hamilton to give Arkansas the lead.

With under five minutes to play in the half, Wilson launched a 61-yard bomb to Mekale McKay from Arkansas' own 17-yard line. After back-to-back defensive pass interference and offside calls, Knile Davis rushed for a three-yard touchdown run to give the Razorbacks a 21-7 lead.

The Warhawks matriculated the ball down the field with just under two and a half minutes to play in the second, bringing the ball down to the Arkansas two-yard line with 18 seconds to go. But the Warhawks turned the ball over on downs when Browning's pass to Tavarese Maye fell incomplete.

Louisiana-Monroe finally got back on the board when Jyruss Edwards rushed his way into the end zone on 1st-and-goal from the Arkansas 3-yard line to cut the Razorbacks' lead to 28-14.

Browning found success on fourth down on the second play of the fourth quarter when he connected on a one-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Steed to bring the game within seven.

Then, with less than a minute to go in the game, Browning again converted on fourth down, finding Brent Leonard in the endzone for a 23-yard, game-tying touchdown strike, forcing the game into overtime.

Arkansas took the ball first and had to settle for a field goal after failing to convert on third down.

After falling a yard short on third down, the Warhawks again decided to go for it on fourth. Browning scrambled in the pocket, found a hole, and took it 16 yards for the game-winning score to shock the Razorbacks.

Game Notes

Louisiana-Monroe opened their season for a fifth consecutive time against a ranked opponent ... Saturday's contest was the 10th meeting between the two schools ... The matchup was also the fifth consecutive meeting in Little Rock.