SHREVEPORT, La. – With a month to prepare – and heal – the Ohio football team hopes to change the course of the end of its season with a victory against Louisiana-Monroe in the Independence Bowl on Friday.

Hammered by injuries, the Bobcats (8-4) lost four of their last five games, but are hoping to have some injured starters back against the Warhawks (8-4). This biggest gain could be on the defensive line, where Neal Huynh and Carl Jones are hopeful to play. Defensive end Tremayne Scott has missed the last seven games.

Ohio is playing in its fourth straight bowl game, having won for the first time in its sixth-ever bowl appearance, 24-23, with a touchdown in the final seconds against Utah State in last year’s Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. ULM is making its first-ever bowl appearance in its first winning season since moving up to the Division I-A level in 1994.

Like Ohio, ULM had injury struggles, which contributed to two straight Sun Belt losses that came after a five-game winning streak. Quarterback Kolton Browning (6-1, 194), the league’s player of the year, missed most of both defeats, but came back for two victories that closed out the season.

The Warhawk’s other two losses were an overtime defeat at Auburn and a five-point setback against Baylor and came on the heels of an overtime victory against then-No. 8 Arkansas.

In barely more than 10 games, Browning has thrown for 2,830 yards and 27 touchdowns with only seven interceptions. He has completed 64.8 percent of his passes. He also is the team’s leading rusher with 441 yards and seven scores.

He has helped his team average 442.7 yards and 35.5 points per game this year. Brent Leonard (6-2, 186) has been the top target with 97 catches for 1,042 yards and 10 touchdowns. Je’Ron Hamm (6-3, 222) has made 58 grabs for 862 yards and six scores, while Tavarese Maye (6-0, 179) has caught 52 passes for 554 yards with three touchdowns.

With injuries to two starting running backs, the Warkhawks have struggled to run the ball, averaging 4.3 yards per play and 146.0 yards per game. Jyruss Edwards had 438 yards and six scores before his injury. Montrelle Washington (5-10, 205) has been the team’s next-leading rusher with 379 yards and six touchdowns.

Defensively, ULM uses a unique 3-3-5 defense that includes a hybrid linebacker-defensive back “Hawk” position in the secondary, but the team’s original starter in that key spot, Mitch Lane (39 tackles in seven games), suffered a season-ending injury.

The Warhawks have given up an average of 27.8 points and 407.3 yards per game, with struggles coming in the secondary (271.5 yards per game) and success coming against the run (135.8 yards per game).

ULM’s defensive front of Joey Gautney (6-1, 240), Gerrand Johnson (6-0, 292) and Darius Lively (6-3, 245) have helped the team total 75 tackles for loss, including 24 sacks. Opponents have carried for only 3.8 yards per attempts against the Warhawks.

With an injury to starting middle linebacker Cameron Blakes early in the season, R.J. Young (5-11, 240) has been the team’s top tackler with 90. Ray Stovall (6-2, 230) has a team-leading 13.5 tackles for loss.

Ohio’s offense has averaged 30.5 points and 435.5 yards per game with balance, but will work with an offensive line that will be missing two starters, right tackle Ryan McGrath and guard left Vince Carlotta. Bryce Dietz and Jon Lechner will start in their places.

Beau Blankenship (5-9, 202) has led Ohio’s offense with a school record 1,500 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. His backup Ryan Boykin (445 yards) is out, leaving true freshman Daz’mond Patterson (5-6, 178) as the reserve.

Hampered by an injury, quarterback Tyler Tettleton (6-0, 200) has not put up numbers quite as big as last year, but they still are impressive. He is one of three players in the nation with at least 15 touchdowns and three interceptions or less. He has completed 62.0 percent of his passes for 2,513 yards, but has only 210 rushing yards after carrying for 658 last year.

Donte Foster (6-1, 193) has been the Bobcats’ top receiver with 56 catches for 629 yards and seven touchdowns. Bakari Bussey (6-2, 205) has made 37 receptions for 313 yards.

Ohio’s defense has allowed 25.7 points and 395.0 yards per game, ranking in the middle of the conference in both rushing and passing defense.

Linebacker Keith Moore (6-0, 219) leads the Bobcats with 89 tackles, while fellow linebacker Jelani Woseley (6-2, 205) has a team-best three interceptions.

Jones (6-1, 245) leads the defensive line with 53 tackles, including 5.5 for loss, while Corey Hasting (6-1, 261) has 51 tackles – seven of those for loss.

In the secondary, Josh Kristoff (6-0, 194) has 56 tackles, while cornerbacks Larenzo Fisher (5-11, 170) and Ian Wells (5-11, 192) have combined for 88 tackles and 15 pass breakups.

In the special teams game, Ohio sports the school’s all-time leading scorer, Matt Weller, who has made 23 of 30 field goals this year, including 7 of 8 from 40-49 yards. However, the Bobcats have struggled in their punting game.

The Warhawks’ Justin Matton has attempted only eight field goals, having made seven of them with a long of 47 yards.

Game time is 2 p.m. at Independence Stadium on ESPN.