The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Marshall
UAB Falls to No. 18 Marshall, 23-18
11/22/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - A 17-play final drive for the UAB football team came up short on fourth down at the Marshall 10-yard line as the Blazers fell to the No. 18 Thundering Herd, 23-18, on Saturday at Legion Field.
Marshall's (11-0, 7-0 Conference USA) Rakeem Cato threw for 284 yards and two touchdowns, but it was Ra'shawde Myers who recovered a fumble in the end zone midway through the fourth quarter that kept the Thundering Herd unbeaten.
Sophomore running back Jordan Howard rushed for 168 yards, including converting two fourth down conversions on UAB's final drive. Howard added two scores to move his season total to 14 touchdowns on the ground. Junior quarterback Cody Clements threw for 141 yards, highlighted by a 36-yard strike to senior tight end Kennard Backman. Backman and Clements connected seven times for 70 yards.
Marshall had its closest game of the season to date, as the Blazers' (5-6, 3-4 C-USA) defense held the league's top scoring offense to a season-low 23 points and forced two turnovers. Junior linebacker Jake Ganus led UAB's defensive charge with 10 tackles while senior defensive end Diaheem Watkins recorded two sacks.
The Thundering Herd led 17-6 at halftime and seemed to have the game in hand after Cato's 28-yard touchdown pass to Tommy Shuler and a 43-yard scoring pass to Angelo Jean-Louis. UAB answered with touchdown runs of 1 and 10 yards by Howard to give the Blazers an 18-17 lead in the fourth quarter.
After Marshall downed a punt inside the Blazers' 1-yard line, Clements was stripped trying to pass in his own end zone by Arnold Blackmon and Myers recovered the ball for the final score.
The Blazers wrap up their 2014 campaign next Saturday in Hattiesburg, Miss., against Southern Miss. With a win, UAB would become bowl eligible for the first time in program history since 2004.
