UAB Continues to Make History with 29-21 Win Over North Texas

Saturday, October 20

Birmingham, Ala.

6:30 p.m.

UAB

6-1 , 4-0

North Texas

6-2 , 2-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

North Texas

UAB

UAB Continues to Make History with 29-21 Win Over North Texas

10/20/2018 11:26:00 PM | Football

Box Score Box Score 2018 Season Statistics Postgame Notes vs. North Texas Postgame Quotes vs. North Texas

BIRMINGHAM – The word "history" has become a constant theme around the UAB football program since its return to the gridiron and Saturday night's huge victory was no exception after the Blazers scored 19-unanswered second half points to come from behind and defeat North Texas, 29-21, in front of 28,014 fans at Legion Field.

With the win, UAB (6-1, 4-0 C-USA) is off to its best start in program history and has recorded 14 wins since "The Return," the most over a two-year span in school history. The Blazers also continued its perfect streak at home and are now 10-0 in the friendly confines of Legion Field.

UAB's victory also clinched bowl eligibility for the Blazers, marking the sixth time in program history and the third straight season with Bill Clark at the helm.

Sophomore Spencer Brown was a major force for the Blazers' attack, rushing for 100 yards and matching a career high with three touchdowns in the win. Brown has now rushed for at least 100 yards three times this season and nine times in his career, while recording his third multi-touchdown game of the season and the fifth of his career.

Quarterback A.J. Erdely went 14-of-22 through the air for 189 yards, finding four different receivers who each had two receptions on the night. Senior Andre Wilson led the receivers with 39 yards receiving.

UAB's top-5 defense was stellar, holding North Texas scoreless in the second half and notching four sacks and six tackles for loss. Garrett Marino wreaked havoc in the back field all night, coming up with a game-high two sacks and three tackles for loss along with a critical safety in the third quarter. Jamell Garcia-Williams and Craig Kanyangarara each added sacks in the contest, while Anthony Rush forced a crucial fumble late in the game.

North Texas (6-2, 2-2 C-USA) was led by quarterback Mason Fine, who went 29-of-40 through the air for 336 yards and three touchdowns. Jaelon Darden was on the receiving end of two of those touchdown passes, hauling in 10 passes for 143 yards.

Both teams got off to a sluggish start offensively, combining for three three-and-outs to open the game before North Texas strung together six positive plays for 32 yards on its second possession. Facing a third-and-five on their own 45, Rico Bussey found himself on the receiving end of a slant pass from Fine and went 55-yards for the score to put the Mean Green ahead, 7-0, with 7:58 to go in the first quarter.

UAB answered the North Texas score with points of its own, using a season-long 16-play, drive and going 74 yards to set up a Nick Vogel field 34-yard field, which he connected with ease to close the gap at 7-3.

Facing another long field, the Mean Green used four long pass plays to make its way into plus territory before Fine connected with Jaelon Darden for a 19-yard touchdown to extended the North Texas lead to 14-3 less than three minutes into the second quarter.

On the ensuing kickoff, newcomer Starling Thomas V exploited a huge hole and busted out for a 61-yard return to set the Blazers up in positive territory. On the first play of the drive, Erdely hit Wilson for 34 yards to the one yard line, which set up a touchdown by Brown to bring the score to 14-10.

With quality field position following a UAB punt from its own end zone, the Mean Green took the ball down to its own 24-yard in four quick plays. With second down and a short four yards to go, Fine threw his third touchdown of the game to Darden, who sliced his way into the end zone to push the visitors' lead back to 21-10 at the half.

UAB's defense came up with the first huge play of the second half. With North Texas pinned on its own one-yard line, Marino busted through the offensive line and took down Fine for a safety. After receiving the ball following the defensive score, the Green and Gold's offense marched down the field and capped an 8-play, 64-yard drive with a 3-yard score from Brown to trim the lead to 21-19 with 4:29 to play in the third quarter.

On the second play of the fourth quarter, Jarrion Street broke out a career-long 32-yard rush to set the Blazers up inside the Mean Green 5-yard line. Brown rewarded Street for his hard work, pounding in his career-tying third touchdown of the night to give UAB its first lead at 26-21 just 44 seconds into the final period.

Vogel extended the lead with his second field goal of the night – a 26-yarder – to push the lead to 29-21 with 2:10 to play. From there, the defense held firm and forced turnover on downs inside UAB territory to seal the historic victory.

The Blazers are have now won a program best five games in a row.

UAB and North Texas combined for 792 yards of total offense with UNT compiling 400 and UAB 392. The Blazers had 203 of those yards on the ground and have now rushed for more than 200 yards in six of seven games.

UAB returns to action on Oct. 27 when its makes the journey to El Paso, Texas, to square off with UTEP. Kickoff from the Sun Bowl is set for 6:30 p.m. CST on ESPN+.