UAB Topples Rice 52-21 to Clinch Bowl Eligibility

Saturday, November 4

Birmingham, Ala.

2 p.m.

UAB

6-3 , 4-2

Rice

1-8 , 1-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

RICE

UAB

UAB Topples Rice 52-21 to Clinch Bowl Eligibility

11/4/2017 6:12:00 PM | Football, Blazer Boosters

Box Score Box Score (PDF) 2017 Season Statistics Postgame Quotes UAB Postgame Notes vs. Rice

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –The UAB football team picked up its sixth victory of the year to gain bowl eligibility for the second consecutive season and the fifth time in program history after a dominating 52-21 victory over Rice at historic Legion Field on Saturday.

"I could not be more proud for these guys, for our fans, for our community, for our city," head coach Bill Clark said. "We had another really good crowd today and it doesn't get much better than this right now. We are by no means satisfied. We have three more to go with a tough road test next weekend against UTSA. But, we are going to try and enjoy this one for 24 hours."

The Blazers (6-3, 4-2 C-USA) scored touchdowns on their first six possessions behind a nearly flawless performance from quarterback A.J. Erdely and the hard running of freshman Spencer Brown.

Brown amassed 140 yards for the game - including 129 in the first half – and notched a career high three rushing touchdowns to bring his season total to 10. He now stands at 1,049 rushing yards on the season. He became just the fifth player in program history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.

Erdely finished 20-of-21 for 197 yards and three touchdown passes - two to Andre Wilson and one to Donnie Lee – to bring his season total to 12 touchdown passes in addition to 10 rushing scores. His .952 completion percentage is a C-USA record, eclipsing the previous high of .947.

The Blazers' defense continued their consistent play by forcing three Owls' turnovers and accounted for a pick-six for the second consecutive week (Brontae Harris, 64 yards) and third time this season (Anthony Rush, Alabama A&M; Darious Williams, Southern Miss).

Williams snatched an interception for the fourth consecutive game while the defense tallied six tackles for a loss, including a sack from Stacy Keely, who now leads the club with three sacks through nine games.

UAB received contributions from a number of offensive weapons, as Lee led the way with five receptions for 84 yards and a score while Wilson finished with seven receptions for 68 yards to supplement his two touchdown receptions.

Nine different Blazers notched a reception during the game, while James Noble III complemented Brown's performance with 73 rushing yards.

Overall, the Blazers gained a total of 439 yards on balanced air (197) and ground (242) attacks in the win.

UAB took their opening possession of the game and marched 65-yards on eleven plays before Spencer Brown plunged in the end zone from one-yard to notch his eighth rushing score of the season and provided the Blazers with an early 7-0 advantage.

Following a three-and-out from the Owls' offense, the Blazers needed only 2:01 to score on their second offensive series as Erdely found Lee streaking down the middle of the field for the 42-yard score to record his first career receiving touchdown.

Williams then grabbed his interception on the ensuing possession and placed the Blazers in prime field position at the Owls 9-yard line. Brown proceeded to take the ensuing play across the goal line for his second score of the contest as the freshman barreled his way through a glut of defenders that pushed the advantage out to 21-0.

UAB put together another long drive on their fourth possession, this time courtesy of a nine-play, 83-yard march that was again punctuated by a one-yard plunge from Brown.

The Owls' offense broke through at the 10:13 mark of the second quarter when receiver Austin Walter took an end-around and sprinted down the home sideline for a 70-yard touchdown run.

Rice then caught the Blazers by surprise with an onside kick that the Owls recovered at the UAB 40-yard line, but Blazers cornerback Brontae Harris quickly eradicated any momentum that Rice had gained when he extended his arms and intercepted Miko Smalls that he took all the way back for a 64-yard pick-six which made the score 35-7.

Following a Garrison Mitchell fumble recovery on the Blazers' 30-yard line, the masterful first-half performance continued from the offense as Erdely hit Andre Wilson on a back-shoulder fade that Wilson snagged for a score to cap off a six-play, 66-yard drive. The touchdown was Wilson's fifth of the season.

The Blazers defense stood tall late in the half, forcing time to expire on the Owls' final possession at the UAB six-yard line as the home team marched into halftime with a comfortable 42-7 lead.

When the dust had settled, the 42-first half points were the most UAB has scored in a half this season.

Rice began the second half strong with a 4:32 drive, but had a 36-yard touchdown pass from Smalls to Aaron Cephus negated by a holding penalty and were eventually forced to punt.

The onslaught continued as Erdely capped off a nine play 80-yard drive with a lob over the top of the defense to a wide open Wilson for a five-yard touchdown and 49-7 UAB lead. It was Wilson's sixth of the season as Erdely was perfect 5-5 on the drive.

Rice added a Smalls nine-yard touchdown run and a ten-yard touchdown reception from Cephus to cap the scoring for the Owls, while a 27-yard Nick Vogel field goal marked the final score of the game for the Blazers.

The Blazers return to action on Nov. 11 as the Green and Gold travel to San Antonio, Texas to battle UTSA at 6 p.m. in a C-USA West Division show down.