The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
RICE
UAB Opens Season With 44-24 Win Over Rice
9/5/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 5, 2009
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- Senior quarterback Joe Webb rushed for a record 194 yards and passed for 221 more -- accounting for four touchdowns -- to lead UAB to a 44-24 victory over Rice Saturday in the season opener for both teams.
Webb rushing total on 20 carries established a Conference USA record for yards on the ground in a single game by a quarterback, breaking the old mark of 177 yards set by another Blazer (Thomas Cox) vs. Tulane in 2001. Webb accounted for 415 yards of offense as the Blazers (1-0, 1-0 C-USA) exploded for 513 overall.
UAB's 44 points represented the Blazers' highest point total in a conference game since they scored 45 in a 45-26 over Rice in 2005.
UAB took a 27-3 halftime lead behind Webb, who accounted for the game's first four touchdowns. He had scoring runs of 15 and a career-long 71 yards and completed touchdown passes of nine and 22 yards to Frantrell Forrest as UAB took a convincing halftime lead.
"Obviously, we're very happy to come out of this game with a win," said UAB head coach Neil Callaway, now in his third year. "I take my hat off to Rice. I thought they fought throughout the game. They did a lot of nice things. They lost a lot of people off last year's team.
"Our coaching staff did a great job. I think our players played hard, but we still have a lot of work to do."
Forrest finished with four catches for 64 yards and Jeffrey Anderson had three receptions for 65 yards.
UAB offered a balanced attack in the victory as the Blazers rushed for 295 yards and passed for 221. In addition to Webb's pair of rushing touchdowns, sophomore RB Dexter Barnett scored on a 10-yard after taking the snap in the wildcat formation. Justin Brooks also recorded a rushing score, scoring from seven yards out in the third quarter.
While the Blazers turned in an overall team effort in recording their first win of the 2009 season, there was no doubt it was Webb who was the leader on the day.
"He was a big, big, big part of this football game for us," Callaway said of Webb. "I think his numbers were good as far as the completion ratio. Joe is a very special football player. For us to be as successful as we need to be, we're going to have to get other people more involved."
Rice QB Nick Fanuzzi rushed for an 8-yard score and completed a 52-yard touchdown pass to Luke Willson for the Owls (0-1, 0-1). Fanuzzi was 12 of 20 for 154 yards.
UAB will enjoy Saturday's victory for a short time before the Blazers begin their preparations for another C-USA contest, next Saturday's home game with the SMU Mustangs. That game is scheduled for a 3:00 p.m. CT kickoff at Legion Field.
