UAB Welcomes Louisiana Tech to Protective Stadium on Saturday

BIRMINGHAM – The UAB football team enters the home stretch of its 2021 season this Saturday, Nov. 6, as the Blazers host Louisiana Tech at Protective Stadium for Salute to Service. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. on CBS Sports Network.

Following its one and only bye week, UAB has four regular season games remaining and controls its own destiny of winning a fourth-consecutive C-USA West Division title. The Blazers can win the West if they win out against Louisiana Tech, Marshall, UTSA and UTEP.

Who: UAB (5-3, 3-1 C-USA) vs. Louisiana Tech (2-6, 1-3 C-USA)
Where: Protective Stadium – Birmingham, Ala.
When: Saturday, Nov. 6 – 11 a.m.
Watch: CBS Sports Network
On The Call: Chick Hernandez (play-by-play), Randy Cross (color)
Listen: WJOX 94.5 FM
On The Call: David Crane (play-by-play), Steve Irvine (color), Trey Ragland (sideline)
Series: Louisiana Tech leads, 6-3
Last Meeting: Oct. 31, 2020 – Louisiana Tech, 37-34 (2OT)

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:

With it being an 11 a.m. kick, fans should be aware of adjusted times to pregame festivities. Parking and tailgate lots open at 7 a.m., while Blazer Village opens at 8 a.m. Additionally, the Blazer Walk has been pushed back 15 minutes to 9 a.m.
UAB Athletics is also running a special Family Four Pack this Saturday which features four tickets for $40. Click here to redeem this offer.
Since UAB's return in 2017, this game against Louisiana Tech has turned into one of the more competitive rivalries in Conference USA with three of the last four contests being decided by one possession. Despite UAB trailing 6-3 in the all-times series, the Blazers are 3-1 against the Bulldogs since returning to action five years ago.
Quarterback Dylan Hopkins is making his sixth straight start this Saturday. In five starts this season, Hopkins is averaging 206 passing yards per game. Overall, Hopkins has thrown for 1,291 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions. Hopkins is coming off a career-high 318 passing yards against Rice.
His top target has been tight end Gerrit Prince who is putting together an All-America worthy campaign. Prince paces the team with 21 catches for 471 yards and seven touchdowns. He leads all tight ends nationally in yards per catch (22.43) and ranks third in touchdown receptions.
Sophomore running back DeWayne McBride has led the UAB rushing attack and enters the game with 627 rushing yards and four touchdowns, while averaging a healthy 5.9 yards per carry. McBride is averaging 116 rushing yards per game over his last two contests and goes up against a Louisiana Tech defense that is allowing 154.5 rushing yards per game this year.
The UAB defense enters the contest against Louisiana Tech ranking 22nd nationally in total defense. UAB looks to end the season strong in hopes of finishing inside the top 10 nationally in total defense for a fourth-straight season.
UAB has been forcing turnovers at a high rate, having notched at least one turnover in seven consecutive games. The Blazers have created 14 total turnovers this year and 12 in the last six games. UAB has eight interceptions and six fumble recoveries this season.
The turnover battle will be key in Saturday's game as Louisiana Tech has forced 17 turnovers this year which ranks them ninth nationally (12 fumble recoveries, five interceptions).
Despite Louisiana Tech's 2-6 overall record, the Bulldogs have been very close to winning a handful of marquee games. Their first five games were all decided by one possession, which included a one point loss at Mississippi State, a two point loss to SMU on a Hail Mary as time expired and a seven point loss at NC State.

Following the game this Saturday, UAB has back-to-back road games at Marshall (Nov. 13) and at UTSA (Nov. 20), before ending the season in Birmingham against UTEP (Nov. 26).

Single game tickets and parking are available by clicking here or calling the UAB Athletics ticket office at 205-975-UAB1.

UAB Welcomes Louisiana Tech to Protective Stadium on Saturday

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Players Mentioned

Dylan Hopkins

DeWayne McBride

Gerrit Prince

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics