UAB Shuts Out Rice, 42-0, to Match the Best Start in School History

Saturday, October 13

Houston, Texas

12 p.m.

UAB

5-1 , 3-0

Rice

1-6 , 0-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

UAB

Rice

UAB Shuts Out Rice, 42-0, to Match the Best Start in School History

10/13/2018 4:08:00 PM | Football

Box Score Box Score (PDF)2018 Season Statistics UAB Postgame Notes vs. Rice

HOUSTON – The UAB football team matched its best start in school history with a dominating 42-0 victory over Rice on Saturday afternoon at Rice Stadium.

The Blazers (5-1, 3-0 C-USA) earned their second shutout of the season, along with their season-opening 52-0 victory over Savannah State. It is the first time UAB has recorded two shutouts in the same season and the first time Rice has been held scoreless in 210 games.

UAB's defense entered the game ranked second nationally in sacks per game, averaging 4.0 and posted three quarterback sacks against the Owls, giving them 19 sacks in its last four games. The pass defense was stout once again as they entered the game second in the nation in passing yards allowed and held Rice to just 136 yards through the air.

The secondary is now holding opponents to 134.8 yards per game through the air and has yet to allow a 200-yard passer this year. UAB also held Rice to just 1-of-17 on third-down attempts.

Rice (1-6, 0-3 C-USA) was held to 186 yards of total offense, while the Blazers limited the Owls to just 50 yards rushing. UAB added nine TFLs and a fumble recovery to its impressive defensive day.

Quarterback A.J. Erdely and wide receiver Xavier Ubosi connected several times throughout the day and for big results. Ubosi hauled in four passes for 196 and two touchdowns. He tied his career high in receptions and set new career highs for receiving yards and longest reception as he brought in a 95-yard touchdown strike. The 95-yard receiving touchdown tied a record for the longest scoring play in school history.

Erdely went 11-for-17 with 274 yards passing and two passing touchdowns. The signal caller also ran for 29 yards and a score.

The UAB rushing attack rolled up 208 yards on the ground and punched the ball into the end zone three times. The Green and Gold have had no less than two rushing touchdowns in each game this season and have scored three rushing touchdowns in five-of-six games. Lucious Stanley led the charge with a career-high 70 yards on nine carries while Spencer Brown added 36 yards and a score.

Jarrion Street notched his first career touchdown in the third quarter as he plunged into the end zone from a yard out. The Trussville, Ala. native ran for 37 yards on six carries against Rice.

The Blazers received the ball to start the game and it took them just four plays to find the end zone when Erdely found Ubosi for a 38-yard strike.

UAB forced Rice to punt on each of its first two drives, and on the Owl's second punt, redshirt sophomore Chase Biles blocked the punt and recovered it in the end zone for the special team's score which gave the Blazers a 14-0 advantage.

It then became 21-0 when Ubosi etched his name into the UAB record book. With the Blazers starting at their own 1-yard line early in the second quarter, Ubosi hauled in a 95-yard touchdown reception on third down. He and Erdely now share that record with two other QB-WR duos: Darrell Hackney to Roddy White in 2004 and John Whitcomb to Derrick Ingram in 1994.

An Erdely 19-yard touchdown run with 1:16 left in the first half moved the Blazers ahead 28-0 which is the lead they brought into the locker room.

The Blazers continued their momentum out of the break as Jarrion Street and Spencer Brown each scored 1-yard rushing touchdowns early in the second half to move UAB ahead 42-0. Brown's touchdown was set up by Stacy Keely who had a sack fumble which was recovered by Zachary Williams and returned to the Rice 3-yard line.

The win is UAB's fourth in a row and it sets up a massive showdown with North Texas at Legion Field next Saturday. Kickoff on beIN Sports is set for 6:30 p.m.