The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
4-1 , 1-1
Rice
0-6 , 0-2
UAB Withstands Weather Delays to Defeat Rice 35-20 at Legion Field
10/6/2019 1:07:00 AM | Football
The game featured an hour and a half lightning delay at halftime and another 1:23 minute delay with 6:11 to go in fourth quarter.
The entire second half was played in a torrential downpour and it favored the Blazers as they had 108 of their 129 rushing yards after the break, led by Lucious Stanley who had a career night.
Stanley set new career highs for carries (19), yards (88), touchdowns (2), and had his longest rush of 25 yards which was his first of two second half scores.
The Blazers (4-1, 1-1 C-USA) led 21-20 at the break, but held Rice (0-6, 0-2 C-USA) to just 48 yards in the second half. Kristopher Moll led the defensive charge with a monster game, compiling a career-high 14 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and two quarterback hurries.
Rice fumbled five times, four of which were recovered by the Blazers, including three in the second half.
Tyler Johnston III threw for 282 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. His big three receivers combined for 257 of those receiving yards, led by Kendall Parham with three catches for 109 yards and two touchdowns. Austin Watkins Jr. had a team-high five catches which went for 78 yards and a TD, while Myron Mitchell added 70 receiving yards on three catches, along with 35 kickoff yards.
The Owls scored on the second play of the game as Aston Walters broke loose for a 64-yard rushing touchdown and Rice led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter.
UAB found its offensive groove in the second quarter with 21 points on three long touchdown passes. Johnston III found Parham twice on scores of 46 and 57 yards, while Watkins' 36-yarder was sandwiched in between Parham's TD receptions.
After the first lightning delay, the two teams took the field for the second half and it was all UAB. Stanley had 79 of his 88 yards in the second half, and both of his touchdowns came in the third quarter to help UAB gain a 35-20 advantage.
Mother nature once again disrupted the contest in the fourth quarter, but it was the Blazers who came out of the locker room and held the Owls to -5 yards in the final six minutes.
The Blazers had 409 yards of total offense compared to Rice's 305. UAB is now 3-0 against the since returning to action in 2017 and have outscored them 129-41 in those contests.
UAB now hits the road for a C-USA West Division showdown with UTSA next week in San Antonio. Kick of ESPN+ is scheduled for 5 p.m.
Team Stats
RICE 7, UAB 0
RICE - WALTER, Aston 64 yd run (BARNES, Chris kick), 2 plays, 75 yards, TOP 0:51
RICE 7, UAB 7
UAB - PARHAM, Kendall 46 yd pass from JOHNSTON III, T (VOGEL, Nick kick) 7 plays, 95 yards, TOP 2:41
RICE 7, UAB 14
UAB - WATKINS, Austin 36 yd pass from JOHNSTON III, T (VOGEL, Nick kick) 2 plays, 55 yards, TOP 0:26
RICE 14, UAB 14
RICE - ROZNER, Brad 4 yd pass from GREEN, Wiley (BARNES, Chris kick) 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:45
RICE 14, UAB 21
UAB - PARHAM, Kendall 57 yd pass from JOHNSTON III, T (VOGEL, Nick kick) 1 plays, 57 yards, TOP 0:09
RICE 20, UAB 21
RICE - PITRE III, A. 3 yd pass from GREEN, Wiley (BARNES, Chris kickblocked) 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:33
RICE 20, UAB 28
UAB - STANLEY, L. 25 yd run (VOGEL, Nick kick), 6 plays, 77 yards, TOP 3:09
RICE 20, UAB 35
UAB - STANLEY, L. 7 yd run (VOGEL, Nick kick), 6 plays, 18 yards, TOP 2:44
