UAB Hosts North Texas in Blockbuster C-USA Matchup

Saturday, October 20

Birmingham, Ala.

6:30 p.m.

UAB

North Texas

Tickets

UAB Hosts North Texas in Blockbuster C-USA Matchup

10/18/2018 2:18:00 PM | Football

UAB Gamenotes vs. North Texas 2018 Children's Harbor Pairings

BIRMINGHAM - In a battle of the top two football teams in Conference USA, UAB is set to host North Texas this Saturday at Legion Field for Homecoming. The game kicks off at 6:30 p.m. on beIN Sports.

The Blazers (5-1, 3-0 C-USA) are off to their best start in school history and are riding a four-game winning streak. North Texas (6-1, 2-1 C-USA) is led by All-America candidate Mason Fine at quarterback, who has thrown for 2,210 yards, 16 touchdowns and one interception this season.

UAB is 9-0 at home since its return to the playing field and the Blazers currently own the nation's fifth longest home winning streak.

Who: UAB (5-1, 3-0 C-USA) vs. North Texas (6-1, 2-1 C-USA)
Where: Birmingham, Ala. – Legion Field
When: 6:30 p.m. CST
Watch: beIN Sports
On the Call: Mike Gleason (Play-by-Play), Brett Romberg (Color)
Listen: WJOX2 100.5 FM
On the Call: David Crane (Play-by-Play), Steve Irvine (Color), Trey Ragland (Sideline)
Series: UAB leads, 2-1
Last Meeting: Sept. 23, 2017: North Texas 46, UAB 43

STORYLINES:

UAB enters the game ranked sixth nationally in total defense. Other lofty national defensive ranks include: second in sacks per game (3.83), third in passing yards allowed per game (134.8), third in pass defense efficiency (94.32), fourth in third down defense (23.4), and fifth in scoring defense (14.2).
The Blazer secondary has yet to allow a 200-yard passer this season, while the front seven has terrorized quarterbacks all year, especially in league play. In three C-USA games, the Blazers have allowed 14 total points (4.6 points per game) and have 13 sacks. They will be tested on Saturday by a North Texas offense that averages 323.3 yards per game through the air.
Jack linebacker Jamell Garcia-Williams leads the team with 5.5 sacks and 8.0 TFL, while 12 different players have at least one sack this season. UAB has 23 total sacks resulting in a loss of 146 yards, and it eyes the Division I school record of 34 total sacks set by the 2000 and 2014 teams.
On the offensive side of the ball, UAB is punishing opponents with its rushing attack, which ranks second in Conference USA. Through six games, the Blazers have amassed 1,396 rushing yards and average 232.7 yards per game. UAB has run for over 200 yards in five of six games and has scored no less than two rushing touchdowns in every game.
Spencer Brown is the league's fourth leading rusher at 81.8 yards per game. Brown has had at least 90 rushing yards in four of six games, including two 100-yard performances. The sophomore has two multi-touchdown games this season. He comes into the showdown with North Texas with 491 yards rushing and seven touchdowns.
A.J. Erdely continues his climb in the UAB record book after a three-touchdown performance at Rice. He now has 23 career passing touchdowns and 18 rushing touchdowns. His 41 total touchdowns rank him fourth all-time. He needs two more passing TDs to move into sixth place all-time on the career passing touchdowns list, which is currently held by Austin Brown (24 from 2012-13).
Erdely needs just 186 passing yards to move into sixth place on UAB's career passing yards list. Bryan Ellis is currently in sixth place with 3,697 yards passing from 2008-11. Last season against North Texas, Erdely set career highs in passing yards (321) and passing touchdowns (4).
Since the start of the 2017 season, Erdely (18) and Brown (17) have combined for 35 of UAB's 45 total rushing touchdowns.
Wide receiver Xavier Ubosi is the reigning Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week for his career performance at Rice. Ubosi had four catches for 196 yards and two touchdowns against the Owls. His 196 yards were the fifth most in school history and his 95-yard touchdown reception tied the record for longest scoring play in school history.
North Texas comes to Legion Field on a two-game winning streak after defeating UTEP, 27-24, and Southern Miss, 30-7. The Mean Green also notched a 44-17 victory at Arkansas on Sept. 15.
The Mean Green's offense is averaging 39.9 points per game and has scored 40 or more points in four games this season. Defensively, E.J. Ejiya is a contended for C-USA Defensive Player of the Year and enters the game with 63 total tackles, 14.0 TFL and 6.5 sacks.

Saturday marks UAB's annual Homecoming game and the Blazers will honor Children's Harbor by wearing the names of patients on the back of their jerseys.

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