UAB Dominates All Three Phases in 37-14 Victory over WKU

Saturday, October 17

Birmingham, Ala.

12:30 p.m. CST

UAB

4-1 , 2-0

WKU

1-4 , 1-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

WKU

UAB

UAB Dominates All Three Phases in 37-14 Victory over WKU

10/17/2020 5:02:00 PM | Football

Box Score Box Score (PDF)2020 Season Stats Postgame Notes - WKU Postgame Quotes - WKU

BIRMINGHAM – The UAB football team dominated WKU in all three phases of the game en route to a 37-14 victory over the Hilltoppers on Saturday at Legion Field.

UAB (4-1, 2-0 C-USA) outgained WKU (1-4, 1-2 C-USA) 358-250 and scored three offensive touchdowns. The UAB defense forced four turnovers and had five sacks, while the special teams unit blocked a punt that was returned for a touchdown, along with Matt Quinn making all three of his field goal attempts.

The Blazers extended their home winning streak to 21-consecutive victories and are now riding a three-game winning streak overall.

Freshman running back DeWayne McBride led the offense with 10 carries for 131 yards, highlighted by a career-long 71-yard touchdown run. Bryson Lucero threw for 141 yards and a touchdown. Austin Watkins caught seven of Lucero's 15 completions for 55 yards and one touchdown.

Senior cornerback Brontae Harris led yet another dominating defensive performance with five tackles, a sack and an interception. UAB, who entered the game as the nation's second-ranked pass defense, held the Hilltoppers to 162 passing yards as the Blazers kept their streak alive of holding every opponent this season under 200 yards passing.

With WKU leading 7-3 in the first, safety Will Boler forced a fumble which TD Marshall recovered and returned deep into Hilltopper territory.

Spencer Brown capitalized with a 2-yard touchdown plunge to give the Blazers a 10-7 lead with 42 seconds left in the quarter. It was Brown's 37th career rushing touchdown, which moved him into 15th place in C-USA history for career rushing touchdowns.

UAB then surged ahead 17-7 with 12:43 left in the half when freshman DeWayne McBride busted a 3rd-and-1 for a 71-yard touchdown run which was UAB's longest scoring play of the year. The touchdown for McBride was his second of the year.

WKU got within three with 5:42 remaining in the half when Kevaris Thomas connected with Joshua Simon for a 6-yard score. However, UAB responded with 52 seconds remaining as Lucero found Watkins on a 2-yard reception to make the score 24-14 at the half.

The Blazers busted the game open early in the second half on a special teams touchdown as outside linebacker Nikia Eason Jr. blocked a WKU punt which wide receiver Ryan Davis returned 37 yards to paydirt for a 31-14 advantage with 13:06 left in the third.

Quinn tacked on two additional field goals of 44 (career-long) and 30 for the game's final points as UAB rolled to 37-14 victory.

UAB held WKU to just 1-of-12 on third down and has held its opponents to just 6-of-37 in that category over the last three games, while yielding just 37 total points during that span.

The Blazers return to Legion Field this coming Friday night, Oct. 23, for a non-conference matchup with Louisiana. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on CBS Sports Network