By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com

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This is a program with confidence and momentum.

Louisiana-Monroe entered Saturday’s game with Liberty as a 32-point underdog. The Warhawks promptly scored 31 points in an upset victory.

In a high-profile coaching pairing featuring former SEC coaches Terry Bowden and Hugh Freeze, Louisiana-Monroe made the defining plays and made history along way.

The third quarter was a performance to remember from Louisiana-Monroe, now 3-3 overall. Trailing 14-0 early in the period, the Warhawks had a rally for the ages, scoring 28 consecutive points in taking a multi-score lead on the Flames. In the comeback, for Louisiana-Monroe, Andrew Henry scored as a runner and receiver, spriting for a 40-yard touchdown rush and catching a 12-yard touchdown pass.

It was a resilient response from the Warhawks. It wouldn’t be their first.

After Liberty tied the game up midway through the fourth quarter, Louisiana-Monroe found a way to answer again. Chandler Rogers scrambled for a critcal 12 yards on a 3rd-and-18 near midfield to put kicker Cam Sutherland in a position for a 53-yard field goal. He, calmly converting one of the longest field goals in program history, all with a lead on the line and 1:38 remaining, proved true.

Facing Malik Willis, a futue high NFL Draft pick, at quarterback, the Warhawks needed one more stop. They actually came up with two.

Caleb Thomas and Zach Woodard combined for a key sack on the first play of Liberty’s final drive. Mark Williams then saved the game with a memorable interception on the very next snap. The late stand proved to be the exclamation point in a statement performance for Louisiana-Monroe. On the night, the Warhawks held Wllis to just 135 yards passing with three picks through the air.

After going winless in 2020, Louisiana-Monroe will now make a run at bowl eligibility over the second half of the season. Bowden has quickly changed the Warhawks’ direction, with Louisiana-Monroe now having won three of its last five contests overall. The Warhawks have been one of the more impressive stories nationally this year. This is a program with confidence and momentum.

Saturday night’s effort was one that resonates throughout college football.