UAB Defeats Charlotte 34-20; Wins Sixth Straight at Home

Saturday, October 15

Protective Stadium

2:30 p.m.

UAB

4-2 , 2-1

Charlotte

1-6 , 0-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Charlotte

UAB

UAB Defeats Charlotte 34-20; Wins Sixth Straight at Home

10/15/2022 7:09:00 PM | Football

Box Score Box Score Season Stats Postgame Notes Photos

BIRMINGHAM – UAB put up over 500 yards of offense for a second straight game and forced three second half turnovers to lift the Blazers to a 34-20 victory over Charlotte on Saturday afternoon.

The Blazers (4-2, 2-1 C-USA) have now won six in a row at home and are 7-2 overall at Protective and 28-3 in Birmingham since returning to action in 2017.

DeWayne McBride rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns, while Dylan Hopkins threw for 231 yards and added 103 on the ground. McBride has now scored a rushing touchdown in 12 straight games and has rushed for over 100 in six straight. He has 778 rushing yards (155.6/game) and 11 rushing touchdowns in five games this season.

Grayson Cash had two interception in the second half, while Jaylen Key forced a fumble which Will Boler recovered to help UAB outscore Charlotte 24-6 in the second half.

The visitors got off to a quick start on Saturday as Charlotte picked off Dylan Hopkins' deep ball on the first play from scrimmage. Three plays into the 49ers drive, Chris Reynolds found Elijah Spencer deep over the middle for a 60-yard TD.

The Blazers responded with a quick drive of their own, highlighted by TJ Jones' 64-yard catch and run to put UAB in the red zone. DeWayne McBride continued his streak of 12-straight games with a touchdown, punching it in from one yard out to tie the game at seven.

After stopping a Charlotte fourth down attempt just shy of midfield, the Blazers were able to set up a 41-yard field goal attempt, but it was no good. Following the missed field goal, the 49ers drove down the field in six plays to take a 14-7 lead on a Shadrick Byrd touchdown run from two yards out.

The Blazers drove all the way down to the one-yard line on the ensuing drive, but they were unable to get into the end zone.

Late in the second quarter, the Blazers were able to get on the board with a field goal from Matt Quinn after a 15-play, 50-yard drive that stalled at the three-yard line.

The second half started very similarly to the first. Chris Reynolds' pass deep down the right side of the field was picked off by Grayson Cash on the first play from scrimmage. The Blazers were able to move the ball down into the red zone, but UAB had to settle for just three points on the Quinn 29-yard attempt.

The UAB defense forced another turnover on the following Charlotte drive. Jaylen Key forced a fumble that was picked up by Will Boler to halt the 49ers' drive at the UAB 27. Dylan Hopkins led UAB down the field in 10 plays, putting the Blazers ahead with a nine-yard TD pass to Tejhaun Palmer. The two-point conversion was no good, leaving the score at 19-14 for UAB.

The 49ers punched it in to the end zone on the first play of the fourth quarter after quickly driving down the field. Shadrick Byrd found the end zone for the second time in the contest with another one-yard rushing TD. Charlotte could not convert on the two-point try to leave the score at 20-19 for the 49ers.

Not to be outdone, DeWayne McBride responded with a 13-yard touchdown carry after getting the drive started with a 23-yard rush. The Blazers' two-point conversion was successful to extend the lead to seven points.

Dylan Hopkins iced the game with just over one minute remaining on the clock with a 61-yard run for a touchdown, putting the Blazers ahead 34-20.

The Blazers now begin a two-game road swing, beginning next Friday night, Oct. 21 at WKU (4-3, 2-1). Kickoff on CBS Sport Network is set for 7 p.m.