The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
9-5
Appalachian State
13-1
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian State | 0 | 10 | 21 | 0 | 31 |
| UAB | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
No. 20 Appalachian State Defeats UAB Football 31-17
12/22/2019 12:40:00β―AM | Football
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The Blazers finished the season at 9-5 overall and recorded the second most amount of wins in program history, along with winning its second straight C-USA West Division title.Β
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Austin Watkins Jr. had a career-high 10 catches for 159 yards a touchdown to lead the offensive efforts. In the process, he became the third player at UABΒ to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards in a single season. The junior finished the 2019 season with 57 catches for 1,092 yards and six touchdowns.Β
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Kristopher Moll led the defensive efforts with eight tackles and finished the 2019 campaign with 104 total tackles. Both Grayson Cash and Dy'jonn Turner added six stops tonight.Β
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It was a big third quarter for Appalachian State (13-1) that ultimately proved to be the deciding factor in the game as the Mountaineers outscored UAB 21-3 in that stanza to erase a 14-10 halftime deficit.Β
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The Blazers stormed out of the gates, scoring touchdowns on their first two possessions to take a 14-0 lead with 10:48 left in the opening quarter.Β
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Both were passing touchdowns as Hayden Pittman had a spectacular 25-yard diving catch just 1:14 into the game, followed by a another 25-yard pass from Tyler Johnston III to Watkins Jr., who had five catches for 124 yards and that touchdown in the first quarter.Β
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The Mountaineers however, battled back and scored the next 10 points to end the half as UAB took a 14-10 lead into the locker room. With UAB leading 14-3, the Blazers were flagged on a missed field goal that extended Appalachian State's drive, and the Mountaineers turned that into seven points two plays later on a 17-yard touchdown pass.Β
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Appalachian State had the ball to start the second half and took their first lead of the game on a 4th-and-1 that Mountaineer quarterback Zac Thomas fumbled which Darrynton Evans recovered and rushed 31 yards for a touchdown.Β
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Nick Vogel then tied the game at 17-17 when he connected on a season-long 49-yard field goal at the 8:19 mark of the third quarter.Β Β
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App State regained the lead on a defensive touchdown as the Mountaineers had a sack-fumble that they took 24 yards to the house which gave them a 24-17 lead with 6:16 remining in the third.Β
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Their third touchdown of the third quarter came on another fourth down as Thomas connected with Thomas Hennigan on a 27-yard pass with :44 left in the quarter. Those would be the final points of the game as App State hung on for the 31-17 victory.
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The Blazers return 18 starters for the 2020 season.Β Β
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Team Stats
APP 0, UAB 7
UAB - PITTMAN, Hayden 25 yd pass from JOHNSTON III, T (VOGEL, Nick kick) 4 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:14
APP 0, UAB 14
UAB - WATKINS, Austin 25 yd pass from JOHNSTON III, T (VOGEL, Nick kick) 4 plays, 79 yards, TOP 1:23
APP 3, UAB 14
APP - Staton, C. 34 yd field goal 7 plays, 58 yards, TOP 3:21
APP 10, UAB 14
APP - Hennigan, T. 17 yd pass from Thomas, Zac (Staton, C. kick) 7 plays, 81 yards, TOP 4:24
APP 17, UAB 14
APP - Evans, D. 31 yd run (Staton, C. kick), 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:46
APP 17, UAB 17
UAB - VOGEL, Nick 49 yd field goal 7 plays, 44 yards, TOP 3:55
APP 24, UAB 17
APP - Cobb, Trey 24 yd fumble recovery (Staton, C. kick)
APP 31, UAB 17
APP - Hennigan, T. 27 yd pass from Thomas, Zac (Staton, C. kick) 9 plays, 85 yards, TOP 3:56
