The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Saturday, November 11
San Antonio, Texas
6 p.m.
UAB
24
at
19
UTSA
UAB Tops UTSA 24-19 in San Antonio
11/11/2017 10:45:00 PM | Football
SAN ANTONIO – A.J. Erdely set the UAB single season record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback and UAB matched a program record for FBS victories with a 24-19 win at UTSA on Saturday night at the Alamodome.
The Blazers are now 7-3 on the season and 5-2 in C-USA play. The five conference wins also match a program record. UAB has won three straight and five of its last six games.
Facing the league's No. 1 ranked rush defense, true freshman Spencer Brown had 27 carries for 128 yards for his sixth 100-yard rushing game of the season. In the process, Brown moved into third place on UAB's single season rushing list and now has 1,177 yards this season.
The Blazers rushed for 216 yards overall and have now tallied at least two touchdowns on the ground in every game this season. Erdely scored both rushing touchdowns to bring his season total to 12, passing Joe Webb's previous QB record of 11 which he did in 2008 and 2009.
UAB's defense was lights out with three takeaways and 10 tackles for loss. Tevin Crews had a team-high eight tackles and a sack, while Broderick Thomas and Fitzgerald Mofor each had seven tackles. The Blazers held the league's most efficient passer Dalton Sturm to 17-of-37 for only 162 yards.
Safety Will Dawkins came up with the defense's first big play as he picked off Sturm on the games second snap and returned it to the plus 28. The Blazers quickly turned that into seven points as Erdely capped off a four-play drive with a 4-yard rush to give UAB a 7-0 lead just three minutes in.
UTSA (5-4, 2-4) got on the board with a 28-yard field goal, but the Blazers responded with a 10-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 6-yard touchdown pass from Erdely to Ronnie Turner Jr. to give UAB a 14-3 lead after one. It was the first career touchdown reception for Turner Jr.
UAB surged ahead 21-3 with 6:45 to go in the first half when Erdely's QB sneak gave him the rushing record. UTSA tacked on a field goal with 18 seconds left in the half and UAB took a 21-6 lead into the locker room.
The Blazers and Roadrunners played to a scoreless third quarter which had three total turnovers, two for UAB and one for UTSA.
The final turnover of the third quarter was an Erdely fumble in Blazer territory which UTSA turned into seven points early in the fourth on a 22-yard scramble by Sturm to make the score 21-13 in favor of UAB with 13:11 left in contest.
After a UAB three-and-out, UTSA had its momentum halted when linebacker Thomas Johnston had a strip sack which nose tackle Garrett Marino fell on. The UAB offense converted that into a crucial three points as Nick Vogel connect on a career-long 48-yard field goal with 8:32 remaining in the game.
UTSA added a touchdown 1:11 left to make the score 24-19 and went for two which was denied on a PBU by Darious Williams. The ensuing onside kick was corralled by Collin Lisa and UAB lined up in victory formation to seal the win.
The Blazers now head to The Swamp for a non-conference game next Saturday against Florida. Kick is set for 4 p.m. EST/3 p.m. CST on the SEC Network.
The Blazers are now 7-3 on the season and 5-2 in C-USA play. The five conference wins also match a program record. UAB has won three straight and five of its last six games.
Facing the league's No. 1 ranked rush defense, true freshman Spencer Brown had 27 carries for 128 yards for his sixth 100-yard rushing game of the season. In the process, Brown moved into third place on UAB's single season rushing list and now has 1,177 yards this season.
The Blazers rushed for 216 yards overall and have now tallied at least two touchdowns on the ground in every game this season. Erdely scored both rushing touchdowns to bring his season total to 12, passing Joe Webb's previous QB record of 11 which he did in 2008 and 2009.
UAB's defense was lights out with three takeaways and 10 tackles for loss. Tevin Crews had a team-high eight tackles and a sack, while Broderick Thomas and Fitzgerald Mofor each had seven tackles. The Blazers held the league's most efficient passer Dalton Sturm to 17-of-37 for only 162 yards.
Safety Will Dawkins came up with the defense's first big play as he picked off Sturm on the games second snap and returned it to the plus 28. The Blazers quickly turned that into seven points as Erdely capped off a four-play drive with a 4-yard rush to give UAB a 7-0 lead just three minutes in.
UTSA (5-4, 2-4) got on the board with a 28-yard field goal, but the Blazers responded with a 10-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 6-yard touchdown pass from Erdely to Ronnie Turner Jr. to give UAB a 14-3 lead after one. It was the first career touchdown reception for Turner Jr.
UAB surged ahead 21-3 with 6:45 to go in the first half when Erdely's QB sneak gave him the rushing record. UTSA tacked on a field goal with 18 seconds left in the half and UAB took a 21-6 lead into the locker room.
The Blazers and Roadrunners played to a scoreless third quarter which had three total turnovers, two for UAB and one for UTSA.
The final turnover of the third quarter was an Erdely fumble in Blazer territory which UTSA turned into seven points early in the fourth on a 22-yard scramble by Sturm to make the score 21-13 in favor of UAB with 13:11 left in contest.
After a UAB three-and-out, UTSA had its momentum halted when linebacker Thomas Johnston had a strip sack which nose tackle Garrett Marino fell on. The UAB offense converted that into a crucial three points as Nick Vogel connect on a career-long 48-yard field goal with 8:32 remaining in the game.
UTSA added a touchdown 1:11 left to make the score 24-19 and went for two which was denied on a PBU by Darious Williams. The ensuing onside kick was corralled by Collin Lisa and UAB lined up in victory formation to seal the win.
The Blazers now head to The Swamp for a non-conference game next Saturday against Florida. Kick is set for 4 p.m. EST/3 p.m. CST on the SEC Network.
Players Mentioned
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