UAB Defense Leads Blazers to 21-13 Victory Over UTSA

Saturday, October 3

Birmingham, Ala.

11:30 a.m. CST

UAB

3-1 , 1-0

UTSA

3-1 , 0-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

UTSA

UAB

UAB Defense Leads Blazers to 21-13 Victory Over UTSA

10/3/2020 4:11:00 PM | Football

Box Score Box Score 2020 Season Stats Postgame Notes - UTSA Postgame Quotes - UTSA

BIRMINGHAM – Led by a stout defensive performance, the UAB football team extended its home winning streak to 20 straight games with a 21-13 victory over UTSA on Saturday afternoon at Legion Field.

The Blazers (3-1, 1-0 C-USA) are now tied with Notre Dame and Ohio State for the third longest active home winning streak in the nation. UAB also improved to 12-3 overall in one-possession games since returning to action in 2017.

UAB's defense guided the Blazers by allowing just 280 total yards. The Blazers compiled four sacks, nine TFL, six pass breakups, one interception and also had a goal-line stand in the second quarter, denying the Roadrunners (3-1, 0-1 C-USA) on 4th-and-1 from the 1-yard line. UAB held UTSA to just 2-of-13 on third down conversions as well.

Will Boler led the defense with eight tackles and a TFL, while linebackers Kristopher Moll and Noah Wilder each had seven tackles and a TFL apiece. Michael Fairbanks II recorded his first career interception, while safety Damon Miller had a team-high two pass breakups.

Offensively, Spencer Brown tallied his third 100-yard rushing game of the season and the 16th of his career. Brown finished with 26 carries for 144 yards, increasing his career total to 3,572 rushing yards.

Freshman quarterback Bryson Lucero overcame throwing three interceptions by completing 18-of-29 passes for 195 yards and a career-high three touchdowns. His top target was Myron Mitchell, who finished with six catches for 65 yards and a touchdown, while tight end Gerrit Prince matched a career-high with two receiving touchdowns.

Trailing 3-0 early, UAB took the lead on its second possession when Lucero found Mitchell on an 18-yard strike in the back corner of the end zone. The drive was set up by Spencer Brown busting a career-long 73-yarder to move the Blazers into the red zone.

UAB then surged ahead 14-3 with 12:10 left in the half as Lucero threw his second touchdown, this time a 15-yard completion to tight end Gerrit Prince.

Led by UAB's defensive efforts, which included the goal line stop late in the half, the Blazers led 14-6 at halftime. UAB outgained the Roadrunners 268-155 and UAB had three sacks, five TFL and an interception in the half.

The Blazers gained a 21-6 advantage with 1:32 remaining in the third when Lucero connected with Prince for the second time on a 21-yard touchdown pass.

However, the Roadrunners showed no quit and capitalized on UAB's fourth turnover of the game with a 2-yard score by running Sincere McCormick, who had 150 rushing yards on the day. That made the score 21-13 with 10:31 left.

With UAB set to punt the ball back to UTSA with less than two minutes remaining, UTSA's Solomon Wise was flagged for roughing the kicker which allowed UAB to lineup in victory formation.

With the win, UAB improves to 4-0 against UTSA since the return and is now 17-2 vs. C-USA West division opponents since 2017.

The Blazers have a bye next week before returning to Legion Field to host WKU on Oct. 17 at 12:30 p.m. CST.