UAB Opens Conference USA Action at Home Against Charlotte

BIRMINGHAM - Following its bye week, the UAB football team opens the Conference USA slate on Saturday night at home against Charlotte. Kickoff at Legion Field is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN3.

This will be UAB's third home game of the season and the Blazers look to set a school record with their ninth-consecutive victory at Legion Field. UAB is 8-0 at home since returning to the playing field in 2017.

Who: UAB (2-1, 0-0 C-USA) vs. Charlotte (2-2, 1-0 C-USA)
Where: Legion Field - Birmingham, Ala.
When: 6 p.m. CST
Watch: ESPN3
On the Call: Mike Grace (Play-by-Play), Chad Pilcher (Color), Madi Morris (Sideline)
Listen: 100.5 FM WJOX2
On the Call: David Crane (Play-by-Play), Steve Irvine (Color), Trey Ragland (Sideline)
Series: Charlotte leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Oct. 21, 2017: Charlotte 25, UAB 24 (OT)

STORYLINES:

During UAB's current eight-game home winning streak, the Blazers have averaged 34.9 points per game and have had an ability to win the close ones. Four of those eight victories have been one-possession wins.
Spencer Brown carries his league-high 99.0 rushing yards per game into Conference USA action. Brown has two 100-yard rushing performances in his first three games and turns his attention to C-USA action where he averaged 128.9 yards/game during his All-America freshman campaign last year.
Brown has been the lead beneficiary of a veteran offensive line, which has the Blazers ranked first in C-USA and eighth nationally in rushing yards per game. UAB is averaging 280.0 yards on the ground and has had no less than 269 rushing yards in every game this season. The line has also been fantastic in pass protection as it has only allowed two sacks, the lowest in C-USA and tied for sixth nationally.
It will be strength versus strength on Saturday as UAB's No. 1 rushing offense will be paired against Charlotte's No. 1 rushing defense. The 49ers are allowing just 98.8 yards per game on the ground this season.
The Blazer defense impressively ranks second nationally in passing yards allowed at just 123.3 per game heading into Week 5. Opposing quarterbacks are just a combined 19-of-61 for 370 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions against the Blazers.
A major reason for the success in the secondary is the amount of pressure the Blazers have generated up front. Coming off a six-sack performance against Tulane, UAB ranks 10th nationally in sacks per game at 3.3.
The defensive unit is also one of 19 teams in the nation to have multiple defensive touchdowns this year. Along with Chris Woolbright's 34-yard interception return for a TD against Savannah State, Garrett Marino had a 48-yard scoop and score against Tulane which was forced via a sack-fumble by Kristopher Moll.
Charlotte is coming off a 49-31 loss at UMass, but is leading the C-USA East Division after defeating Old Dominion 28-25 in an early-season league showdown. Redshirt freshman quarterback Chris Reynolds had a career-high 283-yard, three-touchdown performance against the Minutemen. He has thrown for 200+ yards in three of Charlotte's first four games.

The Blazers will honor former C-USA and SEC Commissioner Mike Slive at the game on Saturday. A Birmingham native, Slive was on the forefront of Prostate Cancer Research and awareness until he passed away earlier this year.

Please help double the UAB Athletics Foundation of $25,000 to the Mike Slive Foundation by donating today. Prostate Cancer Awareness Month will culminate with an on-field check presentation during the first half of Saturday's game.

Tickets to the Charlotte game are available by clicking here. Additional updates on UAB_FB can be received by following @UAB_FB on Twitter and Instagram.

UAB Opens Conference USA Action at Home Against Charlotte

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Players Mentioned

Spencer Brown

Garrett Marino

Kristopher Moll

Chris Woolbright

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics