The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Marshall
Reaves Leads UAB Past Marshall, 38-31
11/10/2012 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 10, 2012
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) ---- Darrin Reaves rushed for 184 yards and two scores and linebacker Marvin Burdette became UAB's all-time leading tackler as the Blazers withstood a late Marshall rally to win 38-31 Saturday at Legion Field.
The Blazers picked up their second-straight Conference USA win of the season and moved to 3-7 overall and 2-4 in the C-USA. UAB's defense held Marshall's potent offensive attack to a season-low 337 total yards. The Thundering Herd came into Saturday's game with a 543 yards per game average. Part of the Blazers' strong defensive effort came from linebacker Marvin Burdette, who registered 17 total tackles to give him 381 on the year -- a UAB all-time record. Reaves went over the 100-yard mark for the third-straight game with his 184-yard effort. The Birmingham, Ala., native also scored two touchdowns, giving him 13 rushing touchdowns for the year to establish a new UAB single-season record.
The Blazers led 31-7 with 5:23 left in the third quarter.
Within 2 minutes, the Thundering Herd roared back with a 10-yard TD pass from Rakeem Cato to Jazz King, followed by Kevin Grooms' 7-yard TD run and Justin Haig's 38-yard field goal with 7:18 remaining.
Reaves answered with a 17-yard TD, capping an 11-play, 80-yard drive with 2:50 left.
Marshall (4-6, 1-5) then moved downfield quickly and efficiently, with Cato connecting with Tommy Shuler on 30- and 19-yard plays before finding Gator Hoskins for a 3-yard TD with 1:41 remaining.
UAB recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.
The Blazers' Austin Brown threw two TD passes and Jackie Williams had a 79-yard punt return for a score.
UAB hosts Memphis on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT to close out the regular season home slate in the annual "Battle for the Bones."
