Louisiana-Monroe has experienced great success recently, especially during the past two years with Kolten Browning under center. Not many will forget the Warhawks' stunning win over the Arkansas Razorbacks two years ago, knocking the Hogs from the top 10 all the way out of the top 25. That year was a great success for the program, and although last year wasn't as glamorous, ULM has been steady in having a respectable program. Browning has graduated, and the Warhawks attained a great replacement in experienced transfer Pete Thomas from North Carolina State. Thomas debuted tonight against a Wake Forest team that is under new head coach Dave Clawson, a proven leader that was brought in for his success stories at numerous institutions. Wake lost star WR Michael Campanaro after last year, and has a freshman quarterback in John Wolford starting. Could ULM pull the upset again?

The answer was in question at first. Early in the game, the Demon Deacons blocked a punt by Mike Weaver and took it right in for an easy touchdown by Kevin Johnson, a horrendous start for ULM. Offenses were quiet through the quarter, as Wake couldn't get a rushing game going, and the Warhawks made some questionable decisions deep into WF territory.

The poor play of offense continued into the 2nd quarter, as Pete Thomas went cold for ULM. Although the Demon Deacs were battling offensive line issues, they went on a drive led by Wolford and RB Orville Reynolds late in the quarter that led to a field goal. At halftime, it was 10-0 Wake Forest.

Don't count out head coach Todd Berry and his Warhawks. The team came out with a completely different attitude in the 3rd, as on their 2nd drive of the quarter, they proceeded an impressive 83 yards to get a field goal to cut the lead. Pete Thomas was showing why he could be the best QB in the Sun Belt Conference, with quick, accurate passes for chunk yardage. On the following WF drive, the turnaround was complete with John Wolford's pass being intercepted by Mitch Lane and returned for a touchdown.

In the 4th quarter, ULM's defensive line stole the show early, with a thunderous sack on Wolford by Malcolm Edmond ending a WF drive. ULM then proceeded on a charge for the endzone, going 66 yards in the "Pete Thomas and Centarius Donald Show". Both the QB and RB led the drive, which was capped with a Thomas run for the TD. On WF's final drive, the Deacs' O-Line failed them, as Wolford was sacked twice in succession by Gerrand Johnson and Ray Stovall. WF was forced to punt, and ULM ran out the clock with some fantastic Centarius Donald runs.

Louisiana-Monroe won against this ACC foe for the second year in a row, and started off their season on a high note. Can they win the Sun Belt? If they build off of tonight, it is possible. As for Wake Forest, it is back to the drawing board. Their offensive line is a disaster, and they must fix that quickly if they plan to get to a bowl game from the ACC, with sack machines like Vic Beasley and Dadi Nicolas to fight off.

ULM now preps for the Idaho Vandals at home, and Wake gets Gardner-Webb in Winston-Salem.

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About the author
Ben Anderson
Hi, folks. I am Ben, a West Virginian, loud and proud. I've been the editor in chief of VAVEL USA since December of 2013, and continue to work hard and make the International Sports Newspaper the best on the internet.