The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
UCF (CSTV)
UAB Falls to UCF, 45-31
11/10/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 10, 2007
Final Stats | Photo Gallery 
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) ----- UCF's Kevin Smith rushed for 320 yards and four touchdowns to help the Knights break away from a tie game in the third quarter en route to a 45-31 Conference USA win over UAB. The Blazers' offense got untracked against UCF but the defense had few answers for the talented Smith.
Smith, a junior from Miami, shattered his previous career high of 223 yards, set earlier this season against Louisiana-Lafayette. He had scoring runs of 2, 3, 8 and 41 yards and set a single-game school rushing record.
Smith broke UCF's single season rushing record with a 20-yard run in the first quarter.
When asked to compare Smith to Tulane's Matt Forte, the nation's leading rusher who ran for 209 yards against UAB, Blazers' head coach Neil Callaway said, "I think they're a lot alike, I really do. Smith is more of a cutback guy and he did it tonight. And when he gets out in the open field, he's gone. Forte probably runs inside the box a little better. They're both very good."
UCF (7-3, 5-3 CUSA) won its fourth game in a row. The Knights claimed sole possession of first place in the East Division of Conference USA with the help of Marshall's 26-7 victory over East Carolina.
Backup quarterback Joseph Webb completed 15-of-25 passes for 156 yards and three touchdowns to lead UAB (2-8, 1-5). Starting quarterback Sam Hunt was the Blazers leading rusher with 79 yards on seven carries, including a career-long 57-yard scamper. Frantrell Forrest caught six passes for 71 yards and one touchdown.
Jake Howard's 44-yard field goal gave UCF a 3-0 lead, but UAB responded with a 67-yard drive that ended with a 3-yard scoring run by Hunt.
Smith put UCF back in front with a 2-yard touchdown run. But a 27-yard pass from Webb to Forrest gave UAB a 14-10 lead after one quarter.
A 3-yard touchdown run by Smith gave UCF the lead. But a 30-yard field goal by Swayze Waters in the final minute of the first half made in 17-17 at halftime.
On the second play of the second half, UCF's Joe Burnett intercepted a Hunt pass and returned it 21 yards to the UAB 21-yard-line. Smith scored on an 8-yard run to give the Golden Knights a 24-17 lead.
UAB answered with a 64-yard drive that ended with a 13-yard scoring pass from Webb to Mario Wright.
But a 51-yard run by backup tailback Curtis Francis gave UCF a 31-24 lead and the Knights did not lose the lead.
A four-yard pass from Kyle Israel to Rocky Ross gave UCF a 38-24 lead with 7;59 left. UAB closed to within 38-31 on a four-yard pass from Webb to Jeffrey Anderson with 2:12 left. The Blazers tried an onside kick, but UCF recovered and two plays later Smith raced 41 yards for a touchdown to seal the victory.
UAB will be on the road for its final two games of the 2007 season. The Blazers play at Memphis next Saturday, Nov. 17 (2:30 p.m. CT) before closing the campaign at Marshall on Saturday, Nov. 24 (3:30 p.m. CT).
