After firing Head Coach David Elson last Sunday, Athletics Director Wood Selig suggested the Toppers might go out and prove him wrong.

For three quarters, they did.

Western entered the fourth quarter up 12-7 over Louisiana-Monroe but came out on the wrong end of a back-and-forth scoring exchange, going on to lose 21-18.

Elson said the players didn’t let his firing get to them in one of the Toppers’ grittiest performances of the season. Only three cornerbacks made the extended trip to Monroe, La. for Saturday’s game.

“I was really proud of the way we played the full 60 minutes,” Elson told Western’s Big Red Radio. “From a banged-up standpoint, they battled and fought and did everything they could.

“Once again, it just shows how close we are, and we couldn’t pull it out.”

Western carried its 12-7 halftime lead over to the beginning of the fourth quarter, but following up on a 33-yard punt return by ULM sophomore running back Luther Ambrose to end the third quarter, junior running back Frank Goodin shook off a tackle and broke free for a 48-yard touchdown run to put the Warhawks on top 14-12.

The Toppers answered with their lone touchdown drive of the second half, a nine-play, 80-yard drive capped by a 1-yard sneak by senior quarterback Brandon Smith.

It wasn’t enough.

Facing a four-point deficit and a ticking clock, ULM stuck to its ground game and finished a five-minute scoring drive with a 3-yard touchdown run by junior Rodney Lovett.

Western’s answer — a 32-yard field goal attempt by sophomore kicker Casey Tinius — soared left of the uprights. When the Topper offense got the ball back with 56 seconds left, they didn’t have time to put together a winning drive.

Senior receiver Jake Gaebler said that with only two more games left, he’s trying to put distractions aside and finish with a pair of wins.

“It was definitely a little bit of an emotional roller coaster today,” Gaebler said. “I thought we played a little looser. As far as preparation was concerned, we took it like any other game…we’re going to continue to fight through these last two games of the season.”

Gaebler caught seven passed for 106 yards to lead all receivers.

ULM got on the board early with a 9-yard run by junior quarterback Trey Revell, but Western responded two Warhawk offensive drives later when sophomore safety Trent Calhoun intercepted a Revell pass and situated the Western offense in the red zone.

Aided by three Warhawk turnovers and 13 penalties, Western was able to hold good field position but failed to finish a drive in the end zone in the first half.

Tinius missed his first attempt, but went on to make his next four to put the Toppers ahead at halftime for the first time this season.

Elson said the leading factor behind the Toppers’ latest loss was the struggle to capitalize off ULM’s three first-half turnovers. Instead of scoring touchdowns, Western instead came away with field goals.

“We had trouble executing once we got closer to the end zone throughout the day, and that ended up being kind of what kept us from getting there,” Elson said. “It comes down to execution in those critical situations, and we just weren’t able to do that.

“You’ve got to give credit to their defense. They’re second place in the league for a reason.”

Goodin led all rushers with 169 yards on 19 carries, and Jakes’ 188 yards were a game high.

Western ended the game trailing ULL in most every statistical category but did not give up a turnover and committed only five penalties.