LSU-ULM Recap: Warhawks get shut out, 31-0

Todd Berry took his Warhawks into the locker room at halftime down just 10-0 and I imagine he thought that with a few tweaks to the offense, either with playcalling or execution, he could pull off yet another upset of a Power 5 school. Whatever adjustments he did make didn't work.

The offense finished with 93 total yards with the longest play from scrimmage being a 12-yard pass to Kenzee Jackson, but the loss can't be blamed squarely on the offense. Special teams were also a problem, as ULM's average starting field position was on their own 20 yard line, while LSU averaged starting on their own 37.

The defense showed signs of encouragement, especially in the first half. They got pressure on Anthony Jennings (two sacks in the first half) and stuffed the LSU power run game inside more than a few times, and Mitch Lane got his second interception of the season. But they wore down by the third quarter, when the Tigers opened up a 24-0 lead behind some dominant running by Leonard Fournette, including a 24-yard touchdown run in which he went untouched. The mismatches were especially evident any time an LSU skill player got to the edge of the field and simply outran a ULM defender.

Warhawks QB Pete Thomas finished 16-30 for just 77 yards. One or two times he threw a deep ball down the sideline, but for the most part he was looking to dump it off the entire game. This was especially evident on third downs, when the Warhawks were just 4-for-14. The LSU defense is fast and athletic, but at some point you have to take some chances, and Thomas didn't do that.

The Warhawks get a week off to lick their wounds before hosting Troy, who just lost to Abilene Christian and is 0-3 on the season.