The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
East Carolina
Blazers Fall To Pirates, 31-23
11/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 26, 2005
GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) - ECU's James Pinkney threw for two touchdowns and scored on a 24-yard keeper in the fourth quarter Saturday to lead East Carolina past UAB 31-23.
UAB, which had entered the game needing a victory to become bowl eligible, finished the season with a 5-6 overall record, 3-5 in C-USA play. The finish Saturday was a disappointing way to end a frustrating season for the Blazers who had entered the campaign expecting to challenge for C-USA Eastern Division supremacy.
Quarterback Darrell Hackney, one of the most prolific passers in league history and one of the best in the nation this season, had a tough afternoon as he threw three interceptions for the first time in his career despite throwing for 278 yards.
Hackney finished the season with 3,180 yards passing. His career totals are impressive. The native of Atlanta concluded his brilliant career at UAB with 9,886 yards passing, fourth all-time in C-USA. He tossed 71 touchdown passes, the sixth-best total in league history.
Hackney and Corey White each ran for touchdowns for the Blazers Saturday who were trying to become bowl eligible for the third time in five seasons. UAB reached its first bowl last season, but its bid for a repeat trip ultimately faded when the Blazers fell behind in the third quarter and never recovered.
Pinkney made his biggest play even though top receiver Aundrae Allison, who earlier had become the first player in school history with a 1,000-yard receiving season, sat out almost the entire second half with a knee injury. Pinkney also led the Pirates despite getting little help from the ground game, where Chris Johnson managed 52 yards and a score.
Pinkney found Good for a 55-yard touchdown in the first half, and went to him again to put the Pirates ahead to stay. Pinkney found Good on the right side of the end zone for the 15-yard score - an official ruled that Good was allowed to come back inbounds and make the catch because the defender had pushed him out - and a 24-17 lead with 7:17 left in the third quarter.
The Blazers clawed to within 24-23 on a pair of field goals by Parker Mullins. But Pinkney gave the Pirates some breathing room when he escaped the collapsing pocket against the blitz and raced down the middle of the field for a 31-23 lead with 10:22 to play.
The Blazers had two chances to tie it in the final 4 minutes. But one drive ended with a fourth-down incompletion with about 3 minutes left, and the second ended when Hackney threw his second interception to Pierre Bell with 1:52 to go.
