Nov. 17, 2001
Recap?|?
Final Stats
Robertson Stadium, Houston, Texas
(Records: UAB 6-4, 5-2 C-USA, Houston 0-10, 0-7 C-USA)
UAB wins its fourth straight game. The win streak equals the Blazers'
longest of the school's NCAA Division I-A era (the previous four-game streak
came during the 1996 season, UAB's first as a Division I-A team).
With six wins, the Blazers are "bowl eligible" for the second straight
season.
The Blazers now lead the series with Houston 2-0, including the 1999 win
at Legion Field (UAB 29, UH 10, Sept. 25, 1999).
The Blazers held Houston to -6 net rushing yards, that's the fewest ever
allowed by a UAB team vs. a Division I-A team (the all-time UAB record is
-37 vs. Washington & Lee in a Division III game in 1991).
The Blazers entered the Houston game ranked first in Division I-A in
rushing defense, only one team -- Florida State (135) -- has rushed for 100
or more net yards vs. the Blazers this season.
UAB has not allowed an opposing runner to finish with 100 or more net
rushing yards in 23 straight games, dating back to the 1999 season.
UAB quarterback Thomas Cox is now 6-0 as a starter (4-0 in 2001, 1-0 in
both 1999 and 2000). Cox has started all four games in the Blazers' current
win streak.
UAB's 43 points in the Houston game was more than its point total in its
four previous road games this season (31). The Blazers' road scoring average
jumped from 7.8 points per game to 14.8 per game.
The Blazers are now averaging 29.1 points per game vs. league opponents
(seven games).
Cox' s first-quarter touchdown pass to Willie Quinnie was UAB's first
score through the air in a road game this season. It was also the second
time this season that the Blazers have scored a touchdown on their first
possession of the game (the other was vs. Army, Sept. 22).
Cox recorded his second 100+-yard rushing game of the 2001 season,
finishing the game with 133 yards on 25 carries, with two touchdowns.
The Houston game was Cox's first game of the 2001 season in which he both
passed for and ran for at least one touchdown (he passed for one and ran for
two in the East Carolina game in 1999).
It was the third time in Cox's career (1999- ) that he has rushed for two
touchdowns in a game.
Running back Jegil Dugger had his third 100+yard rushing game vs. the
Cougars, finishing with 116 yards on 23 carries. Dugger now has 1,937 career
rushing yards (438 carries), just 63 short of 2,000 for his career.
Running back Kendal Gibson did it again vs. Houston, scoring a touchdown
on a one-yard run in the first quarter. Gibson now has six touchdowns on 28
carries, UAB is 5-1 in games in which Gibson scores a touchdown this season.
Place kicker Nick Hayes had an excellent game vs. Houston, connecting on
field goals of 27, 30 and 43 yards and making all four PAT attempts (he
finished the game with 13 points). Hayes narrowly missed what would have
been a UAB-record 53-yard field goal on the final play of the first half.
The three field goals was a career high for Hayes.
Hayes' 27-yarder in the second quarter was his first under 40 yards as a
Blazer.
The Blazers' 15-play scoring drive in the first quarter, which resulted in
a one-yard Kendal Gibson touchdown run, is the team's longest -- by number
of plays -- of the 2001 season.
Willie Quinnie's 29-yard punt return early in the fourth quarter was a
season superlative (the previous high was 26 yards by Quinnie at Southern
Miss, Sept. 29).
Senior defensive end Bryan Thomas had two sacks in the Houston game,
raising his season total to 13 and his career total to 34 (he is UAB's
all-time sack leader).
Sophomore defensive back Thurman Pearson recorded his first interception
as a Blazer in the final minutes of the Houston game, Pearson made it count,
returning the pick 43 yards for a touchdown.
Pearson was the second Blazer in as many weeks to return an interception
for a touchdown. Last week vs. TCU (Nov. 10), cornerback Dio Hill picked
off a pass and returned it 45 yards for a score.
UAB has the week of Nov. 19-25 off, and then finishes the regular season
with a non-conference game at Pittsburgh on Saturday, Dec. 1 (1:30 pm EST
kickoff).
