The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Houston
Blazers Storm Back To Defeat Cougars, 51-34
10/12/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct 12, 2002
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Darrell Hackney threw three touchdown passes and UAB overcame a 22-point first-half deficit to beat Houston 51-34 on Saturday.
Houston (2-4, 0-3 Conference USA) used a strong running attack, led by Joffrey Reynolds, to take a 28-6 lead. But UAB (3-3, 2-0) used Hackney's passing and two critical Houston turnovers in the third quarter to score 38 unanswered points.
The Blazers' comeback started when Hackney hit Roddy White for a 21-yard touchdown pass with 16 seconds left in the first half, cutting Houston's lead to 28-13.
"That was a really big win for us," said UAB head coach Watson Brown. "That was a bigger win than our last game. This is our biggest win of the year because of the way we were able to come back. We were down 28-6 with 30 seconds to go in the first half and we came back and won the game. It's a credit to our kids to come back and regroup at the half."
Hackney finished the game hitting 18-of-34 passes for 329 yards, a UAB single-game record in its NCAA Division I-A era (began in 1996).
A 42-yard field goal by UAB's Nick Hayes made it 28-16 early in the third quarter. Hayes converted all three of his field goal attempts in the game, keeping his perfect record (9-of-9) intact for the 2002 season.
The game turned in UAB's favor when linebacker Zac Woodfin intercepted a pass by Nick Eddy at the Cougar 28-yard line and returned it to the 1. Kendal Gibson scored, bringing UAB to 28-23.
On Houston's next possession, Reynolds fumbled and UAB's Carlos Hendricks recovered at the Cougar 24. Hackney hit Chico Cleveland with a 10-yard touchdown pass, giving UAB its first lead, 30-28.
UAB took control with two touchdowns early in the fourth quarter - a 1-yard run by Gibson, and a 51-yard TD reception by Willie Quinnie. Quinnie's 156 yards receiving in the game (six receptions) was a personal best for the UAB senior.
Houston closed to 44-34 on a 16-yard scoring pass from Eddy to Chris Robertson with 7:24 left to play.
But KeyKowa Bell fumbled on a punt return and UAB's Thomas Arnold recovered at the Houston 45.
UAB added a late 2-yard touchdown run by Theron Dudley to close out the scoring.
Reynolds finished with 148 yards rushing on 26 carries for Houston - 127 of those came in the first half.
Quinnie had six catches for 156 yards.
UAB, playing its fourth home game this season, won't be back at Legion Field until Nov. 9 when the Blazers play host to Southern Mississippi. UAB will visit Tulane next Saturday before travelling to Army on Oct. 26.
