The Basics

Score: ULM 47, Nicholls State 0

Records: ULM 1-1, Nicholls State 0-1

Location: JPS Field at Malone Stadium – Monroe, La.

Attendance: 20,397

How It Happened

Garrett Smith picked up where he left off from his collegiate debut, completing all five of his pass attempts for 34 yards on ULM's first drive. Craig Ford put the Warhawks on the board with a 25-yard field goal on his first career try.

Kaylon Watson pushed through for a four-yard touchdown run with 5:48 to go in the first quarter, the Warhawks' first score on the ground for the season. The drive was aided by a 22-yard catch-and-run by Ajalen Holley .

Smith got himself into the endzone for the first time on an option keeper up the middle for a 10-yard touchdown run. Watson also added a 12-yard reception out of the backfield on the previous play, his longest reception of the season.

The Warhawks went up 24-0 with six minutes and 44 seconds to go in the second quarter when Ajalen Holley caught a 13-yard slant route for the score. That catch also put him over the 100-yard plateau.

ULM's last score of the half came at the end of a three-play, 71-yard drive. Marcus Green 's first collegiate touch was a 48-yard catch deep down the middle of the field. Harley Scioneaux then snagged a 17-yard touchdown reception on the next snap.

Caleb Tucker blocked a punt with one minute and 37 seconds to play in the half that rolled through the side of the endzone for a safety. On the next play after the kickoff, Holley took a screen pass 47 yards for a score and 40-0 ULM lead.

Ben Luckett 's 12-yard touchdown run was the first of his career. The score came a minute and 25 seconds into the fourth quarter to extend ULM's lead to 47-0.

Inside (and Beyond) the Box Score

--ULM captains: Rashon Ceaser (offense), Mitch Lane (defense).

--Nicholls captains: Michael Henry, Brandon Holmes, Tobias Lofton and Terry Lucas, Jr.

--Nicholls won the toss and deferred to the second half.

-- Craig Ford was successful on his first career field goal attempt as his 25-yard make gave ULM a 3-0 lead with 11:07 to play in the opening quarter.

--On ULM's second drive of the contest, Rashon Ceaser hauled in three passes to increase his career total to 181 and move into sole possession of fourth place in ULM history.

--In the first quarter, Kaylon Watson tallied 36 rushing yards on six carries.

--In the first quarter, the Warhawks outgained the Colonels 184 yards to 32 yards.

--The Warhawk defense did not allow a first down in the opening quarter (nine total plays run by the Colonels).

--In the second quarter, Garrett Smith picked up his first career rushing touchdown as 10-yard rushing touchdown gave the Warhawks a 17-0 lead with 12:08 to play until halftime.

-- Ajalen Holley found the endzone for the first time in 2015 as his 13-yard touchdown reception gave ULM a 24-0 lead with 6:44 to play until the break.

-- Marcus Green hauled in his first career reception, a 48-yard pitch-and-catch with QB Garrett Smith late in the second quarter.

-- Harley Scioneaux caught his first touchdown of the season, a 17-yard reception, to put ULM in front 31-0 with 2:09 to play in the second quarter.

-- Caleb Tucker blocked a Chris Sciambra punt with 1:37 to play in the first half and the ball went out of the endzone for a safety to increase the lead to 33-0. It is the second consecutive season that the defense as ULM recorded a safety in last season's game vs. Texas State (Oct. 25, 2014).

-- Ajalen Holley tied a career-high as he hauled in his second TD of the quarter, a 47-yard touchdown reception with 1:21 to play in the opening half.

--ULM limited Nicholls to 123 yards of total offense in the opening half (105 rushing, 18 passing).

-- Gerrand Johnson tallied a pair of tackles for loss in the opening half and finished with six total stops in the first 30 minutes. He also had multiple tackles behind the line for the fourth time in five games.

-- Michael Johnson led the Warhawks in tackles with seven total stops in the opening half.

--The 593 yards (391 passing, 202 rushing) were the most by a ULM offense since Nov. 3, 2007 against Middle Tennessee State (624).

--ULM held Nicholls State to 260 yards of offense, the fewest any opponent has had on the Warhawks since Texas A&M had 243 on Nov. 1, 2014.

--Thirty Warhawks had tackles on the night. Sterling Doss , Marcus Hubbard , Cody McGuire , Aaron Townsend , Brynden Vance and Shaquille Warren all had their first collegiate stops.

-- Garrett Smith finished his night with 416 yards of total offense (370 passing, 46 rushing), the 12th highest single-game total offense total in program history.

--Smith's 366 yards in the first half (320 passing, 46 rushing) were six short of the school record for yards in a half (Stan Humphries, 372 in 1987).

-- Ben Luckett recorded his first career rushing touchdown with a 12-yard rushing score with 13:35 to play in the contest.

-- Spencer Perkins saw action in Saturday's game and was successful on a PAT.

Up Next

The Warhawks will enjoy their lone open week of the season before embarking on an 11-game run to close out the season. The next contest will be Sept. 26 at Alabama. Kickoff time and broadcast information is TBA.

For updates on the football squad, be sure to follow the team on Facebook, Instagramand Twitter.