MONROE, La. — Southern University tailback Lenard Tillery posted 127 of his game high 161 rushing yards in the first half but Louisiana Monroe withstood Southern’s best shot to edge the Jaguars 38-21 Saturday in Malone Stadium.
Tillery’s quest to become the SWAC’s all-time leading rusher got off to a great start Saturday as the red-shirt senior rushed for 161 yards on 26 carries at Louisiana Monroe. Tillery added a 2-yd TD run, his 33rd career rushing TD. The 161-yard game also serves as Tillery’s 15th career 100-yard rushing game.
Junior defensive back Danny Johnson posted a career high 11 tackles, including four solo stops. Johnson added two interceptions for 20 yards including a pick in the ULM endzone which halted a Warhawk scoring threat early in the third quarter. Johnson registered his seventh and eighth career interceptions, which marked the East Feliciana native’s second game with two INTs.
Making his Southern University debut, Ruan Albuquerque connected on field goals of 42, 38 and 28 in the Jaguars 38-21 loss to ULM. The transfer from Plymoth, Minn. accounted for nine of Southern’s 21 points and was 3-3 in FG tries.
The Jaguars took the opening possesion 64-yards in 11 plays and secure a 3-0 lead after Albuquerque’s 42-yard field goal. ULM responded with 14 unanswered point before Lenard Tillery’s 2-yard score puntuated a 10-play, 75-yard drive.
Albuquerque’s second field goal, a 38-yarder, pulled Southern within 14-12 at the half but ULM would outscore the Jaguars 24-9 in the second half.
Garret Smith led ULM finishing with 208 yards passing and a pair of touchdowns while also leading the Warhawks on the ground with a 150-yard running night and a touchdown. He finished 20-for-33 in the air, with two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions.
Austin Howard connected on 17-of-31 pass attempts and found comfort in throwing to senior wide receiver Willie Quinn and tight end Dillon Beard. Quinn recorded a game high nine catches for 64 yards and one touchdown. Dillon added four receptions for 55 yards.
The Jaguars’ focus shifts to next Saturday’s road game with in-state foe Tulane at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans. Southern will make the hour-long drive to the Big Easy for the third game in the Southern-Tulane series. The two teams faced off for a pair of games in the Superdome in 2001 and 2002.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN 3.
Courtesy: SU Athletics
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