The 2020 Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks football team represented the University of Louisiana at Monroe in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Warhawks played their home games at Malone Stadium in Monroe, Louisiana, and competed in the West Division of the Sun Belt Conference. They were led by fifth-year head coach Matt Viator. After the team played to an 0–10 record (0–7 in conference play), Viator was fired on December 7 in what was the worst season in the history of the program. Not only did the team finish winless for only the third time in its history, but that was combined with 10 losses for the most losses in a winless season. Also, the 50 point loss to Louisiana, their main rival, was the largest margin of defeat suffered in the history of the rivalry for either squad.
Preseason
Recruiting class
Sun Belt coaches poll The Sun Belt preseason coaches poll was released on August 25, 2020. Louisiana–Monroe was picked to finish fifth in the West Division.
Preseason All-Sun Belt teams The Warhawks had four players selected to the preseason All−Sun Belt teams; three from the offense and one from the defense.
Offense
1st team
Josh Johnson – R-SR, Running Back Josh Pederson – R-SR, Tight End
2nd team
T.J. Fiailoa – R-SR, Offensive Line
Defense
1st team
Corey Straughter – SR, Defensive Back
Schedule Louisiana–Monroe will play host to conference foes Texas State, Georgia Southern, Appalachian State, and Louisiana. They will travel to Troy, South Alabama, Georgia State, and Arkansas State
Louisiana-Monroe had games against Arkansas, Cal Poly, and Georgia, which were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Schedule source:
Game summaries
At Army
Statistics Louisiana–MonroeArmy First downs 9 24 Total yards 200 465 Rushing yards 37 436 Passing yards 163 29 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 23:13 36:47
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana–Monroe Passing Colby Suits 14/19, 148 yards, 1 TD Rushing Josh Johnson 12 carries, 38 yards Receiving Josh Pederson 5 receptions, 56 yardsArmy Passing Jemel Jones 1/2, 29 yards Rushing Jakobi Buchanan 11 carries, 106 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Isaiah Alston 1 reception, 29 yards
Texas State
Statistics Texas StateLouisiana–Monroe First downs 20 25 Total yards 398 444 Rushing yards 142 67 Passing yards 256 377 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 26:47 33:13
Team Category Player StatisticsTexas State Passing Tyler Vitt 14/21, 256 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Tyler Vitt 11 carries, 82 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jeremiah Haydel 6 receptions, 152 yards, 2 TDsLouisiana–Monroe Passing Colby Suits 35/53, 377 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Josh Johnson 17 carries, 51 yards Receiving Perry Carter Jr. 8 receptions, 98 yards
UTEP
Statistics UTEPLouisiana–Monroe First downs 21 6 Total yards 512 193 Rushing yards 210 7 Passing yards 302 186 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 39:36 20:24
Team Category Player StatisticsUTEP Passing Gavin Hardison 13/25, 302 yards Rushing Deion Hankins 22 carries, 118 yards, 3 TDs Receiving Justin Garrett 7 receptions, 120 yardsLouisiana–Monroe Passing Colby Suits 17/27, 184 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Josh Johnson 9 carries, 19 yards Receiving Jevin Frett 2 receptions, 63 yards
Georgia Southern
Statistics Georgia SouthernLouisiana–Monroe First downs 19 24 Total yards 369 426 Rushing yards 340 92 Passing yards 29 334 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 34:53 25:07
Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia Southern Passing Shai Werts 3/7, 29 yards Rushing J. D. King 21 carries, 196 yards, 1 TD Receiving Beau Johnson 1 reception, 17 yardsLouisiana–Monroe Passing Colby Suits 31/54, 334 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Colby Suits 7 carries, 51 yards Receiving Tyler Lamm 5 receptions, 66 yards
At Liberty
Statistics Louisiana–MonroeLiberty First downs 10 20 Total yards 198 400 Rushing yards 78 180 Passing yards 120 220 Turnovers 3 2 Time of possession 27:49 32:11
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana–Monroe Passing Colby Suits 13/29, 78 yards, 2 INTs Rushing Josh Johnson 13 carries, 51 yards Receiving Josh Pederson 2 receptions, 21 yardsLiberty Passing Malik Willis 11/29, 177 yards, 1 INT Rushing Malik Willis 13 carries, 87 yards, 1 TD Receiving DJ Stubbs 2 receptions, 69 yards
At South Alabama
Statistics Louisiana–MonroeSouth Alabama First downs 20 20 Total yards 380 415 Rushing yards 98 169 Passing yards 286 246 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 28:29 31:31
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana–Monroe Passing Colby Suits 23/34, 286 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Josh Johnson 15 carries, 49 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jahquan Bloomfield 3 receptions, 69 yardsSouth Alabama Passing Desmond Trotter 8/12, 184 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Carlos Davis 17 carries, 58 yards Receiving Kawaan Baker 6 receptions, 154 yards, 3 TDs
Appalachian State
Statistics Appalachian StateLouisiana–Monroe First downs 26 16 Total yards 480 222 Rushing yards 328 68 Passing yards 152 154 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 34:47 25:13
Team Category Player StatisticsAppalachian State Passing Zac Thomas 13/18, 152 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Zac Thomas 11 carries, 109 yards Receiving Malik Williams 6 receptions, 60 yards, 1 TDLouisiana–Monroe Passing Colby Suits 19/30, 134 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Isaiah Phillips 11 carries, 41 yards Receiving Josh Pederson 2 receptions, 32 yards
At Georgia State
Statistics Louisiana–MonroeGeorgia State First downs 23 23 Total yards 424 504 Rushing yards 85 263 Passing yards 339 241 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 28:16 31:44
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana–Monroe Passing Jeremy Hunt 26/39, 339 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Kadyn Roach 8 carries, 34 yards, 1 TD Receiving Perry Carter Jr. 4 receptions, 124 yards, 2 TDsGeorgia State Passing Cornelious Brown IV 20/32, 241 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Destin Coates 20 carries, 102 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Cornelious McCoy 7 receptions, 118 yards, 2 TDs
Louisiana
Statistics LouisianaLouisiana–Monroe First downs 26 14 Total yards 511 247 Rushing yards 344 125 Passing yards 167 122 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 31:54 28:06
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 18/25, 147 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Trey Ragas 11 carries, 95 yards, 1 TD Receiving Kyren Lacy 5 receptions, 48 yards, 1 TDLouisiana–Monroe Passing Jeremy Hunt 14/32, 121 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Kadyn Roach 7 carries, 65 yards Receiving Jonathan Hodoh 1 reception, 43 yards
References