The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Memphis
UAB Keeps 'Bones' With Historic Comeback
11/12/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 12, 2011
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) ---- Quarterback Jonathan Perry threw for a career-high 410 yards and four touchdowns and Greg Franklin scored on a 10-yard run with 1:36 left to cap UAB's largest fourth-quarter comeback in school history in a 41-35 win over Memphis Saturday at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
The Blazers have now claimed the "Battle for the Bones" trophy in three straight meetings against Memphis (2-8, 1-5 Conference USA) and have defeated the Tigers in 10 of 14 all-time contests.
UAB (2-8, 2-5 C-USA) trailed 35-17 entering the final quarter before scoring 24 unanswered points.
Perry accounted for a career-high 457 yards of total offense, 410 through the air and 47 on the ground, both personal-bests. His total offense number was the third-most in the UAB record books and the most by a Blazer since Joe Webb accounted for 459 (322 passing, 137 rushing) against UCF in 2009.
The feverish comeback started on Ty Long's 24-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.
Perry then threw an 18-yard pass to Nick Adams to make the score 35-27 with 9:51 left. Later in the fourth, Perry, who finished 29-for-48 under center, brought the Blazers within two, 35-33, on a 42-yard score to Jamarcus Nelson with 7:08 left in the contest.
Nelson finished with career highs in receptions (six) and receiving yards (133) along with a pair of scores. His 133-yard receiving total marked the most by UAB player since Frantrell Forrest had 149 at Florida Atlantic in 2008.
In the UAB backfield, Franklin finished the night with career highs in rushing (73) and receiving (70) yards. His 143 total yards were also a personal best to go along with his game-winning touchdown, the first of his career.
For the game the Blazers outgained the Tigers 601 to 384 in total offense as UAB accounted for the fourth-most yards in a game in UAB lore.
The 18-point fourth-quarter, come-from-behind victory was the largest in program history. The greatest previous final stanza comeback was 13 points on two occasions, against Butler in 1993 and versus Troy in 2010.
UAB will now have a short week to prepare for a Thursday meeting with Southern Miss at Legion Field. It will be the final home game of the season for UAB. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT with the game to be televised by CBS Sports Network.
