ULM opened its 2025 season with a commanding 29-0 shutout victory over Saint Francis at Malone Stadium on Thursday night, showcasing the new-look roster assembled by coach Bryant Vincent in his second year at the helm.
The Warhawks, who were picked to finish seventh in the Sun Belt West Division in preseason polling, appeared energized and ready to exceed expectations as they improved from a 2-10 record in 2023 to 5-7 in 2024.
Quarterback Hunter Herring (Ouachita Christian) opened the Warhawks’ scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, while backup Landon Graves (Ouachita Christian) capped off the scoring with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Griffin in the fourth quarter. Seeing the success of hometown talent gives the fans of Monroe some excitement with the local talent pipeline.
ULM’s ground game proved unstoppable throughout the contest, accumulating 311 rushing yards compared to Saint Francis’ 81 yards. Running back Braylon McReynolds led the assault with 113 yards on 11 carries, including a spectacular 74-yard touchdown run in the first quarter that set the tone for the evening. The Warhawks controlled the game from the opening drive when they marched 81 yards for the opening score. Starting quarterback Aidan Armenta managed the game efficiently, completing 12 of 23 passes for 95 yards and one touchdown while also scoring on a 7-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Defensively, ULM was dominant, holding Saint Francis to just 131 total yards and forcing multiple turnovers. The Warhawks were able to create pressure and turnovers all night long, thanks to D’Arco Perkins-McAllister‘s 8 tackles and 2 sacks. One of those turnovers was an interception by defensive tackle Cliff Mosley, a former Calvary Baptist standout.
The victory marked a strong start for Vincent’s program overhaul, as ULM added 73 new players to its 2024 roster during an aggressive rebuilding effort. Vincent is also serving as interim athletic director following John Hartwell’s resignation. The Warhawks now have a long week to prepare for a trip to No. 8 Alabama as the degree of difficulty ramps up significantly in Week 2.